An eastward journey
About 400 kilometers east of Budapest is the furthest eastern point in Hungary. Here, the Hungarian border meets Ukraine and Romania. Following Hungary’s accession to the European Union, trade between the borders remains strong … if sketchy, and it is not unusual for Hungarians to travel a few kilometers inside Ukraine in search of cheaper cigarettes. There, where many ethnic-Hungarians live, cheaper gasoline can also be purchased. At the same time, Ukrainians travel to villages in eastern Hungary for temporary agricultural work. While this activity may well be “under the table,” it is a way of life in these parts, and an illustration of how much of the population gets by.
WRITTEN BY: NÓRA LAKOS

A double espresso please ...
Brewing up inspiration Coffeehouses have become a true part of Hungarian culture. The establishments that served up the endless cups of arabica were homes to struggling artists and the venues for countless political and philisophical debates - even revolutions. Tamás Galambos takes a look back at the richness of Budapest’s coffeehouse culture.
WRITTEN BY: TAMÁS RÓBERT GALAMBOS