Essentials to live in Hungary

peddington wrote:

Maybe so and I'm sure on official Government correspondence you get just that "Hungarian"
but try to do a Goggle search doing it! As many companies like Telekom, Telenor, Tesco and others you can't do computer work using the Hungarian dots and commas above the letters! That is what I
was eluding to! THE INTERNET WORLD!

The Internet world is actually a good example, since this world is based on computers and software. And computers and software are suppose to be designed to make those tasks I request of it easier to do.

If I go to, for example, the on-line Hungarian bus schedule:

http://ujmenetrend.cdata.hu/uj_menetren … /index.php

When I type in "Szé", the drop down list should jump to those places starting with the "Szé" (since this is the correct, official and proper spelling), but it does not seem to do this for me (using Firefox browser). It just goes to those starting with "Sze", and I either have to keep typing more letters or scroll through a long list to get to the "Szé" starting names. A good programmer, and a well designed "Internet World", would know how to deal with the difference between "e" and "é" and produce better results. After all, if a site is not properly setup for using Unicode (and know the difference between "e" and "é" if those different characters are entered), then it is not a modern site, and thus not very helpful. Eh? 

I admire your vegetarian lifestyle.
I let no meat pass my lips for over 31 years, resisted all my MIL dishes, didn't help her to except me the "weirdo " that wouldn't eat what she cooked.
For some reason about 4 -5 years ago I started craving some steak, my family was visiting and that triggered some thing, after a week or two I gave in...
Hard in Hungary to not have meat thrown in your face at every turn.
I could just as easily stop eating meat again, might just stop "cold turkey"!! No pun...

klsallee wrote:

I did say "hunters", not "sportsmen". I was not talking about sportsmen that stick a trophy head on a wall or sportsman who mounts a fish on their wall. (And oddly, most of this type of antipathy is toward hunters who shoot mammals, while fishermen killing fish to mount them on a wall seems oddly "perfectly okay" to most people).

Many hunters, and fishermen, generally do eat what they kill or catch. And quite frankly, that food source had a better chance to run away than a cow does when herded into a slaughter house....

I don't really know the difference between hunters and sportsmen.  The Hungarians don't really know the difference either. 

Just locally, we have quite a business in entertaining people with guns.  You can see it here: Hunting in Hungary.  These folks seem to be well catered for , with rather nice guest houses.  The prices are high - it's a whole different world.

They seem to pay for the trophy so these must be sportsmen but reading the price list, one can buy the meat as well so that might make them hunters.....err...maybe.  It's relatively cheap for venison. I doubt those flying will take their kill back with them....

klsallee wrote:

Oh... no, wait, that would make vegetarians like me the worst possible food predator... darn. 

Oh, those damn to-mah-toes (or is it to-may-toes?).....

Just remember if they had the chance, they'd eat us for sure. It's them or us.

My dear I read your comments with a smile. As a vegetarian for a few years I found it very difficult to maintain ALL the food groups that is required for healthy living. As for the "hunt" if you religious you have to believe that ALL are living things. So who is to say that one can eat a more evolved species versus the one that is just sits there. So I guess it is just a matter of perspective! Wish I would like fish more (other than tuna in a can and occasional fried/grilled fish) because that seems to lengthen longevity ala the Japanese. LOL!

peddington wrote:

My dear I read your comments with a smile. As a vegetarian for a few years I found it very difficult to maintain ALL the food groups that is required for healthy living. As for the "hunt" if you religious you have to believe that ALL are living things. So who is to say that one can eat a more evolved species versus the one that is just sits there. So I guess it is just a matter of perspective! Wish I would like fish more (other than tuna in a can and occasional fried/grilled fish) because that seems to lengthen longevity ala the Japanese. LOL!

Just to say, I'm not a vegetarian but I don't think it's right to kill stuff just for "fun" and dress it up as sport.  Venison is quite tough. I had antelope as well and that's really grainy. You need good teeth.

Fish to me is a generally disappointing experience. I'll make an exception for smoked salmon, calamares, anchovies on seafood pizza, pilchards in tomato sauce on toast, prawns with anything, smoked kippers and herring (Dutch style). 

Shushi, tempura etc. It's just a con for high prices and mediocre fishiness.

My older sister hunted a deer in Minn. with a bow and arrow, skinned it all herself,  cut it into portions etc.
No gun used, just her bow and a knife.
She has been using a bow since the 50's when Robbin Hood was a big thing on TV with Laurance Greene starring.
I couldn't believe it when I found out, all that from a Calif. Valley girl...
If she was willing to do all that then I see it as hunting and not so much as a sport.
She just had to go and show off in front of us Native American "breeds" ,she was 100% "blood" that day.
Don't know many men who could stomach all of that.

I would never eat sushi in Hungary.
Prices must be high in a land locked country.
My son tried a few Japanese places a few years back in Budapest.
He has since been to Japan 3 times and is married to a Japanese women.
He said he now knows the sushi is not all that super fresh in HU.
Can't be nothing like really fresh food.
Disappointing thing for me is that my DIL dislikes sushi, never fixes it.
So much for stereotypes.

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

Hard in Hungary to not have meat thrown in your face at every turn.

I would rather say damn near impossible where I live in Hungary (i.e. Not Budapest or a larger city).

I went out to a restaurant, and said "I am vegetarian and do not eat meat". And after the usual re-direction by the waiter to the fish menu (Catholic country) and explaining I do not eat fish either (which resulted in wide eyed stares that I must not be normal) it was finally suggested to try a lentil stew as that was "vegetarian". I ordered that, and as I ate it, there at the bottom of the bowl was a rind of pork fat....

Well, fat is not meat, so "technically" I did get a "meat free dish", but still I almost retched.

Which is why in Hungary if I ever eat out, I rather can not call myself a vegetarian, only that I do not "knowingly" eat part of a dead animal.... 

My MIL back in 1978 when I was a very strict vegetarian( later did eat some fish once in awhile) she slaughtered a chicken just for me.
My 2 1/2 year old son had been playing chase with it all morning long, his new little friend.
Got home from a day trip and even he cried when he saw feathers all over and asked about his chicken.
smart kid even at 2.
Loads of tears on her part, the whole guilt trip laid on me for hurting her feelings by refusing to eat any of her homemade soup and paprika dish.
Don't need that much stress.
They always tried to cook something without meat for me but it usually was made in some sort of animal fat or they just picked out the meat pieces for me.
I had to start stashing my own food supply and just telling them I was not hungry. Great being in Hungary and always being hungry!!
How many rolls could one eat in a day after all.
I now do eat meat, again not sure why but my body just seemed to crave it one day. Never eat tons of it and do feel guilty now for being weak and giving in.
Have RH neg. O blood type and have read meat is needed for people with that blood type. Not a chemist , not sure if that fact is totally accurate but relieves some of my guilt.
Wanted to raise my son being meat free , found out even my own mother was  feeding him meat behind my back, thought I was hurting him by not giving him meat.
I had blood work done on him as a toddler and everything was great, even the family doctor a 7th Day Adventist was a vegetarian, my mother believed every word he ever told her, why couldn't she believe not eating meat was ok? Stubborn people!!
Son is now a healthy strong 40 year old, 6'3" tall, slim at about 170lbs.good skin, hardly ever eats meat, for a big guy he can hardly swallow 1/4th lb. of any meat, more of a cheese and fish person.
At least part of my life goal for him worked out sort of.
He is thinking of going 100% vegetarian, hope he does.

klsallee wrote:

..........I am vegetarian and do not eat meat". And after the usual re-direction by the waiter to the fish menu (Catholic country) and explaining I do not eat fish either (which resulted in wide eyed stares that I must not be normal) it was finally suggested to try a lentil stew as that was "vegetarian". I ordered that, and as I ate it, there at the bottom of the bowl was a rind of pork fat....

Well, fat is not meat, so "technically" I did get a "meat free dish", but still I almost retched...|

If you think that's bad, it's even worse for life and death if you are diabetic.   

There's a delusion here that quackery can save you and "only a little bit" will not do you any real harm. 

It's guerrilla warfare where they try to poison me and I keep dodging their foody bullets and try to educate them back. 

Even if you tell them...no salt...no sugar...they think you are deluded, talking nonsense and put it in anyway. You have to really watch them.   The best places to eat are ones where you can see what they are doing.

They cannot get it through their heads not to try and do me a "favour" (and they know best). 

The worst thing I've seen is some chef putting sugar in soup.   That's just crazy.  Nay, it's almost attempted murder.  Main thing is to avoid sauces.  This is where they go bananas with the deadly ingredients.  Even salads are not immune - balsamic vinegar. Utterly sugary.

Flying is also fraught with danger.  Order a diabetic meal at your own risk.  Stupid people put chocolate covered puddings on the trays or give you cakes.  The staff are very badly trained usually and come around offering chocolates and liquers with no alternative.  "Hey, flight attendant, you've just served me a diabetic meal?!!  Think about it!"

Marilyn Tassy wrote:

....
Wanted to raise my son being meat free , found out even my own mother was  feeding him meat behind my back, thought I was hurting him by not giving him meat.

I had blood work done on him as a toddler and everything was great, even the family doctor a 7th Day Adventist was a vegetarian, my mother believed every word he ever told her, why couldn't she believe not eating meat was ok? Stubborn people!!...

It's really important to give kids a balanced diet.  That includes  protein of course, vegetables and fruit and some fat.  Veggie only diets are not generally the best for kids.   

As part of my daily work, in one country I went to recently - Mongolia - you have no chance of living as a veggie person.  The weather and conditions are so intense (i.e. brutally cold) you just have to eat meat to survive.  It's the only local food source that can live there out on the steppes.  Same for the Inuit. 

In other countries I visited extensively, like The Maldives, they have no vegetables either and no way to grow them - no fresh water and no soil as all they have are coral islands. They basically live on fish (mainly tuna) and they mostly have T2 diabetes and hypertension (high blood pressure).  Not a balanced diet at all. 

There are lot of nutters around in Hungary, weird religious people and quack doctoring/healthcare.  Some doctors here ought to know better.

Only recently someone here - who can only have been insane - starved his wife and kid to death because he thought they could live on sunlight only.  I'll ask Mrs Fluffy for a reference to that news report.  Truly bonkers.

To be as you put it 100% vegetarian is really hard. It excludes besides meat, eggs and milk products as those too come from an animal. Of course also goes without saying chicken, fish etc. To exclude all these from your diet one has to spend a lot of time educating themselves on the advantage, fat content etc., of fruits, vegetables, nuts etc. Soy products are a favorite substitute for many vegetarians but as it turns out it is not that healthy. Nuts are a good source of fat among other things (Brazil nut) but eating too much is also unhealthy. I'm very familiar with the Seventh Day Adventist philosophy mainly originating from their "prophet" E. White. A woman who was struck as a child in the head with a snowball that contained rock/charcoal. After that time she started to speak in "tongues" and did other abhorrent things like holding a heavy Bible in her extended hand allegedly for hours etc. She later wrote books on raising children and healthy foods using the Bible as it's base. I say at least 1/2 of Church going Adventist cheat and are NOT strict vegetarian although at potluck in church they pretend and only serve vegetarian dishes. There are many philosophies and teachings out there but let's remember even Jesus fed the crowd with wine and fish on some occasions. LOL!

peddington wrote:

......A woman who was struck as a child in the head with a snowball that contained rock/charcoal. After that time she started to speak in "tongues" and did other abhorrent things like holding a heavy Bible in her extended hand allegedly for hours etc. She later wrote books on raising children and healthy foods using the Bible as it's base. I say at least 1/2 of Church going Adventist cheat and are NOT strict vegetarian although at potluck in church they pretend and only serve vegetarian dishes.

Sounds like the child needed an CT scan to check for a brain injury.  I suppose speaking in "tongues" is no more improbable than magic glasses in the Utah desert.

peddington wrote:

There are many philosophies and teachings out there but let's remember even Jesus fed the crowd with wine and fish on some occasions. LOL!

Well, LOL indeed, allegedly fed the crowd.....The Bible is of course a work of fiction. 

(Yes, Ok,  I admit I'm playing at being a troll now...)

Yes I was only a true vegetarian for maybe 5 years later added fish and eggs.
Religion of any sort is insanity to me, more inclined to eastern beliefs if any.
Husband was the first that I know of western persons on Maui to study in a Japanese temple, raised in Hungary as a Catholic, I suppose one could call him,"reformed".
So strange to think he was a choir and alter boy in Budapest during the commie times, not easy o be of faith back then, black listed for sure.
Lucky me I suppose neither of my parents ever dragged us to church .My mom did a bit of bible study at home with the JW's when I was small but never went to their kingdom hall or made us give up the holidays, dad was eastern Russian orthodox,that's until he was drafted into the US Army in WW11, saw so much crap that he no longer even believed in a God. Was over the whole thing before I was even born.
Mom raised a weird mix of Native American tradition with attending holly rollers!!
As long as we didn't break any rules we were good to go going up, thankfully no pressure to be perfect.

True many fakes in all areas of life.
I did hear about that poor kid with the dumb parents that thought the child could live from light.
Come on now, not to put down anyone"s faith but really? Sunlight, even plants need a bit of fertilizer once in awhile.

I prefer my own cooking especially in Hungary because when eating out they don't even stick to the menu and often substitute items. There is one Hungarian place near where I live in the country that makes nice salad and basic items. I also can eat at one Indian place in Budapest and a couple of chain places like Robinson's and the Hard Rock Cafe where the cooking is very prescribed.
I don't eat meat and I don't overdue the sugar or salt so most Hungariian food does not suit me. However it has improved over the time I have been in Hungary when they used to flavour everything with pork.
I will eat Indian street food but for me Hungarian street food is gruesome. Fried dough is not for me. The Hungarians love it so it is a matter of taste.
I just prefer my own cooking  or trust my own cooking to be low fat, no sugar, low carbohydrate and meat free. I try and eat less as I get older for health reasons so may as well eat what I like. Neighbours have given me jars of pickled stuff and I have to be polite and pass things on to other people.
One thing I won't touch is hungarian home made jam. I have been given stuff that is sloppy and goes mouldy in the jars. I make my own jam and marmalade and use pectin where necessary and sterilize the jars. That says it all.

We hardly ever eat out in Hungary these days.
The prices are too high lately.
We are pretty decent cooks and like knowing exactly what sort of oil, salt and ingredients we are using.
When we got charged for every little item from a side of pickles to a slice of bread we decided we do not need to eat out.
In the US we only eat in Vegas at one of the buffets and only because we play and get free food for play time.
My husband wanted to take his widowed stepmother out to his father's favorite eatery in the Buda Hills, the name has slipped my mind, been in business for over 50 years or more in HUngary , ate there a few times and the food and service was good.
She refused to eat anything out except a cup of tea.
She is Hungarian but of Jewish faith, a mixed marriage of religions that worked well for my FIL.
Not sure if she was fussy or following her religious diet.
Husband felt a bit bad that he couldn't do anything for her except buy her a cuppa.

I wish I had purchased more electrical items and electronic stuff in the UK . I would like some electric rings for the kitchen and a fitted electric oven and grill. I will go looking for these things in Slovakia because they slap too much vat and import tax on such items in Hungary. You can do mail order but postage is very high . Also I like to see things before I buy.
Even second hand furniture can be overpriced in Hungary. I managed to buy some nice sofas second hand but they would have cost much less in the UK.
However I am not moaning because the cost of living in Hungary overall is still one third of the cost in the UK. My occupational pension is one third of my old wage but for the first time in my life I no longer have many direct debits or a mortgage to pay.

anns wrote:

I wish I had purchased more electrical items and electronic stuff in the UK . I would like some electric rings for the kitchen and a fitted electric oven and grill. I will go looking for these things in Slovakia because they slap too much vat and import tax on such items in Hungary. You can do mail order but postage is very high . Also I like to see things before I buy.
Even second hand furniture can be overpriced in Hungary. I managed to buy some nice sofas second hand but they would have cost much less in the UK.....

You're not wrong there.  That 27%VAT is oppressive.  We are rebuilding a house currently that we intend to be our family home.  There's no leeway given at all from that VAT.  We have to pay it on everything.   

One thing I do is look at Ikea in the UK, note the product code, then check the same items in Hungary and in Austria.  Sometimes even with the VAT, it's just as cheap here than in the UK.  But that's only if you like Ikea.   

Austria can be relatively cheap for big ticket items and if you go to SCS (Shopping Centre Sud) you can find all the electrical and electronics you want.  Of course, you need to shove it in the back of your car or hire a van if buying larger items but it's possible to make it a day out.

As for import taxes, these are the same across the EU and are only imposed at the EU borders.  There are no import taxes between EU countries.  I sometimes buy new and used car parts from the USA and the import duties, taxes, transport and courier "service fees" are terrible.  For really hard to get and expensive parts, it would be cheaper to fly there yourself and bring stuff back in your luggage.  I usually get the items sent to the UK, pile them up over time and then go there and collect them, even if means going by car.  The UK can be more lax at applying taxes for postal items, especially for secondhand parts. They are also 10x more efficient at getting items through the system.

The latest EU wheeze for VAT is to charge  VAT on the destination country for shipped goods (not those hand carried or personally carried). It used to be that VAT was levied on the country you bought from, not where you received the goods.  Now, it's levied on where you receive the goods.  Retailers now act as tax collectors for foreign governments.  It's put something of a block on buying stuff from Amazon.de or Amazon.co,uk where their postal charges were more reasonable.

No wonder people want to leave the EU.

Thanks for the information . I feel a big shopping trip coming on. I have also at times asked friends to bring things over. I really like some of the bathroom fittings and tiles available in B & Q in the UK. They have shops in Slovakia...oddly I saw one near their Ikea near the airport. The Hungarian DIY shops can't compare.
Another challenge that I have is buying good quality trees and fertilisers in Hungary. The ones I have seen so far , looking last summer, were almost half dead and incredibly expensive. Maybe most of them are imported from Holland and no one can afford to buy them at the garden centres. Hence living in small pots for years.
I do like Ikea and the catalogue prices are much the same across the UK and the Hungarian one.

anns wrote:

....
I do like Ikea and the catalogue prices are much the same across the UK and the Hungarian one.

Yes, they are about the same, which of course means superficially at least the UK stuff is probably over priced (i.e. there's quite a difference in VAT rates).  They would argue wages are higher there.   

One can also see the same differences in Austria - 19% VAT vs HU 27% VAT.  If I was buying a high value item, I already know I'm not going to buy it here.

Hi Christine,
To come here, you should have a good motivation and be accurately inform about a real situation, which can be described as "endemic corruption" in all the public services...People is not too will but administration...beware ! No confidence and strict survey of money moving, just necessary, under your exclusive control! Language is exotic and not to many people is speaking foreign tongues in official services and administration...chauvinism, proud...nothing to do with professionalism..!?
If you come only (alone) without knowing anybody here, please tell my by:
                                                    **
I will intent to help you...I am in south-east area. Baja (6500)
Thank you and have a nice day.
                                                                                              Regards,  Stevan

Hi Stevan,

Thank you for proposing me your help and i thank everyone for their contribution on this thread.

Let's now stay on topic which is "Essentials to live in Hungary". 

Thank you
Christine - Expat.com

Hi again,

Manner to act is depending of your own situation, when come (supposed in private arrangement) and of your previous experience. I am a true expert in relocation, even if I had to move just my self, depending of the result to reach and funds at the disposition, goal to reach, etc...If you need some more details, please write at this address (I am a private person, my advice are purely friendly).
                                 speedcraft.bs@hotmail.com
This will allow me to communicate with more space, more documents, if needed and some pics...
Where  would you like to go, exactly (capital Budapest) or...? Which are your goal and for how many time stay, did you know Hungarian..? One more personal ask...which is your astrological sign?
Thank you and have a funny day.
                                                                        Regards,  Stevan

Back on track here, hopefully...
To live in Hungary the most important thing to bring is a sense of humor, without it you will get depressed quickly.
Not sure why but most Hungarians like to see the glass half empty or even shattered.
Everything is personal and usually taken as an attack on their person.
Wrong wording or a smile at the wrong time and you have made an enemy for life. They want to be forgiven but they don't cut others much slack.
Sense of humor and a good attitude, takes a strong person to fend off negative energy,when dealing with official things in HUngary that is my best advice.
We have moved to Hungary to retire but on thinking over what we actually have brought over with us, it is very little value.
All our nice oil paintings, books etc. are still in storage in the US, even after many trips home to the US they are just sitting in a unit waiting.
Guess deep down we know in the long run we will not be staying in Hungary.

Well in the least past decade many items are obtainable in Hungary. OK it may not be the brand you used at home but close. One must remember that Hungary is in Europe therefore a German, Belgian or British may find things they used to at home. However if you from America, Australia, New Zealand, South America and Africa you my not see your item in the stores. My personal gripe is the Zesty Italian and Blue Cheese salad dressings but I welcome Snickers bars and Listerine that is sold here locally. Now as for electronics. As one who brought a new 32" TV which miraculously arrived without a scratch and in working order electronics are abound here. I bought a 42" here and while it wasn't as cheap as back home the price was bearable (ala 7 years ago back home). If you do import electronic stuff be mindful that besides the 27% AFA/VAT there is an additional 3% electronic tax bringing the total to a whopping 30% tax. This should probably discourage you from ordering or bringing in electronics outside the EU! If you wait for good deals and shop at places like Vatera and eMAg the prices are bearable. I'm probably missing a few things but this is good for starters! LOL!

The good thing is or at least it was 10 years ago, if you are a returning  Hungarian citizen you are allowed to bring in household goods, a car all duty free if you are moving personal items only for a one time move back home to HU.
Several people I knew brought cars in, 2 of these people soon had their nice cars stolen right after they finished changing things to EU standards on the cars.Wonder if there was a connection to customs agents knowing their addresses and cars being taken?
We brought in some household things, noting much of value, mostly clothing. Didn't need to pay duty at customs since my husband is a HU citizen, they did however give us a huge run around with not allowing us to break the customs seal for nearly 2 weeks under penalty of jail time.Had 12 boxes sitting in my living room not able to open them up until they decided if we could or not.
That was really an abuse of power by the customs agents.

Hi,
Excellent approach of local situation and don't forget that all the people are spied by electronic or humans, bank's employs give your account situation at the specialized underground structure created by Hungarian stat with only goal to steal your money..! I know several people, one of which was stolen for 250.000 US $ 10 years ago, by local politician, corrupted attorneys and judges...don't forget that this is the rest of old fashioned structure before liberalism epoch...Hungarian public mentality, is hypocrite, silly, lazy, poor, envious, intolerant toward minority, but very solidarity between them, hating all other...you seen it when the immigration passed trough country...They erected the grids around! Hope they will stay at the right side of the greed..?
To live in Hungary, you should bring all with you, and take care...can be stolen, quickly! My own experience-six years of struggle again "dirty people", attorneys, police, judges, administration...Primitives !
                                                                                                                    Stevan

Yes but I have to say there still are some very nice and cool people in Hungary, problem is those sweeties don't have any power or say.

I don't get paranoid about people being out to get me but when living in different areas of Europe it is easy to find yourself on the other side of the law. In the UK for example it is possible that in some areas you are prohibited from keeping chickens in your backyard. However in a new area you don't know what you don't know and you rely on neighbours telling you.
In the countryside people are more helpful than most and I know there are some things that I shouldn't bother growing because my neighbours sell them for pence but it is difficult to find more unusual seeds, bulbs and plants. However we are not allowed to import them from overseas.

BURIK Stevan wrote:

Hi Christine,
...If you come only (alone) without knowing anybody here, please tell my by:
                                                    **
I will intent to help you...I am in south-east area. Baja (6500)
Thank you and have a nice day.
                                                                                              Regards,  Stevan

@Stevan, Christine is one of the moderators and is not living in Hungary.  Expat.com personnel put up prompts to get some conversations/discussions started.  She's not going to ask you for help to live in Hungary but wants us to start and contribute to a topic discussion.

NO! Each country has it's own "ecological" uniqueness and that should be protected. A specie that does well in England could become a "predatory" plant in Central Europe etc. As far as the laws are concerned you are correct. In many countries you can be stopped on the street and asked for your document. In others the police needs a reason to do that. But Europeans are generally accustomed to that. No as much in America where citizen's rights are guaranteed by a Constitution and they take it seriously!

True Americans have many rights but the police often break all the rules under pretense of public safety etc.
My younger bro is a long haired ex roadie biker, a huge guy with a beard, a Harley and he looks Mexican( he got all the native DNA and left me out)
He has been pulled over in Cal. countless times, the cops think he is a Mexican and start all sorts of crap with him. He has a big mouth stands up for his rights, been hogged tied and jailed many times for nothing.
He lived in Simi, Cal during the time of the Rodney King trails. They were held at the courthouse in Simi, my red neck hometown.
He was stopped on the freeway, they had closed access into Simi to all traffic, the cops made everyone show ID to prove they had business in Simi before letting them onto the freeway.
He was stopped every night on his way home just because of his looks.
There was no news coverage of the ID checks into Simi, all controlled media.
At that time I lived 20 miles from Simi, a safe area and we still had a curfew at 8 pm for about a week during the riots.
The riots were a good 50 miles away from my house.
My 80 year old neighbor called me up, she was a great ol' gal from Texas, Surprised me, she wanted my husband to help her figure out which bullets fit into which gun just in case all heck broke out in our neighborhood,
My other bro worked and lived near LAX, He and his wife spent almost every evening in their rocking chairs inside their home with machine guns in their laps, just in case any rioters broke into their place, darn scary to realize things can get ugly really really fast.
The scary thing was seeing how fast the gov, could get into action and control everything if they felt they were in danger.

As an ex cop of course I would differ but I'm not totally OBJECTIVE here obviously!
As in ANY profession like, doctors, engineers etc., there is good and there is BAD!
Those of US in the profession are the most critical when one of US with a badge gives
us a bad name! As to the "look" or as it is known profiling. According to best estimates
there are between 8 to 12 million illegals in the US! Because IMMIGRATION is under
FEDERAL jurisdiction most localities are frustrated with illegals and that they can't
really do anything about them. California even issues driver's licenses to illegals under some stupid misguided philosophy! During my stay in Hungary I had many chances to observe Hungarian police and compare it to the typical American cop. Based on my observation the average Hungarian cop would have the life expectancy of about 6 months in a large city like Chicago, Boston, LA or New York. Their officer safety just sucks! As on who taught at an American police academy we flunked cadets if they performed as poorly as the average Hungarian uniformed officer. Enough said but I figured I mention it!

I agree many HU police look like school kids and if a real East LA gangsta came their way they would run to mommy.
That's one thing nice about HU violent crimes against strangers don't seem to happen as often as in the US.
My bro always gets into trouble, he was arrested about a year ago once again, his new wife a sweet blonde school teacher in LA county was with him at the time, he just doesn't know when to give up and shut up.
He does look "dangerous" but he is a puppy really. I must say I have personally never had any problems with police, I am a goody two shoes but my 2 bro's are dark  skinned guys and they both have run into issues from authority because of it.
My one bro is a high security clearance employee with a major US airline. He is always stopped for his ID and people of a lighter tone walking with him with no clearance are allowed into secure areas and never asked for ID.
He has never been arrested for anything and is basically a full on red neck himself, NRA type of guy.
The other bro might of asked for some troubles but not all of them.
My Hungarian husband's family had allot of police in it at one time.
His grandfather was in charge of buying all the horses for the Budapest police dept. and personally broke all of them. This was pre WW11, a totally different system.
My SIL was briefly married to a HU police man around 28 years ago, the old communist system. He had to get special permission to attend a family dinner because we "wild insane" Americans were at the dinner.

anns wrote:

.....shouldn't bother growing because my neighbours sell them for pence but it is difficult to find more unusual seeds, bulbs and plants. However we are not allowed to import them from overseas.

Within the EU you can take your house plants.  But one is not supposed to bring them in from outside the EU.  Seeds are OK. Many plants are here anyway, all across Europe.

I have grown seeds from the UK but they do not do very well in Hungary.  It's too cold in the winter, the seasons are shifted a bit and it's too hot and dry in the summer.  Our daffodils have not even come out yet but they've been out for ages in the UK.  Snowdrops only recently appeared in HU.

There could be some good additions to the varieties in HU, particularly potatoes.  Trying to get a good potato in HU is difficult.  They've never heard of New Potatoes, King Edwards or Maris Piper etc.   

Just to counter my own post, I got some excellent results (strangely) with Poundland seed potatoes.

Planted well before my time but I do have two patches of snowdrops flowering now in my garden. It is a shame I am away on holiday so I will miss them this year.
I have also planted daffodils bulbs ( poundland) but do not expect them to flower. If I keep throwing them in they may flower one year.

I don't think we are allowed to bring seed potatoes in ? So someone has been naughty ....but I have noticed that Hungarian potatoes are not as good for my style of cooking .

Sometimes people have said certain plants won't grow in Hungary but I still try a few things out. However it can be an expensive hobby if it doesn't naturally grow in the area. I have seen some magnificent mulberry trees in Hungary and would love to find some to plant. I  am currently writing out a list of trees , fruit trees and bushes I would like  so if anyone knows of a good place to buy them please share. I am hoping to create a more colourful and productive garden this year. I like the way that they have planted a big herb garden around the refurbished parliament building in Budapest but I imagine such mass planting must cost a fortune. Generally the Hungarian landscape can lack colour. But please contradict. However in my village area it tends to be sandy and dry and people don't waste water.

fluffy2560 wrote:

There could be some good additions to the varieties in HU, particularly potatoes.  Trying to get a good potato in HU is difficult.  They've never heard of New Potatoes, King Edwards or Maris Piper etc.   

Just to counter my own post, I got some excellent results (strangely) with Poundland seed potatoes.

We have New Potatoes abundantly on my side of the border in RO, can't recall ever seeing the others you mentioned

Romaniac

romaniac wrote:

....We have New Potatoes abundantly on my side of the border in RO, can't recall ever seeing the others you mentioned

Romaniac

The ones I prefer are Jersey New Potatoes. 

The other UK potatoes noted have a higher starch content and are excellent for french fries.  Starch makes the fries crispy. The potatoes sold in HU are lower in starch and therefore always come out soggy.  If I go to the UK by car I usually bring back a small'ish bag of potatoes.  They make excellent baked potatoes as well.

I shouldn't eat french fries anyway so perhaps it's for the best.

anns wrote:

I have also planted daffodils bulbs ( poundland) but do not expect them to flower. If I keep throwing them in they may flower one year...

Poundland daffs are terrible.  I only got about 4 ones that worked out of several bags.

I got a massive bag of quality daffs and tulips from the UK for Xmas.  My mother got them from a garden centre. You can get them "on sale" at the wrong time of the year.  They should be in before the frost because (I believe) they need a frost to know it's time to grow (i.e. when it gets warmer it sets them off).  One can simulate winter by putting them in the fridge.  I only put my daffs and tulips in last week as the ground was pretty frozen for a while and I was away.  With the delayed seasons they should be OK.  I've seen some shoots but at least another month before they come up properly.  Tulips will be after the daffs.