Recently in Hungary Category

Many people in the West don't realize that Hungary has a rich tradition of wine making, but the House of Hungarian Wines in Budapest aims to change that. Located in the historic Castle District of Buda, this temple of oenological knowledge offers guided wine-tasting walks in its special wine cellar, seated wine tastings accompanied by food and a presentation by a wine expert in the reception hall, and wine courses of varying intensity for those who just can't get enough wine knowledge. Enjoy samples of dozens of wines from different grape-growing regions, such as the Balatonfüred-Csopak, Somló, and Tokaj-Hegyalja regions (try repeating those names after a few glasses of wine), and learn about the effects the different terrain has on the flavors. The Tokaj-Hegyalja region, for example, is known for producing red wines with a high alcohol, sugar, and acid content, while the Somló area produces rich white wines from Riesling and other grapes grown in its volcanic soil. And whether it's a casual tasting or an intensive wine course, you'll come away from a visit to the House of Hungarian Wines with great grape education. Guests at the nearby Le Meridien Budapest hotel might want to drop by for a formal introduction to a family of excellent wines.

In the nineties she filmed men in a Budapest bathhouse and got famous. Nearly a decade later Katarzyna Kozyra returns to the Hungarian capital with her latest work "In Art Dreams Come True." And it's no lie. Kozyra has proven that with art, the sky's the limit. In this exhibition, which runs through October 28, at the Ludwig Museum of Contemporary Art the Polish artist documents her development into an opera singer, and the extravagant acts she pulled off along the way, via approximately thirty videos presented with television screens, computer monitors, and projections. One sees her as a cheerleader in a new version of Gwen Stefani's song "What You Waiting For." Another dons an 18th century guise and culminates in a castration. They all examine gender roles, the wish to reinvent the persona, and the process one must go through to achieve the desired affect.

Kozyra created her new self with the help of Berlin drag queen Gloria Viagra, and a vocal coach, called simply, The Maestro. You can reinvent your self at the Le Meridien Budapest this fall with one of three special "Discovery" offers. Make like Tiger Woods and try your hand at golf; pretend you're a Hungarian queen during a treatment in the spa; or take a full day for yourself and just wander... transforming experiences await.