From the Mailbag: George Herbert Walker Unzipped!

It's been a couple of weeks since we last took a peek into the Pestiside mailbag, as we wanted to save some of the suspense and fun for our last day before going on vacation. Believe it or not, our first letter is from none other than George Herbert Walker, the ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire of the United States to Hungary. And what an extraordinary letter it is. Because not only is it an actual letter on a piece of paper with that cool American Eagle logo and stuff, it reveals our local connection to the Bush clan to be something of an awesome dude, or at least not a humourless drone:

Dear Pestiside:

My wife and children salute you and share your view that a zipper for my trap would serve the interests of all. But where oh where can such a zipper be found and might I purchase in quantity for others where traps are open too often?

Regarding Hungary's well being, we must call them as we see them and statistics tell me Hungary is doing quite well.

Sincerely yours,

George

Dear George:

No, seriously, we salute and share your belief in the need to "call them as you see them" without regard for diplomatic niceties. In fact, we're eagerly anticipating your press conference detailing how the Hungarian government is run by a bunch of booty-crazed, unrepentant lying Communist bastards who only look good in comparison to the vile, Jew-baiting peasant savages in the opposition. We'll be right behind you!

Dear Pestiside:

I had read your article about that fake chain-letter about a stupid American that burned an engine of a car to ash but turned out to be a Hungarian. I [recently] received an email from the Czech Republic telling the same foolish story, but in Czech. As you can see below [email contains a few indecipherable Slavic sentences] they are talkin' about 300 kms already and telling that the guy was driving to Vienna, instead of Pécs. I know that urban legends are quite common, but usually we get them when they [are old], but in this case it is coming to being front of our eyes. Unbelievable. If I get it in any other language, I will send it over. Maybe the next one will be Budapest - Paris.

Gábor

Dear Gábor:

Those lying Czech scoundrels! What will they think of next!

Dear Pestiside:

That formula one worker was definitely not pushed. After all, defenestration is the specialty of that other central European capital....

Paul

Dear Paul:

Czechs! Argh!

Dear Pestiside:

Jo' Napot! I am very pleased to pass along to everyone working at Pestiside how happy I am with the website. I recently took vacation in Budapest and found Pestiside a wonderful resource for nightlife and entertainment. I myself an American Magyar, my grandfather's family was from Budapest, [and I] love any chance I have to visit. Hungary is truly the most beautiful and romantic of all European countries. I can go on raving forever, especially about the Hungarian people, art, music, fashion and cuisine. Anyhow, I have friends that live in Hungary year round' and we came to pay a visit. I did a little research prior to leaving for Budapest and found that jazz great Joey DeFrancesco from the Philadelphia area was playing at A38. Being from Philadelphia myself I couldn't pass up the opportunity to experience the Hungarian jazz scene while checking out a killer B-3 virtuoso. My Hungarian hosts couldn't find any other publications which promoted the concert, we checked quite a few publications, Pestiside prevailed and was an ultimate resource. I love to read about the daily ongoings posted on your website. Thanks so much for having such a wonderfully thorough website.

John Hollenbach

Dear John:

Thanks! Glad to be of service!

Dear Pestiside:
Me and my friends are coming over from Holland to party in the weekend of 19th of August. I was wondering if there are any the parties in the Buda hills that weekend, where they are announced and whatever these parties are always busy and fun. I was also wondering if it's better to go to the open-air clubs in summer or that clubs like the E-Klub and Bahnhof are more fun (no matter if it's summer or winter). Hope to here from you soon.

Greetz,

Jeffrey from The Hague (Holland)

Dear Jeffrey:

While we will be away for the rest of the month, our nightlife page should hopefully be up to date while you are here. And yes, it is much nicer to go to the open-air clubs than the Bahnhof. Actually, it's nicer to be defenestrated than to go to the Bahnhof, summer or winter. Either way, greetz right back to you, and enjoy your stay in Budapest.

Dear Pestiside:

I have to say with all sincerity that I have never seen writing so witty, engaging and utterly entertaining that I have seen on this jewel of a gem website. I have to give your writers or writer great kudos and accolades. I hope the fame and attactiveness of your site is always so strong and that it only grows in reach to wider audiences as its one of the best on the web. Keep up the great work your magazine is doing and that you're amply rewarded for it.

Best Regards,

Jack
San Diego, California USA

Dear Jack:

We are loving you! Loving!

Dear Pestiside

You disappoint! Your writing staff is usually so smart about seeing the funny side. Did no one notice the irony of a fleet of "Ikarus" busses catching fire? Someone was not paying attention in Greek mythology class. Google "Icarus", and you will see why these BKVs should not be driving around when the heat is like the surface of the sun.

Cadmus Rex

Dear Cadmus:

We are hating you! Hating!

Dear Pestiside:

Thought I'd share this. I called the ElectroWorld store in Budaörs [the other day] to inquire about a digital camera. After the guy typed the model number in the computer, I was told it costs Ft 59,900. I traveled 15km to Budaörs, only to find out that it's Ft 69,900. I said the store employee told me specifically Ft 59,900, otherwise I wouldn't have come. They always pull off some kind of trick to get you in the store, while the items on sale are long split among the employees, or didn't exist in the first place. More than once I went to the store at opening (10am), the day they announced a sale and they were already "out of the product."

Then went to MediaMarkt, where we bought a small photo album. Well, the cash register wouldn't recognize the code, so we waited for 10 minutes, until they finally phoned-in the product code. Well, imagine they wanted to pass us a 320 ft album for Ft 3,200! The cashier said, "Well, it's 3,200ft." We were like, it's Ft 320, plus you can't possibly think that this is worth Ft 3,200. She just gave us a blank look, after which we gave up and left (with no album).

Finally, a Saturn store in Mammut, (with the famous a fukar mindenit slogan), has no prices and product descriptions displayed for a whole bunch of products. When you ask, they give you an irritated look. Also, they sell digital cameras for up to 100% more than [you can get on the Internet.]

I'm fed up with these discount electronic retail chains. They are all a bunch of crooks, out there to trick the customers. I don't understand why the verseny hivatal [competition office] is not on this matter. They could generate some solid funds from fines.

There, glad to get that off my chest....
Mike

Dear Mike:

We share your outrage at these electro-weenies. And, at least in the case of Electro World, so does the competition office. Never surrender!