As the leaves gather in Budapest’s courtyards and steamy coffee powers me through Márton-nap (St. Martin’s Day) weather, my husband, Andrew, and I are also on a timely mission familiar to many: booking our annual flu shots. Sorting healthcare as a foreigner still...
A Season for Home – and a Webinar Worth Joining It’s late October in Budapest: fog on the Danube, roasted chestnuts by the trams, and flags already waving for the long weekend marking the 1956 Revolution. My mum’s birthday falls on the 21st (Happy Birthday,...
Update – February 2026Since publishing this article, I’ve learned that Brody House now uses card terminals that prompt for an additional tip, even when a service charge has already been added. This changes the practical experience described below. If you’re confused...
I don’t usually make sweeping declarations. But this one’s easy: everyone in Hungary should download the Életmentő app. Not just foreigners. Not just pensioners. Not just people who like wandering off into the woods with questionable mobile signal. Everyone. And yes,...
When we bought our countryside cottage, I expected the usual homeowner chores: clean the gutters, trim the trees, keep the spiders out of the wine glasses. I knew ragweed from Canada, but I didn’t expect that in Hungary, you could actually be fined just for having it...