| Some 15 years ago, I was invited by a colleague, | | | | market, allowing it rapidly to develop a reputation |
| to work on a project in Hungary, staying in | | | | for cleanliness. Vast underground ducts and |
| Budapest; it was delayed and eventually I was | | | | tunnels provided for the removal of rubbish that |
| unable to go. However, somewhat jealous of his | | | | would have otherwise accumulated on a daily |
| visit to this fascinating and then strangely remote | | | | basis. |
| destination, I inquired on his return, as to how it | | | | Such was the magnificence of the Great Market |
| had all gone and was very surprised by his reply. | | | | Hall, that liveried Door Keepers manned each of |
| Brian was, at this time, regularly traveling around | | | | the 10 ornate entrance gates. As in the Metro |
| Europe, courtesy of his son who was involved in | | | | stations, large poster-like information boards |
| the fledgling mass tourist market. | | | | illustrate the Halls' building and subsequent |
| We had over the years, developed a friendship | | | | refurbishment. Not only does the market house all |
| based on a shared passion for food, and had | | | | manner of vegetables, not all immediately |
| spent many tea breaks swapping recipes and | | | | recognizable to us from more western parts, but |
| discussing where best to source various | | | | fruit from apples, through kiwi-fruit to zucchini. |
| ingredients and hand tools, much to the | | | | Frogs legs, bolete and propolis can be sourced and |
| amusement and bewilderment of work chums. His | | | | also a complete collection of meats and poultry, |
| answer to my query had been that out of all of | | | | reassuringly offered with the fat removed, so |
| the places he had visited, he had tasted in | | | | that quality money is only paid for quality |
| Hungary the best, most varied and enjoyable | | | | provisions. |
| cuisine, ever. So, scarcely could I contain my joy, | | | | Grandly displayed on marble packed with ice, |
| when some 10 years later, I too found myself in | | | | fresh fish (including strangely, various sea fish) are |
| Budapest, starting an accommodation business | | | | readily available, as are live fish now kept in |
| having purchased a property, fortuitously close to | | | | aquarium style tanks on ground level and a vast |
| a large market. | | | | selection of sausage, hams, smoked or not, along |
| Opened in 1897, The Great Hall was one of five | | | | with many varieties of cheese. In the galleried |
| new markets in the Capital, built to supply all | | | | upstairs, a unique collection of utensils are on offer |
| classes of Hungarians in this newly developing city, | | | | including marrow shredders, tomato squeezers or |
| the importance of which can be seen in the | | | | a special goose feather with which to apply goose |
| grandeur of its Cathedral-like design. With huge | | | | grease, but to where we do not know. Tourists |
| steel spans, vast areas of glass, and its front | | | | similarly are catered for with stalls displaying |
| having been modeled in the Hungarian Gothic | | | | varied Hungarian folk ephemera along side some |
| Style, the building is topped by a beautifully ornate | | | | equitably priced, imaginatively designed leather |
| and very colourful, decoratively tiled, yellow and | | | | ware. |
| green roof. It is this last feature that makes this | | | | Cafes and some bars are to be found here, |
| building easily recognizable and it is located close to | | | | supplying authentic Hungarian snacks and meals, |
| the Danube, on the Pest side opposite the Gellert | | | | sourced from the market below - all accompanied |
| Hotel and Buda Castle on the Buda side. | | | | by the most wonderful Hungarian bread. The |
| The market was connected to the areas of | | | | Hungarian beer offered is also recommended, |
| production by both railway and a channel directed | | | | especially the Brown beers, usually bottled - an |
| to its basement, from the arterial Danube itself. | | | | excellent accompaniment to the typical Hungarian |
| Both trains and boats were dispatched early | | | | coarse fish soup. The Great Market Hall is |
| enough to reach the market and discharge their | | | | testament to the largesse, success and |
| goods before each morning came. New | | | | confidence of the Old Empire, as it still remains |
| technology provided clocks and numerous | | | | the largest covered market in Europe. It has been |
| telephones, whilst older ideas created huge basins | | | | a place of interest for years, for people choosing |
| full of filtered, fresh water for fish, sourced from | | | | to stay in Budapest, where tourists can see and |
| the Great Halls' own well. Not all of the fish were | | | | purchase things that are unfamiliar to them, or |
| immediately sold, some being allowed to mature | | | | typical of the country, its cuisine, folklore taste or |
| further in the basins. This plentiful supply of water | | | | traditions. |
| also facilitated the washing and cleaning of the | | | | |