1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Team podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:11,693 Speaker 1: from News Talks AB. 3 00:00:13,413 --> 00:00:17,053 Speaker 2: Mike Hadley's our travel corresponding. He's here this morning, calder. 4 00:00:16,853 --> 00:00:19,573 Speaker 3: Mike, you're a Jack. I'm gazing at it Mount Hut 5 00:00:19,773 --> 00:00:22,453 Speaker 3: through my window at the moment, and you would think 6 00:00:22,733 --> 00:00:26,493 Speaker 3: mister Whippy has gone berserk because the whole spine of 7 00:00:26,533 --> 00:00:29,413 Speaker 3: the Southern Alps has got quite the snow coat. But 8 00:00:29,573 --> 00:00:32,093 Speaker 3: the well, are we the food of May for God's sake? 9 00:00:32,293 --> 00:00:35,333 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was going to say very early for first, 10 00:00:35,453 --> 00:00:38,853 Speaker 2: you know, for heavy snow, but I'm not surprised after 11 00:00:38,893 --> 00:00:40,573 Speaker 2: this week. So I was sort of in your neck 12 00:00:40,573 --> 00:00:45,253 Speaker 2: of the woods on Thursday and you know, you know, yeah, 13 00:00:45,293 --> 00:00:47,493 Speaker 2: well no, I mean it was actually I was, I mean, 14 00:00:47,813 --> 00:00:49,853 Speaker 2: always delighted to be in Canterbury, but I was driving. 15 00:00:49,973 --> 00:00:52,773 Speaker 2: I was driving the stretch from State hiow one from 16 00:00:52,813 --> 00:00:55,653 Speaker 2: christ Church South and you know, when you're usually heading south, 17 00:00:55,693 --> 00:00:58,693 Speaker 2: you've kind of got nothing really on your left hand side, 18 00:00:58,733 --> 00:01:00,253 Speaker 2: but on the right hand side, like you say, you've 19 00:01:00,293 --> 00:01:01,493 Speaker 2: got the spine of the Southern Alps. 20 00:01:01,533 --> 00:01:01,733 Speaker 1: There. 21 00:01:02,373 --> 00:01:04,693 Speaker 2: Of course, on Thursday, in the throes of the storm, 22 00:01:04,733 --> 00:01:07,413 Speaker 2: I couldn't see anything. Get there's nothing to see out 23 00:01:07,413 --> 00:01:10,653 Speaker 2: of the window, but it was, according to the car thermometer, 24 00:01:10,853 --> 00:01:13,733 Speaker 2: six degrees and the rain was falling very heavily. So 25 00:01:13,933 --> 00:01:17,133 Speaker 2: I was looking out that right hand driver's side and thinking, 26 00:01:17,133 --> 00:01:19,893 Speaker 2: you know what, Okay, maybe I can't see the Alps 27 00:01:19,973 --> 00:01:22,133 Speaker 2: right now, but something tells me they're getting to be 28 00:01:22,133 --> 00:01:26,773 Speaker 2: getting a fair bit of snow in this storm. Yeah, yeah, yeah, 29 00:01:26,853 --> 00:01:31,373 Speaker 2: that's particular. Please hear there are some upsides given what's 30 00:01:31,453 --> 00:01:34,053 Speaker 2: been through over the last few days. Anyway, we are 31 00:01:34,093 --> 00:01:37,733 Speaker 2: turning our attentions slightly further a few this morning to 32 00:01:37,773 --> 00:01:40,653 Speaker 2: put a pest in Hungary and it is a very 33 00:01:40,773 --> 00:01:43,573 Speaker 2: very interesting place to be right now, not only for 34 00:01:43,733 --> 00:01:47,853 Speaker 2: historical reasons, but for modern political reasons. Is Victor Auburn's 35 00:01:47,893 --> 00:01:48,933 Speaker 2: influence noticeable. 36 00:01:50,213 --> 00:01:53,133 Speaker 3: It's unmistakable. Yeah, it's been over a decade since I 37 00:01:53,213 --> 00:01:56,453 Speaker 3: was last and brought a pesta, and all Ben's nationalist 38 00:01:56,613 --> 00:01:59,613 Speaker 3: stripes are just ever present in the city. So the 39 00:01:59,693 --> 00:02:02,533 Speaker 3: thing I really noticed a couple of weeks ago the flags. 40 00:02:02,573 --> 00:02:08,733 Speaker 3: There's just these huge Hungarian flags at every turn, statues, monuments, 41 00:02:08,813 --> 00:02:14,133 Speaker 3: all sorts of splashy patriotism just pervading Buddha pest. The 42 00:02:14,253 --> 00:02:18,653 Speaker 3: money spent check on lighting up every landmark building in 43 00:02:18,853 --> 00:02:22,493 Speaker 3: bridge edging and crossing the Danube is astonishing. It's like 44 00:02:22,893 --> 00:02:28,013 Speaker 3: Disneyland after dark. And Budapest. He's Europe's longest serving prime minister. 45 00:02:28,413 --> 00:02:32,373 Speaker 3: He cleared Budapest of beggars. They are persona non grata. 46 00:02:33,213 --> 00:02:37,013 Speaker 3: But I think his most extravagant splash has been on 47 00:02:37,093 --> 00:02:40,973 Speaker 3: rebuilding the historic power base of Hungary, the Castle District, 48 00:02:41,253 --> 00:02:44,133 Speaker 3: which is on the hills of Buddha. All of that, 49 00:02:44,333 --> 00:02:46,773 Speaker 3: well a lot of it was destroyed in World War Two, 50 00:02:46,773 --> 00:02:52,093 Speaker 3: but it's now one of Europe's biggest historic reconstruction zones. 51 00:02:52,173 --> 00:02:53,333 Speaker 3: It is just epic. 52 00:02:53,533 --> 00:02:57,173 Speaker 2: How much is he spending on the restorations then. 53 00:02:57,133 --> 00:02:59,693 Speaker 3: Is such a good question. No one really seems to know. 54 00:02:59,893 --> 00:03:05,173 Speaker 3: It's a closely guarded secret. The total price tag, well 55 00:03:05,333 --> 00:03:08,933 Speaker 3: you just just pick an up. But currently the building's 56 00:03:09,013 --> 00:03:12,733 Speaker 3: currently being worked on. They come with a cost of 57 00:03:12,773 --> 00:03:16,133 Speaker 3: three billion dollars, so I mean you can you can 58 00:03:16,173 --> 00:03:19,573 Speaker 3: double triple, quadruple that figure for the total price tag. 59 00:03:19,973 --> 00:03:23,613 Speaker 3: But it's just extraordinary. So this Castle District, it was 60 00:03:23,653 --> 00:03:27,653 Speaker 3: previously like the power base of the the Habsburgs when 61 00:03:28,053 --> 00:03:32,533 Speaker 3: Austria and Hungary got together. My guide I think my 62 00:03:32,693 --> 00:03:35,373 Speaker 3: guide summed it up best. As we sort of walked 63 00:03:35,373 --> 00:03:38,653 Speaker 3: along all of these buildings being stored and reconstructed. My 64 00:03:39,133 --> 00:03:44,013 Speaker 3: guide said, Auburn has an edifice complex though it was 65 00:03:44,133 --> 00:03:49,293 Speaker 3: such a great term. But yeah, under under the Habsburg monarchy, Jack, 66 00:03:49,733 --> 00:03:55,813 Speaker 3: many of these castle fountains actually frothed with wine. No 67 00:03:55,933 --> 00:03:57,973 Speaker 3: word as to whether that's been reinstated. 68 00:04:00,213 --> 00:04:02,693 Speaker 2: I guess we'll find out. My goodness, Yeah, that's amazing. 69 00:04:03,373 --> 00:04:06,133 Speaker 2: I mean, this is, you know, an extraordinary you know 70 00:04:06,213 --> 00:04:08,573 Speaker 2: that this part of the world has an extraordinary recent history, 71 00:04:08,573 --> 00:04:10,693 Speaker 2: and there are some pretty sobering World War II history 72 00:04:10,693 --> 00:04:12,053 Speaker 2: on the banks of the Danube. 73 00:04:13,533 --> 00:04:17,693 Speaker 3: Yes, Hungary was a Nazi puppet before the Soviets called 74 00:04:17,693 --> 00:04:20,613 Speaker 3: the shots post war. But just down from the Hungary Parliament, 75 00:04:20,653 --> 00:04:25,053 Speaker 3: which is another beautiful building from the nineteenth century, the 76 00:04:25,093 --> 00:04:29,933 Speaker 3: schu Memorial Man alive sixty pairs of bronze shoes, and 77 00:04:29,973 --> 00:04:32,093 Speaker 3: they're all in different shapes and sizes, and they just 78 00:04:32,213 --> 00:04:35,133 Speaker 3: scattered along the edge of the river as if the 79 00:04:35,173 --> 00:04:37,213 Speaker 3: owners of these shoes have just stepped out of them. 80 00:04:37,253 --> 00:04:41,133 Speaker 3: It's in honor of the thousands of Hungarian Jews who 81 00:04:41,133 --> 00:04:45,533 Speaker 3: were forced to remove their shoes before being shot on 82 00:04:45,613 --> 00:04:48,893 Speaker 3: that site, and the reason being the shoes were actually 83 00:04:48,973 --> 00:04:52,333 Speaker 3: a really valuable commodity during the war, so as their 84 00:04:52,333 --> 00:04:55,973 Speaker 3: bodies floated away in the river, their shoes were being sold. 85 00:04:56,253 --> 00:05:00,853 Speaker 3: And the simplicity of the Schu memorial, it is profoundly moving. 86 00:05:00,973 --> 00:05:04,133 Speaker 2: Yeah, I remember seeing it there, and you know, I've 87 00:05:04,173 --> 00:05:06,093 Speaker 2: seen you know, a few kind of memorials and things 88 00:05:06,093 --> 00:05:09,853 Speaker 2: around in Europe. I reckon that stands out as one of, 89 00:05:09,893 --> 00:05:12,493 Speaker 2: if not the most kind of affecting memorials that I 90 00:05:13,053 --> 00:05:16,133 Speaker 2: can think of degree throughout that. Yeah, it really is, 91 00:05:16,493 --> 00:05:19,253 Speaker 2: you know, it really is affecting and moving. So yeah, 92 00:05:19,853 --> 00:05:24,133 Speaker 2: totally your suggestion there. Did you try Hungary's locally steroll pork. 93 00:05:25,733 --> 00:05:28,213 Speaker 3: Well, it sounds like a contradiction in tombs, doesn't it. 94 00:05:28,693 --> 00:05:32,573 Speaker 3: Locally stroll porky pig and very high in omega three 95 00:05:32,813 --> 00:05:36,293 Speaker 3: this one in Hungary. So yes, autra Felgutu went out 96 00:05:36,293 --> 00:05:39,973 Speaker 3: to a place called Sheeeesel Winery on the outskirts of 97 00:05:39,973 --> 00:05:44,013 Speaker 3: the city and the specialty dish is munga Litzer pig. 98 00:05:44,373 --> 00:05:47,613 Speaker 3: So this is a locally strolled pork from a heritage 99 00:05:47,653 --> 00:05:50,853 Speaker 3: breed of Hungarian pigs. And I've become the toast of 100 00:05:50,893 --> 00:05:53,533 Speaker 3: a lot of gourmet restaurants in Europe. But the most 101 00:05:53,613 --> 00:06:00,413 Speaker 3: unusual pigs they have really wally coolly here. They look 102 00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:06,133 Speaker 3: more like overgrown sheep than than pigs. And the mangolitzer 103 00:06:06,533 --> 00:06:09,493 Speaker 3: is a lot darker than regular pork. It looks and 104 00:06:09,533 --> 00:06:13,933 Speaker 3: tastes more like beef. It's cured and smoked and super 105 00:06:13,973 --> 00:06:17,933 Speaker 3: tasty and very good for you. Apparently it is. 106 00:06:17,853 --> 00:06:21,773 Speaker 2: That is not you know, it's not lacking, no, no. 107 00:06:21,573 --> 00:06:23,533 Speaker 3: None at all, And just put a bit of paprika 108 00:06:23,653 --> 00:06:24,853 Speaker 3: on it and life is good. 109 00:06:25,293 --> 00:06:26,933 Speaker 2: On How old is the one? 110 00:06:28,373 --> 00:06:31,573 Speaker 3: Well? I loved this one. Reject. She's was started by 111 00:06:31,613 --> 00:06:35,493 Speaker 3: a German migrant family in the nineteenth century, and the 112 00:06:35,573 --> 00:06:38,773 Speaker 3: great grandson, Conrad Sheesel, he runs it today. But he 113 00:06:38,853 --> 00:06:41,813 Speaker 3: told me this great story about how during World War 114 00:06:41,853 --> 00:06:45,293 Speaker 3: Two his grandfather had his best friend who was Jewish, 115 00:06:45,573 --> 00:06:49,733 Speaker 3: and his whole family in giant oak barrels at that 116 00:06:49,853 --> 00:06:53,533 Speaker 3: winery to save their lives from the essays. And then 117 00:06:53,573 --> 00:06:58,213 Speaker 3: about twelve years later, after the Communists took power, the 118 00:06:58,253 --> 00:07:02,293 Speaker 3: winery was nationalized. But the Jewish friend's son had become 119 00:07:02,293 --> 00:07:07,013 Speaker 3: a lawyer and actually convinced Hungary's leader to return the 120 00:07:07,013 --> 00:07:11,573 Speaker 3: winery to the Shecheesel family. Isn't it the most amazing story? Yeah? 121 00:07:11,653 --> 00:07:14,213 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, So what else is or where else is 122 00:07:14,253 --> 00:07:16,853 Speaker 2: good for some sort of quintessential tastes and buta pests. 123 00:07:17,853 --> 00:07:21,493 Speaker 3: Well, you may recall the big central market in town, 124 00:07:21,653 --> 00:07:25,413 Speaker 3: so this is like grazing heaven, and it's still just 125 00:07:25,613 --> 00:07:28,853 Speaker 3: the go to for a taste of budapests. So there 126 00:07:28,853 --> 00:07:32,173 Speaker 3: are still hundreds of food stalls. Most of them are 127 00:07:32,213 --> 00:07:35,013 Speaker 3: actually selling peasant dishes as they call it. You know, 128 00:07:35,093 --> 00:07:40,013 Speaker 3: your goulesh soup and you langos, those fried flat breads, 129 00:07:40,053 --> 00:07:43,333 Speaker 3: which probably is actually Hungary's best known street food. I 130 00:07:43,373 --> 00:07:47,413 Speaker 3: reckon around the world. Paprika, the spicy anca to all 131 00:07:47,493 --> 00:07:50,973 Speaker 3: Hungarian cuisine. You'll find it everywhere. I do love those 132 00:07:51,013 --> 00:07:54,133 Speaker 3: paprika sauces, and I was very impressed to see, despite 133 00:07:54,173 --> 00:07:56,653 Speaker 3: the cost of living around the world, you can still 134 00:07:56,693 --> 00:08:00,653 Speaker 3: get bangers and a beer combo at this central market 135 00:08:00,733 --> 00:08:02,413 Speaker 3: for about three New Zealand dollars. 136 00:08:02,413 --> 00:08:05,053 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, that's good. The price is right nice. What 137 00:08:05,093 --> 00:08:06,613 Speaker 2: about the ruin bars a thing? 138 00:08:07,893 --> 00:08:11,373 Speaker 3: They are a Budapeste signature, so basically they're making use 139 00:08:11,413 --> 00:08:14,173 Speaker 3: of derelict buildings and there are still a lot of them. 140 00:08:14,213 --> 00:08:17,093 Speaker 3: Just a few blocks back from the Danube, I went 141 00:08:17,133 --> 00:08:21,893 Speaker 3: to Taqueria, which was formerly the storage depot for Hungarian railways. 142 00:08:22,253 --> 00:08:25,213 Speaker 3: I tried a pinky Jack, which is a grape fruit 143 00:08:25,373 --> 00:08:27,973 Speaker 3: vodka shot, and then I had one of the highly 144 00:08:28,053 --> 00:08:32,893 Speaker 3: flammable plumper linkers, which weighed in a forty four percent alcohol. 145 00:08:33,173 --> 00:08:34,493 Speaker 3: Just the one did the trick. 146 00:08:34,853 --> 00:08:38,813 Speaker 2: Yes, my goodness, was there any sweetness in that? 147 00:08:40,333 --> 00:08:41,013 Speaker 3: No? 148 00:08:41,013 --> 00:08:46,733 Speaker 2: No, no, really, yeah, very totally. It sounds like an 149 00:08:46,773 --> 00:08:49,213 Speaker 2: adventure though, thank you. And yeah, like I said, I'd 150 00:08:49,253 --> 00:08:51,293 Speaker 2: love to go there. You know, this moment in time, 151 00:08:51,333 --> 00:08:54,013 Speaker 2: I think it's more than a decade, it's but yeah, 152 00:08:54,013 --> 00:08:55,853 Speaker 2: I would absolutely love to go right now because it's 153 00:08:55,853 --> 00:08:58,733 Speaker 2: a very interesting place. Thanks so much, Mike. We'll make 154 00:08:58,733 --> 00:09:01,493 Speaker 2: sure all of Mike's tips for trekking through but Apestra 155 00:09:01,573 --> 00:09:03,733 Speaker 2: up on the News Talks. He'd be website for 156 00:09:03,853 --> 00:09:06,933 Speaker 1: More from Saturday morning with Jack team in Life to 157 00:09:07,013 --> 00:09:10,013 Speaker 1: News Talks a b from nine am Saturday, or follow 158 00:09:10,093 --> 00:09:11,653 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.