! CEESA CONFERENCE BUDAPEST 2011 This photo was taken by AISB teacher and photographer, Karl Gray. You can see more of his work Welcome at web.mac.com/graykarl/. From our Director Üdvözöljük Budapesten! restaurants and coffee houses. Movement you will have during the evenings will make around the city on both sides of the river is you want to return to explore this fascinating Welcome to Budapest! easy on the city’s excellent public transport city and get to know it better. It’s certainly Dear CEESA colleagues and friends, system. worth the return visit. Enjoy! The faculty and staff of the American Budapest is rightfully considered to be one International School of Budapest warmly of the great cultural cities of Europe with over Ray Holliday-Bersegeay welcome you to this beautiful city on the 90 different museums, an opera house, and a Director, AISB banks of the Danube for the 2011 annual great variety of national and international CEESA Conference. theatrical and musical presentations to satisfy The city grew out of two towns on opposite all lovers of the arts and everything artistic. banks of the river: Buda on the hilly western Also, you ought really to try out the hot bank and Pest on the eastern plain. They have spring spas for a way of life you will want to been united as one city since 1873. The Buda continue. The Széchenyi thermal baths are an side of the city is dominated by Castle Hill experience that would stay in your memory and Gellért Hill. These historic centers should for a long time! be high priorities for all visitors with the Your souvenirs could include beautiful ‘folk highlights being the Citadella, Royal Palace, shop’ crafts (wood carvings, embroidery and St István’s Cathedral, Fisherman’s Bastion, pottery), reputed Hungarian wines (Tokaj, and breathtaking views of the city. The Pest Eger, Villány) and of course paprika! side has the dramatic Parliament building, I fully understand that you have all come Great Synagogue, the Basilica, the zoo, to Budapest for the conference. However, I Heroes’ Square, and a host of excellent am positive that the glimpse of Budapest that Thursday - Pre-Conference Only Saturday Social Events at CEESA • Spa Night/Wine Tasting - by pre-registration • City Tours sponsored by ISI: choose from a tour of the spectacular AISB campus, a This weekend promises to be full of not only Friday walk along the river to see Parliament and energizing and practical ideas, but also • Welcome reception sponsored by the St. Stephen’s Cathedral, or a trip to the chock full of fun! We hope you’ll enjoy College Board and CEESA. Castle District to enjoy the panoramic spending time with old friends and new at • Teacher-led Dinners - join local AISB views. Sign up Saturday morning! these events. teachers for dinner at their favorite • CEESA Celebration on the Europa Boat! restaurants. Sign up Friday morning! Budapest public transportation is easy to Public Transport use and covers the entire city! Give it a go! You are here... The Marriott Hotel is located at Apáczai Csere János utca #4, close to the #2 tram line at the Vigadó tér stop and about 0.3 mile from the metro stop Deák Tér. Deák is the hub for all three lines of the metro in the city. This is the only metro stop where you may change from one line to another using the same ticket (as long as you stay underground). For the rest of the system, one ticket equals one ride. Buy your ticket Tickets must be purchased in advance. They are sold outside the entrance to most metro stops and some tram stops. There is also a kiosk in the Marriott that sells tickets. Single tickets are 320HUF or a book of 10 for 2800 HUF (about $14). Other options for passes are available. Check out Let’s Eat! www.bkv.hu for all information on metros, buses, and trams. Budapest enjoys a wide range of restaurant Parliament Area styles and prices. Here are some of our • Art Nouveau Museum Café (Honvéd utca Validate your ticket favorites! 3) - an exquisite jewel of a museum with a lovely café. Validate your ticket as you enter metro stations, and on buses or trams look Waterfront (Pest side) - A variety of dining • Iguana Étterem (Mexican) (Zoltán utca, 16) experiences within an easy walk. - lively evening hang out, especially popular for the red or orange boxes on the • Taverna Dionysus (Greek) (Belgrád rkpt 16) with expats. poles as you board. At times they are • Trattoria Toscana (Belgrád rakpart 13) jammed or inoperable, but there are • Marriott (for Sunday brunch) Liszt Ferenc tér - A vibrant square off of substantial fines for not having a • Pampas Argentine Steakhouse (Vámház Andrássy út with a variety of eating and validated ticket, so look for another. körut 6) drinking establishments. The nearby Indigo Ticket inspectors wear or carry red or (Indian) restaurant (Jókai utca 13) is highly blue arm bands and travel in pairs. They accept no excuses if you do not Váci ut/Vörösmarty tér - There are many recommended. tourist restaurants along Váci ut. Take a walk have a validated ticket, so keep your and see what interests you while you are Vár (Castle District) - Restaurants in the Vár ticket until your entire trip is shopping! Make sure to stop by the world tend to be pricey and geared toward tourists. completed. If you change from one famous Gerbeaud (Vörösmarty tér 7), a Stop for a coffee and pastry at the quaint bus to another or from one tram to grand and elegant Viennese style café, Ruszwurm Café (Szentháromság utca 7). It’s another you must validate a new perfect for a slice of Dobos torta (Hungarian a Hungarian treat! ticket. sponge cake). Hungarian - For a great local restaurant Andrássy út - Grand avenue with stylish shops experience, try these: at one end, and Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere) • Gundel Restaurant - very posh, even Queen at the other. See and be seen! Check out: Elizabeth and the Pope have eaten here! • Művész Kávéház (Andrássy út 29) – (Állatkerti ut 2) When in Rome... atmospheric old café recently renovated. • Múzeum Kávéház (Múzeum körút 12) • Belcanto (Dalszinház ut 8)– with opera- • Kárpátia (Ferenciek tere 7-8) Of course you want to try out the local singing waiters! • Centrál Kávéház (Károly Mihály utca 9) fare, right? For typical Hungarian fast • Két Kacsa (Fő utca 75) food, head to the Central Market and Basilica Area - Marvel at the lavishly restored try lángos (deep- basilica, with plenty of eateries in the Vegetarian - If you need a break from the fried dough surrounding pedestrian areas. kolbász, bacon, and szalámi, we recommend smothered in sour these gems: • Café Kör (Sas utca 17) - lively and popular, cream and • Hummus Bar (Kertész ut 39) Hungarian and international food, advised cheese) or kolbász to book ahead. • Eden (vegan) (Iskola ut 31, near Batthyány (sausage), washed • Trattoria Pomo d’oro, (Arany János ut 9) – tér) Limited hours: Mon–Thur 8–21, Fri 8– down with a shot good-value Italian restaurant. If full, try the 18, Sun 11–21. deli next door. • Napfényes Étterem (Rózsa utca 39) – full of pálinka (potent vegan, great pizza, salad bar, yummy fruit brandy). Ráday utca - Semi-pedestrianized street with desserts. Egészségedre! good range of cafes, bars, and restaurants. • Momotaro Chinese (Széchenyi utca 16) We like: Soul Café (Ráday utca 11-13). Kérem Igen Jó étvágyat! You too can speak Please Yes Enjoy your meal! the language of the Köszönöm Nem Hol találom...? Thank you No Where can I find...? Magyars! Szívesen! Viszontlátásra! utca / út You’re welcome! Good bye! street / road Jó napot kívánok! Egészségedre! tér Hello, Good morning! Cheers, to your health! square Jó estét kívánok! Finom! étterem Hello, Good evening! It’s delicious! restaurant Culture Corner Do you need a break 6:00-18:00, Sat 6:00-14:00, and closed on Take a Bath! Sundays. this weekend? Budapest is fortunate to have some of Herend Pottery is a Hungarian company the world's finest Turkish baths. Not only do specializing in luxury hand painted porcelain. the baths boast original Ottoman architecture In fact, they provided for the Habsburg All in knots? (including octagonal Dynasty and other elites in the 19th century. Stop by the exhibitor There is a Herend store on Andrássy út, and pools, cupolas and area and visit one of our you can also find less expensive and more colored glass windows), masseuses, who will be but they all offer a unique everyday patterns at Herend Village Pottery happy to treat you to a experience. (Bem Rakpart 37) Tue–Fri 9:00–17:00, Sat free 15 minute head and To soak with the 9:00–12:00. locals, take the yellow Another great area for shopping is Váci neck massage. Tips are metro line to the utca. Just down the way from our hotel, it’s welcome, of course! Thank you to A- Széchenyi Baths complex (Állatkerti körút 11). the main pedestrianized tourist shopping List Salon www.a-list.hu for providing Relax and enjoy some Hungarian good living. street with well known stores and this service! After checking in and changing, you follow recognizable brands. the crowds to a series of indoor pools. Need to see the game? Beyond these pools, you'll find your way outside, where women and men float blissfully Legends Sports Bar is just across the in the warm water. Museums street, with big screen TVs and a full Budapest's more touristy bath destination Budapest offers nearly 100 museums menu. Use the coupon in your is at Gellért Baths (Szent Gellért tér), located with local and international exhibits.