On the border of Poland and the Czech Republic is the city Cieszyn. It is techinically in both countries. It is Cieszyn on the Polish side and Cesky Tesin on the Czech side. The frontiers of the countries as some of the easiest to cross in Europe. Walk to the corner and show the nice boy in the uniform your passport and he will smile and wave you on. After entering the European Union it is now even easier to cross the border.The city itself is a very charming and smaller version of Vienna in design. Cieszyn is a small city but bustling none the less. The heart of the city is on the Polish side of the border the Czech side is mainly residential. The main industy of the city is sweets. Cookies and candies are made in Cieszyn. There is also dark Polish beer brewed as well. Cieszyn is really a tourist town as it is not far out of the Tatras and their ski resorts. During the communist era this is where the Polish Ski teams would train.
Due to many fires many of the earliest wooden buildings have burned and were replaced by stone building in the 18th century during a Hapsburg rule. The central sqaure is a large and grand area filled during the day with shoppers and stalls.
Cieszyn is also the home of one of Poland's premier film festivals. Surrounded by mountains and on the Otzer River Cieszyn is worth the trip. The etomology of the name Cieszyn is the Polish expression "I'm Happy".
Beware all you Austrians there are Wallabies on the loose. The land of the Hapsburgs is now aquiver in their dirndils and lederhosen (because that is what we all think they wear) as a pair of Wallabies is on the loose in the countryside. This is worse than those damned Van Trapp kids running around in curtains singing their little anti-nazi hearts out. Two adult wallabies and a joey in the pouch are on the loose about 150 miles outside of Vienna according to owner Gabrielle Schrammel. They have been on the lam for three days. They must be stopped before the reach the Hungarian border because once in Hungry who knows what could happen!
Jo Napot Kivanok is Hello in Magyar. Magyarorszag is them name of the country in Hungarian. The capital and main city of Hungary is Budapest. Hungarians aren't western Europeans and the aren't eastern either they are Magyar. The Magyar have shared the Carpathian Basin for millennium with the (Cgnyie) or the Roma aka the Gypsies. The Romans have been there, the Persians have been there, the Turks have been there, the Austrians have been there, the Germans have been there and finally the Soviets were there and they all tried to control the Magyar but they never could. Hungarians will claim to do what they are told but that is not true. They will do what they think is right. They are usually correct. Hungary used to be larger but in the 20th century during both World War I and World War II they just capitulated. They more or less said sure to the German's and the Italian's. They didn't help them mind you but because of those two wars, and being sort of on the losing side both times, Hungary lost a lot of territory. Parts of Slovakia and Monrovia are truly Hungarian as is Transylvania, now part of Romania.
Budapest is millennium old and there are signs of it throughout the city. Budapest (pronounced budapesh-t) is actually an amalgamation of two cities; Buda and Pest. The two cities separated by the Danube became one in 1873. In the late 1800's and early 1900's Budapest rebuilt it self and modernized. Subways, Grand avenues and a semi-circular grid were part of the grand urban European development plans common in the era. Budapest was a world class city and a cultural powerhouse for centuries. Budapest gave Paris a run for it's money.
The Budapest of today is not your grandfather's Budapest. It is a modern city with a thriving economy, comparatively, in Europe. The arts scene is as vibrant today as it was during Bartok Bela's time. Hungarian's say their names surname first. So it is Lizst Franz, Gabor Zsa Zsa...
The language also sets Hungary apart from the rest of Europe. It is neither Germanic, Romance or Slavic based. Magyar is closer to Finnish and Korean in its roots. A very complicated language that if a traveller tries to use Hungarian's take them to heart. Russian was required in schools during Soviet rule. English was a language that had to be requested to study. It was a very popular request. Most educated Hungarian's can and will speak a smidge of English and can't wait to use it. Especially in a bar. Budapest has bars everywhere. Apartments are generally not conducive for entertaining so bars and coffee houses are the centers of socializing. There are also the Baths. Budapest is built on a series of hot springs and since the times of the Pasha, 1,500 years ago there have been spas and Baths in Budapest. Night life is vibrant and always evolving.
Budapest and Hungary are a must see when doing Europe circut. Cheaper and more fun than most European cities Budapest is a treat to all the senses. Eat on the street and drink in the beer bars and remember to say Köszönöm szépen or Thank You.
