English Second-Hand Clothing Stores Still Thriving in Hungary
Attention Britons! Do these clothes look familiar?
A visitor to Budapest, or any other Hungarian town for that matter, might be struck by the number of Union Jacks decorating the storefronts of the high streets.
Rather than signifying a Magyar version of a fish and chips shop, these businesses invariably bear the name “Angol Ruha” or “English Clothes” and sell second-hand English clothing, usually at a very low cost.
Last year we wrote about how these shops had been sprouting up all over the place. Twelve months later and the trend is still thriving.
Rather than sell goods per item, many second-hand clothing stores in Hungary choose to offer goods by the kilogram. For example, a store might offer clothes for 1,000 forints (about $5.60) on Monday and proceed to lower its rates each day of the week: 800 forints/kg on Tuesday to 200 forints (a little more than a buck on a Friday.)
If the day is right, one can walk out with an incredible bargain. We recently heard of a woman who, on a Friday, purchased a blouse for 30 Hungarian forints or $0.17. A men’s shirt, which is heavier, may cause you to dig a little deeper into your pockets, but on a Friday you may be able to claim one for about $0.50.
Some Still Eager to Become a Eurozone Member
As the eurozone debates whether to hold the exit door open for Greece, reports this week demonstrate that for every member on the verge of leaving there is someone else clamoring to join the club.
In a piece about Hungary’s possible adoption of the common currency Bloomberg quoted the country’s foreign minister Janos Martonyi earlier this week as saying: “It’s our political objective and we’re convinced that it’s economically sensible … We’re not afraid of joining the euro.”
It’s unlikely, though, according to people who know about these things, that Hungary will get the euro any time before 2015.
Bulgaria, as The Spectator reports, is another country keen on being a euro member.
Meanwhile, there has been an easing of East European euro enthusiasm elsewhere.
Bloomberg Businessweek points out that the Czech Republic, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania appear to be having second thoughts about joining the continental currency any time soon.
Dubbed Films Will Harm Your Economy
Kester Eddy, the longtime Budapest correspondent for The Financial Times, blogged recently about the lack of foreign language proficiency in Hungary, especially in English.
The dearth of Anglo-speaking acumen in Budapest has in turn had a deleterious impact on Hungary’s ability to lure foreign investment, Eddy’s post implies.
One of the reasons he cited was the steady “TV diet of dubbed films” that are beamed nightly into Hungarian households.
He goes on to mention that Hungarians “ are taught in school that their translator of Shakespeare actually produced a better version of Hamlet than the bard from Stratford – and many [mainly monoglots] believe it.”
I would add that many Hungarians have told me that Andras Kern, the actor who voices for Woody Allen in films, is superior to the original.
A Man’s Castle Might Not Be Much of a Home
An intriguing piece about castles that regular old common folk can actually buy appeared this week on the Hungarian business website realdeal.hu.
According to the report, there are approximately 300 castles and historic mansions for sale in Hungary alone. The asking price for some is as low as $25,000, while others are on the market for closer to $500,000.
However, most are in such as a state of disrepair that renovation and maintenance costs could run in the millions.
The European Bridal Show Circuit
I am frequently asked how, after 112 years of marriage, Mrs. Chortler and I are able to maintain such a fresh and vibrant relationship.
