MY FRIEND IN BUDAPEST WANTS TO COME BACK TO THE U.S.A. : PRIME MINISTER PETER MAGYAR MAKES CHANGE : ORBAN LOYALISTS EXIST

For years now my friend, who has duel citizenship and speaks fluent Hungarian, has spent half his year in Hungary, usually in the spring and fall, but for the first time he reports being "homesick." Usually he wants to stay there. So what has changed? It would seem that he personally feels that there's more chaos. It has to do with the change to Peter Magyar as Prime Minister. He's not essentially opposed to Magyar, but in looking at the news reports, there certainly are some changes happening fast since the man took office.


WORKER VISAS : Other recent tourists to Hungary remarked to me that the Hungarian people were letting immigrants do the work, I take it in hotels and restaurants.

REUTERS : HUNGARY TO STOP ISSUING WORKER VISAS

Excerpt: Hungary's government will stop issuing worker visas to employees from the Philippines, Georgia ​and Armenia from Friday, a government spokeswoman said, ‌calling the move a first step towards regulating the inflow of guest workers.

PBS: PETER MAGYAR TO CHANGE HUNGARIAN CONSTITUTION

Excerpt: Hungary's government will amend the constitution to remove the country's president, part of a push by the new Prime Minister Péter Magyar to eliminate officials appointed under former populist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Magyar and his Tizsa party won an overwhelming victory in an election in April. With a two-thirds majority in parliament, they can make sweeping changes to the autocratic political system Orbán built over his 16 years in power.

***

I previously confused Magyar's Title to be President.  Hungary does have a Prime Minister and a President.  If you're an American, you might be confused too.  The Prime Minister is the person who has political power.  The President of Hungary has a ceremonial role. 

According to the article above : "While mostly a ceremonial role, Hungary's president is responsible for signing legislation into law and has the power to send bills passed by parliament to the constitutional court for review, raising concerns among supporters of the new government that he could use that power to obstruct its plans."

***

The way I see it is that the President of Hungary has more power than say, the King Charles III of the United Kingdom ...

How do you see it?

***

WONDERFUL HUNGARY SERIES - AN UP TO DATE GUIDE

In PAGES I have a list of the many places in Hungary that are interesting to visit. I'm going to print the list here too, and suggest that if you want to read more about any of these places, you can bring the post up using the search feature or the tags.  On a Google Blogger, clicking on the tag below brings up all posts with that tag.

THIS IS A LIST OF PLACES COVERED IN THE SERIES

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to get to the entire series on this theme.

2020

#1 CSESZNEKI VAR CASTLE :  WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY  

posted 21 July 2020

 #2 THE CAVE BATH OF MISKOLCTAPOLCA: WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY

posted 24 July 2020

 #3  BOKOD FLOATING HOUSES : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY

posted 29 July 2020

 #4 ENERGY LINES and HEALING STONES IN HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 10 August 2020

2021

 #5 CELEBRATE FARSANG in MOHACS : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY

posted 5 January 2021

#6 SZAMOS CHOCOLATE MUSEUM in BUDAPEST : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 10 Feb 2021

 #7 THE WORLD TREE IN GODOLLO HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY

posted 10 April 2021

 #8 THE VALLEY OF THE BEAUTIFUL WOMAN in EGER REGION  : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 14 June 2021

 #9 HEVIZ : SWIM IN WORLDS SECOND? LARGEST MAGICAL THERMAL LAKE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 17 July 2021

 #10 A SCULPTURE MUSEUM THAT REQUIRES YOU TO LOOK THROUGH A MICROSCOPE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 22 September 2021

2022

 #11 AN ODORLESS SALT LAKE INLAND : LAKE SZELID : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 14 May 2022

 #12 THE BEST ZOO IN EUROPE : NYIREGYHAZA ZOO : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY (PIGMY HIPPOS BREEDING!) posted 11 July 2022

 #13 PANNONHALMA ARCH-ABBY : OVER 1000 YEARS OLD - SAINT MARTIN   :  WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 9 August 2022

#14 FOLK LIFE PRESERVED at  SKANZEN OPEN AIR MUSEUM - SZENTENDRE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 7 September 2022

WORLD PEACE GONG in GODOLLA HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #15 posted 29 December 2022

2023

 #16 CAVERNS OF AGGTELEK NATIONAL PARK : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY

posted 23 February 2023

 #17 PECS CHRISTIAN CRYPTS IN ONE OF HUNGARY'S MOST BEAUTIFUL CITIES :  WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted  2 April 2023

 #18 BUKKABRANY VILLAGE MUMMIFIED FOREST : BUKK NATIONAL PARK :  WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY  posted 24 June 2023

 #19 THE ISEUM : A TEMPLE TO GODDESS ISIS  - ARCHAEOLOGY  - THE ROMANS IN HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY  posted 22 July 2023

 #20 HEREND MANUFACTORY : SEE THE MUSEUM - TAKE A TOUR OR A CLASS!  HEREND HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 4 November  2023

 #21 HUNGARIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM : LET'S LOOK AT CURRENT EXHIBITS : A COUNTRY FOR WOMEN VIRTUAL TOUR : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 5 December 2023

2024

#22 LAKE FERTO / NEUSIDEL - A BIOSPHERE RESERVE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 27 April 2024

#23 CASTLE FUZER BUILT DURING THE OTTOMAN WARS  : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 15 May 2024

#24 SAINT ELIZABETH'S CATHEDRAL IN KASSA/ KOSICE  : MEDIEVAL EUROPE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 15 June 2024

#25 SZEGED : THE THIRD LARGEST CITY AND ART- NOUVEAU ARCHITECTURE and PUPPETRY MAKES IT UNIQUE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 25 July 2024

#26 CAVE DIVING UNDER BUDAPEST : MOLNAR JANOS CAVE SYSTEM : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 19 October 2024

2025

#27 ROWBOAT THROUGH TAPOLCA CAVERN LAKE : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 18 January 2025 

#28 SHOES RIVER MOMUMENT : INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL DAY IS JANUARY 27th EACH YEAR BUT HUNGARY HAS IT'S OWN DAY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY  posted 12 April 2025

#29  GODOLLO CASTLE (GRASSZALKOVICH CASTLE) : LARGEST BAROQUE CASTLE IN HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY   posted 17 May 2025

#30 TELKI-BANYA : 800 YEARS OF MINING GOLD, SILVER, OPALS, CRYSTALS, MINERALS : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY posted 17 September 2025

#31  VAJAHUNYAD  :  A FANTASY CASTLE BUILT FOR THE 1000th ANNIVERSARY OF HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY  posted  11 October 2025

IF YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT!

C 2026 Magyar-American BlogSpot  All Rights Reserved

VAJAHUNYAD : A FANTASY CASTLE BUILT FOR THE 1000th ANNIVERSARY OF HUNGARY : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #31

https://vajdahunyadcastle.com/

While in Budapest....

Excerpt: The whole nation was in a feverish preparation to celebrate the 1000th birthday, but, despite all hurried work, the Expo had to be held one year later (Hungarian astronomists set the date of the Magyar Conquest in 895, so the Exhibition was in fact the 1001th birthday).

The original building of the Vajdahunyad Castle (officially called in 1896 the Historical Building Complex, i.e. Tortenelmi Epuletcsoport) was just a temporary structure made of wooden planks and cardboard designs. Even its plain name was descriptive signifying that it is nothing more than a complex of various historical buildings. Ignac Alpar designed the building of Vajdahunyad Var, which is actually the name of an old Hungarian Gothic Castle in Hunyadvar hence Vajda-Hunyadvar (Hunyadvar was part of Austria-Hungary before 1919, now found in Romania).

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to get to the entire series on this theme.

C 2025 Magyar-American BlogSpot

BE A TOURIST IN YOUR OWN TOWN

In this blog, I suggest many places in the country of Hungary that are quite wonderful to visit.  I realize though that many of you have no money left after you pay your rent or mortgage especially, for travel outside the country.  

May I encourage you to consider your own town or area as the perfect vacation spot by playing the tourist there?  Or simply staying closer to home by taking a few long weekends?

I do think we need new sights and sounds and experiences to keep us bright and lively. Have you explored the history and culture of your area? Gone to every museum? Historical sight? 

I live in an area right now where the Parks and Recreation people are behind a great number of movies in the park and other activities aimed to keep children entertained. There are also cultural festivals ongoing though I'll admit lately I don't want to be out in the heat. Still, there are many places that I went once long ago that have probably changed in all that time, that could reengage my interest.

When is the last time you went to a public swimming pool?

Took a long walk in nature?  An arboretum?

Had a cookout or picnic?  Tried a new recipe?

Toured a historical site?

Seen some of your relatives?

Gone fishing?

May I suggest one day out and the next day in so that you can rest between adventures?

C 2025 Magyar American - BlogSpot  

WANT TO CONTACT ME TO TELL ME ABOUT INTERESTING THINGS TO DO AND SEE?

 WANT TO CONTACT ME TO TELL ME ABOUT INTERESTING THINGS TO DO AND SEE?

Would you like to tell me about your Hungarian-American Club or places to go and things to do that are of  interest to Americans with Hungarian /Magyar heritage, recent immigrants from Hungary, or Hungarian tourists to the United States?

I moderate (read before making a decision to publish) all comments.  That means that you can leave a comment with the heading DO NOT PUBLISH that includes your e-mail or other contact information and IT WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE NET!   You can leave a comment without having a Google Account.

You can leave any information that you would like me to review, and if I like what you tell me about I may publish that information on this blog.  MAGYAR - AMERICAN!

THANKS!

TARD VILLAGE : THE EPICENTER OF TRADITIONAL MATYO EMBRODERIE

This article is about the economic conditions in Borson-Abauj-Zemplen County in Hungary and the way women, especially elder women, are turning to their traditional artistry to improve their incomes.

RADIO FREE EUROPE : TARD VILLAGE MATYO EMBRODERIE

Excerpts: The practice of Matyo embroidery is through to have started around 200 years ago and has since been passed down through the generations.  The women living in Tard mastered their skills, embroidering the distinctive flowers and leaves, by watching their mothers, who had learned it from their own mothers.

According to local mythology, the technique was born when the devil kidnapped a man and asked for the most colorful flowers as a ransom.  In the dead of winter, in order to get her husband back, his young bride presented the devil with a set of richly embroidered flowers.

According to local mythology, the technique was born when the devil kidnapped a man and asked for the most colorful flowers as a ransom. In the dead of winter, in order to get her husband back, his young bride presented the devil with a set of richly embroidered flowers.

***

Like many towns and villages in Hungary's northeast, Tard has been in decline since the wider regional collapse of heavy industry and mining after the fall of communism.  Across Hungary, some 1.9 million people -- 12 percent of the population - now live in poverty.  According to 2019 statistics, 15 percent of people over the age of 65 lived in deprivation.

AN ODORLESS SALT LAKE INLAND : LAKE SZELID : WONDERFUL PLACES IN HUNGARY #11

Lake Szelid is a shallow lake - about 9 1/2 feet deep on the average - that was once part of the Danube.  Located in Southern Hungary in Bac-Kiskun County Great Plain region, Szelid is the country's fifth largest lake and a less known resort destination. In recent times a bike path has been constructed around the lake which is about two and a half miles by about a half mile.  Once considered a summer location, the renewed bike path which is being kept clean and de-iced, is usable past the season. Unlike so many hot mineral waters that people soak in for healing, Lake Szelid does not smell like sulfur. (However, I personally do not know if I would want to soak and fish in the same water and apparently some big fish have been caught, maybe all the bathers scare them!)  In fact, the alkaline water is thought to feel velvety!

Click on the label Wonderful-Hungary to bring up all posts on this theme.

QUESTION FOR READERS: ARE YOU CONSIDERING MOVING TO HUNGARY?

Considering the turmoil of the Presidency and Presidential Elections here in the United States of America, as well as the desire of some Americans to live in Christian society, as well as the inability some face to retire in the United States financially, I've been wondering if my readers are considering MOVING TO HUNGARY.

As I understand it, in order to gain Hungarian citizenship, speaking the language is a requirement and it's not easy to learn.  However, it might be more easily learned living in Hungary.

Your COMMENTS please!

VACRATOT BOTANICAL GARDEN - QUITE POSSIBLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GARDEN IN HUNGARY

DAILY NEWS HUNGARY - Vácrátót Botanical Garden - PHOTOS

This National Botanical Garden is possibly the most beautiful in all of Hungary. 180+ years of development and a refurbishing in 1952, with hundreds of native plants as well as those that grow in the Rocky Mountains of the United States....and harsh climate plants from the Russian steppes, Central-Asian mountains, and other places that those nomadic tribes that became the Hungarians once traveled through or lived. It's been open to the public since 1961. It's in Pest County, and in the town there is also a historic church built in the 1700's.