Christmas is just around the corner. Where did the year 2021 go?
This season always makes me feel emotional. I've been working in Qatar for almost 12 years now and I've celebrated Christmas in the Philippines only once all these years. There are so many factors to consider when working overseas such as:
- When to file your annual leave and make sure it's not in conflict with your colleagues;
- How much is the flight ticket? (Round trip tickets usually cost around 1,800 to 2,000 USD during Christmas);
- Do you want to be with your family or you'd rather send this money to them so they can have a great Christmas?
That is the dilemma of almost all Overseas Filipino Workers. Sad but it's true.
And then the Covid-19 pandemic came making it even harder to travel and see the family you miss very much. I know I'm not the only one in the same boat. I know.
Christmas can be really sad but we must not forget that it can also be very happy.
In this blog, I want to take you to Hungary's Christmas market in Budapest and hopefully give you the season's spirit!
I was lucky enough to be in Hungary in December of 2019. I packed my bags with winter clothes feeling so excited to put on my boots and go to the Christmas market on my first night. I made sure it is fashionable (at least for Instagram). What I did not know though is how cold Christmas in Europe is. On my first night visiting the Christmas markets, I was shivering in cold. Fashion over comfort? Yes, But I was wrong. I'll definitely choose comfort over fashion next time.
Smiling, shivering, splendid!
Budapest is magical when the Christmas lights and decorations are up! One of the most exciting parts of Christmas in Hungary is their Christmas markets/fair. The main Christmas fair is in Vörösmarty Square but visitors can also enjoy the Advent Feast at St Stephen’s Basilica.
Don't worry in case you are shivering like me, there are many ways to warm your body up during winter. You can have a shot of Unicum at home before heading out or just buy mulled wine from the market.
Unicum (Hungarian herbal liqueur or bitters, drunk as a digestif and apéritif) and Mulled Wine (Spiced wine)
Or you dare to try the rooster testicle stew! I didn't but it is something I want to try when I go back to Budapest. In the Philippines, we cook almost every eatable part of the chicken or pig but I haven't come across rooster testicles dish (yet). So this stew really kept me intrigued.
Many vendors are selling a variety of Hungarian food, mulled wine and other hot drinks, handmade crafts, sweets such as the famous Chimney cake, and many more.
Chimney Cake source : Daily News Hungary and Me having a bite.
The traditional Hungarian Chimney cake is getting famous around the world. I had a chimney cake in Prague and it is even available in Taipei, Taiwan. This cake requires skills and commitment and is not easy to make. If you want to see how it is made, check out Chimney cake recipe here.
This is pork salami wrapped like a piggy! Aren't they cute?
This fair is a food haven!
My face says it all!
Prices are relatively high at Christmas markets but this doesn't come as a surprise at all. Budapest is among the topmost 20 beautiful European Christmas destinations. If you happen to be in Budapest, don't miss it! You may check the Budapest Christmas Market 2021 dates here.
Below are the photos I took from the fair. Pretty loaded with food as you can see so prepare your wallet and your tummies!
They are selling a variety of drinks such as mulled wine, hot chocolate, raspberry punch and many more.
Are you hungry yet?
I love the aroma here. The smell of the hanging smoked pork is so appetizing!
And of course, who would miss the legendary Hungarian sausage?
Now, I hope I have lifted your Christmas spirits! But...if you are planning to visit the Christmas markets, please make sure that you know the entry policies.
Entry Requirements: They are requiring both proofs of immunity from selected countries and ID upon entry which will be verified at the gates.
And never miss taking a ride on one of the decorated trams in Budapest during this season. The best Christmas tram line is tram No. 2 traveling along the Danube bank in Pest between Közvágóhíd and Jászai Mari tér.
Source:Flickr
I hope I can make it to Budapest this Christmas with my husband. Although it is currently added to Qatar's red list countries, I won't be required for quarantine.
Going home to the Philippines from Qatar this season is more expensive than ever (just another effect of Covid-19). Travel restrictions and requirements are way too complicated to handle and my remaining leave days are not even enough for quarantine. It would be ridiculous to say but by the time I see my family, I'll have to say goodbye to them again.
I wish everyone can travel home for Christmas to be with their loved ones and may those who can't be able to find the spirit of it wherever they may be.
[//]:# (!pinmapple 47.512582 lat 19.050293 long d3scr)
About Me: "Living life in full bloom!"
Hello Hivers! I'm Sarah. A Real Estate Leasing Officer for 11 years and a Freelance Virtual Assistant. I am excited to share with you my passion for writing, travel, reading, and self-development.
If you find my blog helpful, informative, and fun, please click upvote, follow me or leave a message. I would love to connect with you. Cheers!
Thank you for sharing this amazing post on HIVE!
Your content got selected by our fellow curator @ashikstd & you just received a little thank you via an upvote from our non-profit curation initiative!
You will be featured in one of our recurring curation compilations and on our pinterest boards! Both are aiming to offer you a stage to widen your audience within and outside of the DIY scene of hive.
Join the official DIYHub community on HIVE and show us more of your amazing work and feel free to connect with us and other DIYers via our discord server: https://discord.gg/mY5uCfQ !
If you want to support our goal to motivate other DIY/art/music/homesteading/... creators just delegate to us and earn 100% of your curation rewards!
Stay creative & hive on!
This is amazing @diyhub! Love to be part of your community.
Perfect place to celebrate Christmas! Wish we could all travel soon without the restrictions 😩🤗
Hi Era, yes I love the Christmas markets there. But the Christmas markets in Pinas are what I miss most. Nothing fancy, simple and happy.
Congratulations, your post has been added to Pinmapple! 🎉🥳🍍
Did you know you have your own profile map?
And every post has their own map too!
Want to have your post on the map too?
The rewards earned on this comment will go directly to the person sharing the post on Twitter as long as they are registered with @poshtoken. Sign up at https://hiveposh.com.
Thank you @poshtoken
Congratulations @fitlipinasarah! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain and have been rewarded with new badge(s):
Your next target is to reach 600 upvotes.
Your next payout target is 50 HP.
The unit is Hive Power equivalent because your rewards can be split into HP and HBD
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPTo support your work, I also upvoted your post!
Check out the last post from @hivebuzz:
my uncle (who lives right in front of this house) has chickens.. 2-3 roosters.. i was just reading about rooster testicle stew when one of them decided to crow. :P
Hahaha! Are you gonna let that rooster live or will it become a stew?
😁😅🙃
@tipu curate
Upvoted 👌 (Mana: 53/93) Liquid rewards.
Thank you @ashikstd!
Hiya, @LivingUKTaiwan here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Top 3 in Daily Travel Digest #1402.
Your post has been manually curated by the @pinmapple team. If you like what we're doing, please drop by to check out all the rest of today's great posts and consider supporting other authors like yourself and us so we can keep the project going!
Become part of our travel community:
I have heard the market in Budapest is pretty epic in size and scale, plus seeing the food stall there just makes it even more tempting for a visit one day!
Yes you should go! I ate a litte too much that night. I was not able to ride the Christmas tram but I saw it pass by along The Parliament Building and the Danube.
OMG! Take me thereee @fitlipinasarah . It’s like christmas wonderland!I’m curious about the chimney cake, it’s my first time to see one. Great blog!! Excited to read more of it!
Thank you @arkicarls! It's a cake that looks like a bread right?
Wonderful place. Thank you for sharing this beautiful experience. Best regards!
Thank you for reblogging @mike.cupcakes! Followed you. 😃
Good shots! I've been there already two times! Maybe I'll go this year too! Amazing place, isn't it? Love your purse btw! :d
Cheers from Romania
Yes, I enjoyed it so much and ate a little bit too much. Cheers!
Hahah I know that feeling! Do you like their food?
Hey @fitlipinasarah , thank you for showing us what its like in there.. You really did great despite the shivering cold weather :D
And also the food which surely is a goodie just by the looks of it, it made me go hungry hahahaha.. Looking forward to see more of your adventures.
Congratulations by the way for being curated. Yay!😍
Dear @fitlipinasarah,
Do you mind supporting the HiveBuzz proposal for 2022 so our team can continue its work next year?
You can do it on Peakd, ecency, or using HiveSigner.
https://peakd.com/me/proposals/199
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!