Lángos; Hungarian Food and Culture

One of the interesting aspects of moving to a new country is learning about the culture and the food of the country. In my first weeks in Hungary I had an opportunity to try Lángos. Lángos started as a baked flat bread made with bread dough baked in a brick oven. The word comes from, lang meaning flame in Hungarian. Today with fewer brick ovens Lángos is now a flat bread fried in oil. I’d best describe the dough as similar to an elephant ear from carnivals. The dough is made with flour, water, salt, sugar and sometimes milk. Some Lángos have yogurt, potato or sour cream added into the dough. The toppings of a Lángos are a little like pizza with a twist.

making Lángos

Lángos

Lángos
A warm Lángos served with sour cream and smoked cheese in Budapest.

When I tried Lángos it was served warm with a giant dollop of sour cream spread over its surface and about a third of a pound of an amazing grated smoked cheese. It was rich in flavor, heavy, and calorie laden. It’s definitely something to share among a few friends. I couldn’t eat very much, it was too rich, though the flavor of the smoked cheese continued to tempt me. The sour cream that topped my Lángos is a Hungarian staple. Hungarians put sour cream on everything, even on specialty pizzas, as a sauce. It’s known as tejföl and it’s very prominent in the grocery isle.

*Information about Lángos came from Wikipedia.

Dream Comes True; Tulum Mayan Ruins

Mexico
Tulum Maya Ruins

In 1993 a friend of mine was working in Mexico. He visited the Tulum Mayan Ruins and sent me a post card. It was one of those stunning turquoise blue water shots, with one of the Tulum temples at the edge of the water. It captivated me and from that moment I wanted to visit the Tulum Mayan Ruins.

Life took me in many directions, but never toward Tulum, or Mexico. In my head I always had Tulum on a list. The list contains a few long desired travel destinations including Greece, Bruges Belgium, Alaska, Red Square in Moscow, the Maldives and Tahiti. Tulum Mexico has moved off the list.

Tulum Beach
Champagne on the beach, Tulum, Mexico.

Mexico Beach
The Beach at Tulum, Mexico.

My dream came true, I visited the ruins at Tulum last year. It was surreal, and was a cherished day. It was one of those moments that truly allowed me to see how far my life has come. It was a reminder to refocus my desires, and continue to visualize the dreams I have. I know there is a guiding force in my life, helping to create opportunities and guiding me toward my best choices. Visiting the Tulum Maya Ruins was my dream, and a sweet reminder of what is possible. I’m grateful.

Liberty Bridge Budapest

My love of architecture is evident in todays photo post of the Liberty Bridge in Budapest. The Liberty Bridge also called Szabadsag hid or the Freedom Bridge is one of many that connect the Buda and Pest sides of Budapest. The bridge construction was begun in 1894 and finished in 1896.

Liberty Bridge view 1b

The bridge was designed by Janos Feketehazy in the Art Nouveau style.

liberty bridge light

Art Nouveau architecture

art nouveau architecture

Liberty bridge

Information about the Liberty Bridge is from Wikipedia.

My Favorite Travelogues; Twice a Month Musings

halfway-to-each-other
Photo Credit: Guide Posts Half Way to Each Other

I read quite a number of travelogues for pleasure. They appeal to me because I live an expat lifestyle. With that in mind as a reader of an expat blog you may also enjoy travelogue books. Beginning this month, I will suggest favorites of mine. This one was a great read.

Half Way to Each Other is the true story of one couple, contemplating separation who take drastic measures to change the direction of their relationship and their lives. This book is well written, realistic, funny, and captivating. You’ll feel like you’re part of their journey and their life in Italy.

Half Way to Each Other will have you laughing out loud. You’ll get caught up in the challenges and adventures that this family of four face as they sell their home, leave the US behind and set off for an adventurous year living in Italy. In my opinion this is a great read, it’s far more than a travelogue and will touch your heart.

Clicking on the book will take you directly to Amazon.