Page 15 - Talk of Tequesta - July '19

The Talk Of Tequesta, Page 15

travel

Hungary: Heritage, Horsemen And Paprika

By Don Kiselewski, MCC, D.S., Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders

The Republic of Hungary of the Popes and the emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. The the other structures that connect the two cities across the
is about the size of Indiana and 13 century brought great devastation under the Mongol (Tatar) Danube.
th
has a neighbor for every day of armies of Batu Khan. Despite the extensive loss of life, the Heroes’ Square is perhaps the most visited area in Pest. This
the week: Austria, Slovakia, Mongols never occupied Hungary. huge square with its statutes of past Hungarian kings is flanked by
Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, The Kingdom of Hungary lost control of its territories, which the Palace of Art and the Museum of Fine Arts. Statue Park may
Croatia and Slovenia. It’s no became Wallachia in 1330 and Moldavia in 1359. A century very well be a one-of-a-kind area because of the park’s contents.
wonder that the landlocked later, Hungary strengthened its position in the world under King After the breakdown of Communist rule in the city, the statues of
country has been in everyone’s Matthias Corvinus. The country became one of Europe’s artistic the various Communist leaders were all taken down and carted
way since the dawn of recorded and cultural centers; this was greatly influenced by Corvinus’ off to another location and reset along a walkway through the
time. It is split from north and Italian wife, who brought artisans to Hungary from France and park. I’m not sure of the rationale behind this action, but one
south at its midsection by England. Next to defeat the Hungarians were the Ottomans at might suspect that it is just in case the old gang takes over again.
one of the mightiest rivers in the Battle of Mochics in 1526. Chicken paprikash and paprika cream soup are but a few
Europe: the Danube. And then the political chaos began. Two kings were elected of the ways that paprika from the Kalocsa area of Hungary
More than half of the country’s area consists of the rolling simultaneously – Ferdinand Habsburg and János Szapolyai spices up the appetite. The 18,000 inhabitants of Kalocsa work
plains of the Carpathian (or Pannonian) Basin. Transdanubia – and the country was divided in three; one-third under the the 8,000 acres of “red gold” paprika peppers to produce a
is the hilly portion of the country, occupying that portion of Ottomans, another third under the Habsburgs and the last third crop equal to that of Spain; both claim to produce the largest
the country west of the river, while the Nagyafold, or Great (Transylvania) remaining independent. There were turf struggles crop in Europe. Kalocsa is also the home of the Archbishop’s
Hungarian Plains, lies to the east. The highest point in the country for the next century and a half. The Austrians prevailed with the Palace and Cathedral. The first archbishop was Asztrik, who
is Mount Kékes, at 3,350 feet, in the Carpathians. help of the Russians. In 1867, Hungary theoretically became an brought the crown to the king from the pope. The cathedral was
Despite being landlocked, Hungary has plenty of water to equal half of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, which lasted until demolished during the invasion of the Mongols and was rebuilt
serve its needs. Three large rivers – the Danube, Tisza and Drava the first World War. Things didn’t change much between the two in the Baroque style from 1736 to 1754.
– traverse the country. Transdanubia has the distinction of having world wars. Hungary aligned itself with Germany in 1930 and It is in this same area, the Solt settlements, that the world-
the largest thermal lake in the world. The resulting effects of these got into World War II as a member of the Axis. After the war, famous horsemen of the Puszta reside. Révbér Puszta is the
thermal reserves are an abundance of natural spas. Lake Tisza, Hungary became a Communist satellite following a short-lived horse-training center. Standing atop two horses, while driving
an artificial lake, is the second largest in the Carpathian Basin. try of democracy from 1945 to 1947. Then back to a brutal form a team of five horses at full gallop, seems to be an everyday
The heritage of Hungary has been shaped from many of communist rule, which spawned the Hungarian Revolution occurrence for these equestrian acrobats. Driving teams of three
directions. In Roman times, the area west of the Danube was of 1956. In 1980, Hungary was instrumental in dissolving the or four houses pulling a light buckboard-type wagon – again, at a
known as Pannonia. With the collapse of the Roman Empire, the Warsaw Pact, and in 1990 it held its first free election. It entered full gallop – through an obstacle course has produced consistent
gates were open to the country and invaders flowed in from all into the European Union in 2004. world titles in this type of event. Most interesting is the many
directions. The Lombards and Gepids ruled Pannonia for about a Budapest, the “Pearl of the Danube” or “Queen of the ways that the riders have trained their mounts to serve them in
century and then the Slavic tribes started migrating into the area. Danube,” is a beautiful city split by the waters of the Danube. In battle, even to the position like a dog sits, which is unheard of in
In 560, the Avars gained dominance and ruled for two centuries. actuality, it is the incorporation of three cities under one name, horses. These training centers are self-sufficient and support the
The Franks advanced from the west under Charlemagne and the which took place in 1973. Óbuda (Old Buda) and Buda on the families who live and work there. The people still utilize outdoor
Bulgars from the southeast managed to overthrow the Avars in the west bank of the Danube were joined to Pest on the east bank ovens and traditional blacksmithing methods.
early ninth century. The Magyars migrated to Hungary in the late to create the city of Budapest. The right (west) bank of the city Hungry has produced many famous people such as Liszt
ninth century. Although some believe that the name “Hungary” is hilly and contains the Royal Castle as well as other structures and Bartók in the world of music; Houdini the escape artist; the
came from this occupation, the name actually came from the such as the Fisherman’s Bastion, the icon of Budapest. The site Gabor sisters (Eva, Magda and Zsa Zsa); Edward Teller, father
seventh-century Bulgar alliance called On-Ogour, which in old overlooks the vast flatlands of Pest, located across the river. of the hydrogen bomb; and many scientists, mathematicians and
Turkish means “10 Arrows.” This refers to the 10 tribes from The Bastion was built to commemorate the brave stand Nobel Prize winners. Two of its most interesting inventors are
Turkey that occupied the area. made by the river fishermen who successfully defended the Ernő Rubik, the developer of the cube that bears his name, and
King Saint Stephen established the Kingdom of Hungary Royal Castle when it was under siege. From the numerous Laszlo Biro. Biro’s name is less well-known, but his invention
in the millennium. He was the first Christian Hungarian king vantage points in Buda, one can capture exciting views of is known the world over: the ballpoint pen.
and was canonized along with his son, Imre, in 1083. At this the Hungarian Parliament Building, built at the water’s edge Don Kiselewski writes from his personal experiences, having
point in Hungary’s political development, influence came from in the same style of architecture as Westminster in London. traveled in 122 countries and cruised the oceans, seas and rivers
Poland and Bohemia. These interventions came at the direction From here one can see the famous Chain Bridge as well as of the world. Palm Beach Gardens Travel Leaders, his family
owned and operated agency, is located at Mirasol Town Square,
11360 North Jog Road, Building A, Suite 102-6, Palm Beach
Gardens. The agency has been serving the travel needs of the
South Florida area for over a quarter of a century. Contact him
at (561) 694-9696 or Aussie@PBGTravel.com.
Photos by Don Kiselewski

The historical architecture of Hungary’s capital city of
Budapest

ATLANTIC FREE DESIGN ESTIMATE 561.575.0060

CABINETRY Mon-Fri: 9 AM - 4:30 PM 1544 Cypress Drive
Sat: by appointment
Jupiter, FL 33469
Sculptures of prominent Hungarian statesmen in Heroes’
CUSTOM CABINETS | FINE QUALITY KITCHEN & BATH PRODUCTS | REMODELING Square