The thermal baths or spas in Budapest are not only popular tourist attractions but also important public comforts for its residents. No other capital in the world has as many spas as Budapest!

The first spas were constructed by Roman settlers who settled in Aquincum, which is now part of the “old Buda” district. This is where the history of thermal bathing begins. Turkish occupiers constructed numerous renowned Turkish baths in Budapest during the 16th century.

History

Széchenyi Thermal Bath is the first thermal bath in Pest, and it is one of the largest spa complexes in Europe. The idea of searching for thermal water under Budapest came up in 1867, during the Austro-Hungarian Compromise. The task of marking the optimal well site fell to Vilmos Zsigmondy, a mining engineer, who placed it at the end of Andrássy Street.

In 1913, Széchenyi Thermal Bath was built based on the designs of Győző Czigler. In 1927, the bath was expanded with a public bathing department for gentlemen and ladies and an outside part. In the middle of the 1960s, further transformations took place, including the creation of another thermal section as well as a daytime hospital (complex physiotherapy department).

In 1999, the reconstruction of the swimming section’s pools and their equipment with water filtering and circulation devices was completed. The so-called fancy bath includes a whirling corridor, underwater effervescence production, a neck shower, a water beam back massage installed in the sitting banks, and many other services.

In 2009, Széchenyi Bath got a real spa oasis, a rooftop spa called Palm House. It is a Palm House with palm trees and other exotic plants that love the heat of the thermal baths and the lots of sunshine coming through the glass roof.

(S)party time

Do you fancy a thermal party with amazing visuals, fascinating acrobatic performances, and top-notch electronic dance music?

Sparty started back in 1994 when a group of friends decided to combine their two passions: modern electronic dance music and Budapest’s historic bath culture. Since then, every Saturday, magical things have happened here.

Every Saturday night between 9:30 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. from February to December, Sparty welcomes everyone eager to have a spa day while listening to the latest and greatest electronic dance music.

Although Sparty takes place in a bath, it is foremost a party. Daytime services are not available during the party. If you’d like to enjoy saunas or massages at Széchenyi, visit the bath the day after your Sparty experience!

Rules

• As Széchenyi Baths is a mixed thermal spa complex, visitors are expected to wear acceptable swimwear on the corridors, outside, in the pools, in the saunas, and in the in the steam rooms.
• Bath flip-flops or slippers are required to be worn in the whole area of the bath.
• Swim caps are mandatory in the swimming pool but not in the other 17 pools.
• Swimming suits covering the full body or surfing suits are unfortunately not accepted in Széchenyi Baths due to government health regulations, which the baths need to observe.

to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders
definition: to feel a heavy burden or responsibility
magyarul: az egész világ terhe nyomja a vállát
example: With her approaching exams, Judy felt like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. – A vizsgái közeledtével Judy úgy érezte, hogy az egész világ terhe nyomja a vállát.

a perfect storm
definition: an extremely bad situation in which many bad things happen all at the same time
magyarul: amikor minden összejön; csupa rossz történik
example:  The past few months have been a perfect storm in my life. I really hope better times will come soon. – Az elmúlt pár hónapban csupa rossz dolog történt az életemben. Remélem, hogy hamarosan jobb idők jönnek majd!

to be scarcely able to keep one’s head above water
definition: to manage to survive a difficult experience; to remain afloat and not sink; to keep oneself alive, out of debt
magyarul: majdnem összecsapnak a feje fölött a hullámok; alig áll a lábán; nagyon nehezen tartja magát
example: They have so serious debts that they are scarcely able to keep their heads above water. – Annyi adósságuk van, hogy majdnem összecsapnak a fejük felett a hullámok.

to push to the limit
definition: to stress yourself to the maximum
magyarul: a végletekig feszíteni magát; feszegetni a határokat
example:  Athletes often push themselves to the limit to achieve peak performance during competitions. – A sportolók gyakran a végletekig feszegetik a határaikat, hogy képesek legyenek csúcsteljesítményt nyújtani a versenyeken.

to bury your head in the sand
definition: to avoid dealing with a problem or difficult situation; to ignore unpleasant realities
magyarul: (strucc módjára) homokba dugni a fejét
example: Instead of facing the financial crisis in his life, John chose to bury his head in the sand, hoping it would go away. – Ahelyett, hogy szembenézett volna a pénzügyi krízissel az életében, John csak a homokba dugta a fejét, és remélte, hogy majd csak elmúlik. 

to have a lot on your plate

definition: to be very busy with many different activities, and problems; to have many responsibilities or tasks to deal with
magyarul: nagyon elfoglalt, azt se tudja, hogy hol áll a feje
example: Josh couldn’t join the weekend trip because he had a lot on his plate at the office and had to spend the weekend with work. – Josh nem tudott velünk jönni hétvégén kirándulni, mert annyi a munkája az irodában, hogy azt se tudja, hogy hol áll a feje. Még hétvégén is dolgoznia kellett.

to be put through the wringer
definition: to experience a lot of stress or pressure
magyarul: mint akit kimostak; mint akit ledaráltak; mint akin átment az úthenger
example:   After the intense and stressful week of exams at the university, the students felt like they had been put through the wringer and they only wanted to rest. – Az intenzív és stresszes vizsgahét után az egyetemen, a diákok úgy érezték magukat, mint akit kimostak, és csak pihenni akartak.

to put the screws to someone
definition: to apply pressure or stress on someone
magyarul: nyomást gyakorolni valakire; nyomás alá helyezni
example:  The boss decided to put the screws to the team to meet the project deadline though it was an impossible demand. – A főnök úgy döntött, hogy a projekt közelgő határidejének betartása okán nyomást gyakorol a csapatra, bár tisztában volt vele, hogy lehetetlent kér.

to tear your hair out

definition: to feel stressed or frustrated to the point of being beside oneself
magyarul: tépi a haját; még a haját is kitépi
example: Dealing with the never-ending work-related issues made her want to tear her hair out. – A soha véget nem érő munkahelyi problémákkal való birkózástól már majd a haját tépte.

An England couple in the midst of renovating their home made a surprising discovery behind the fireplace: a stash of letters dating back nearly 100 years.

Laura and Jason Lamonby-Parker said they have been renovating their house in Widnes, Cheshire, since purchasing the 100-year-old home in March 2023, and they were surprised to find some old mail when they tore out the living room fireplace.

“There were all these letters behind it and I just said ‘Look at all these.’ I don’t know if they were trying to be burnt and they fell down the back of it,” Laura Lamonby-Parker told the Liverpool Echo.

The couple said the well-preserved letters date from 1934, 1935, 1936 and 1937 and were addressed to Miss Rhoda Taylor. The couple contacted the previous owners of the house, but they did not have any information about anyone with that name.

The Lamonby-Parkers said they are hoping to return the letters to a relative if they can find more information about Taylor’s identity.

source: UPI.com

Fill in the gaps with words from the list. There is one extra.

mail, owner, relative, identity, stash, discovery

1. The scientists made an important ….. through their research.
2. There was a huge …… of paper on the table.
3. The …… of the restaurant welcomed us warmly.
4. A distant …… showed up unexpectedly at the family reunion.
5. He finally discovered his true …… through DNA testing.

key: 1. discovery, 2. stash, 3. owner, 4. relative, 5. identity

A schoolgirl purchased her first house at just eight years old after she and her siblings lumped together the pocket money they had saved up. Ruby McLellan has earned the title of ‘Australia’s youngest homeowner’ by investing money she made doing chores for her parents.

With the help of her siblings Angus and Lucy, who are 14 and 13 respectively, the trio managed to put down $6,000 (£3,092) as a deposit on the four-bedroom property.

The home, which they purchased for $671,000 is now worth $960,000 – a whopping $289,000 growth in value over the last three years. It’s not purely a case of pocket money inflation, though, as Ruby’s parents lent them the remaining cash for the deposit and all their names are on the title.

Ruby is yet to tell her mates at school about her business venture but told Mail Online it’s ‘pretty cool’ being a landlord. The home is ‘positively geared’ – meaning that rent paid is higher than mortgage repayments, so it is not costing the family money to hold the asset.

Ruby and her siblings are already planning their next investment by using the equity in the mortgage of their first buy. Cam McLellan, their dad, is the CEO of property investment company OpenCorp. He has been keen to get his kids into property and teach them the basics of investing, so they can get a head start.

source: Metro

Decide if the statements are true or false. 

1. The children collected all the money for the deposit to buy the house.
2. Ruby has not shared her property investment with her school friends yet.
3. The rental income from the property covers all expenses and generates a profit for the family.
4. Ruby and her siblings have already made further investments.
5. Their dad encouraged the children to follow his profession.

key: 1. false, 2. true, 3. true, 4. false, 5. true

Different breeds of dogs can vary widely in terms of intelligence. If you’re looking for a more intelligent dog, here are ten of the smartest dog breeds you can find.

1 – Border collie

The Border collie is widely considered to be the most intelligent dog breed of all. One way to judge a dog’s intelligence is to see how quickly it takes to learn a new command. Some Border collies could learn a new order in under five repetitions. These affectionate dogs are not only intelligent but hard-working and obedient, making them the ideal sheepdog.

2 – German shepherd

There is a reason service dogs, such as army or police dogs, are more than likely to be German shepherds. They combine intelligence with strength, bravery, and loyalty. They are said to have an IQ of 102 compared to the average dog’s IQ of 80. They also have an amazing sense of smell, even by dog standards.

3 – Poodle

When trained, a poodle can learn and remember around 300 words. They are not only intelligent in learning and picking up commands but also emotionally intelligent. They can pick up on the slightest change in human vocal tone, body language, or gesture. This also makes them excellent, attentive companions.

4 – English springer spaniel

The English springer spaniel has an instinctive intelligence. Instinctive intelligence is intelligence bred into certain breeds of dogs over hundreds of years. The English springer spaniel is also superb at learning from experience and past mistakes. Few dog breeds are as obedient and trainable. With their excellent sense of smell and ability to learn, they are often used as bird dogs, where they flush out game birds from bushes and trees for hunters to shoot.

5 – Papillon

Papillon is French for butterfly, a name given to this breed because of its large wing-like shaped ears. As well as being intelligent, these are fun-loving, playful, and affectionate dogs. With their intelligence, they are always eager to please their owners. This especially cute breed is also a very popular show dog.

6 – Golden retriever

Golden retrievers are another breed with high instinctive intelligence. Considered by many as America’s favourite family dog, golden retrievers are loving, loyal, and friendly. These dogs are capable of learning and remembering numerous commands very quickly. They are very obedient and have a high working IQ, so they are especially adept at fetching and swimming.

7 – Doberman pinscher

A muscular, powerful, fiercely protective dog, Doberman pinschers, or simply Dobermans, make an excellent guard dog. These highly intelligent dogs originally came from Germany and have lightning-fast reactions. They are highly intuitive, sensing a potential threat by quickly working out who is a friend or foe.

8 – Labrador retriever

The Labrador retriever combines high intelligence with a steady temperament. A super obedient dog, Labradors obeyed a known command with a 95% success rate in tests. Dogs, on average, have a 50% success rate. It is no surprise that this friendly and loving dog is one of the most popular breeds for families.

9 – Rottweiler

A Rottweiler combines muscular strength with intelligence. Contrary to its image, these dogs have a generally calm temperament. However, when provoked, they can quickly become aggressive. They have an instinctive desire to learn and gain great satisfaction when completing a task successfully. Along with a protective nature, they are also fun-loving, playful dogs, making them another favourite with families.

10 – Pembroke Welsh corgi

Despite its short legs, this is an athletic breed that combines intelligence with a generally calm temperament. It is a very effective guard dog and has exceptional tracking and herding skills. They are also particularly skilled in problem-solving. This highly intelligent dog has been a favourite among British royals since the 1930s.

Certain breeds of dogs may be especially intelligent. Yet, regardless of how smart they are, for so many, all dogs are sure to remain much-loved animals.

Alapfok B1

In the picture, two mums and two kids are hunting for eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies in the grass. They are in a garden. I can see the wall of a house in the background. The picture was taken in spring, at Easter. The sun is shining and the weather must be warm. The kids are lightly dressed, they aren’t wearing a coat. They are collecting the Easter eggs and the Easter bunnies into a small white basket. They look excited and happy. When I was a kid my family always hid Easter eggs and small presents in the grass and I had to find them. I loved the Easter egg hunt but sadly I cannot do it any longer. I’m too old for that. But I have a little sister and I hid the chocolate eggs and bunnies in the garden for her last year. I found difficult hiding places for the eggs and it wasn’t easy to find them. She spent a lot of time in the garden but she couldn’t find all of the presents. I had to help her to find some of them. We laughed a lot and we had a good time together.

Középfok B2

The picture must have been taken at Easter. Two kids and two ladies are hunting for Easter eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies in the garden of a house or a forest near a house. They’ve already found a lot of small treats, their little woven basket is almost full. They are about kindergarten age and probably they still believe in the tale of the Easter bunny. Older kids already are aware of the fact that it’s their parents who hide the Easter presents in the grass and not the mysterious Easter Bunny. I remember that I was kind of shocked when I realised that the Easter Bunny was just a make-believe figure, but I loved the Easter egg hunt anyway even after realising that it was just a tale.

Easter time was always very exciting and something to look forward to. Me and my brother usually got lots of sweets and the family had a delicious meal together. I could have hard-boiled eggs and Easter ham for days and I could never get bored of them. Mum cooked and baked yummy food, we played together and laughed a lot. We generally invited our grandparents over. Grandpa sprinkled us girls with perfume and went together with my dad and brother to the neighbour girls to sprinkle them, too. I was so envious of my brother when they came home after sprinkling the girls because they got a lot of chocolate, colourful hard-boiled eggs and sometimes even money. I thought that it wasn’t fair that girls couldn’t get as many presents at Easter as boys, but I could hunt for eggs at least. Easter is in spring when the weather starts to warm up after the cold winter and when children and grown-ups alike enjoy being outdoors in the sunshine. The painted eggs are beautiful in the picture, by the way, and I can’t wait to paint eggs this year in creative new ways. It’s always fun and the eggs make a good present for family members and friends. It’s a pity that we have to destroy their beauty when we eat them.

Felsőfok C1

The picture shows a good start to a day filled with laughter and excitement. Eager children have been gathering Easter eggs and chocolate Easter bunnies around the garden together with their mums clutching their baskets tightly in their small hands. The annual Easter egg hunt seems to be almost over as their basket is almost full of Easter treats. The Eater egg hunt is always a flurry of activity. Like explorers on a quest, the children dart between bushes and under trees, their eyes scanning the ground for any sign of colour. Each brightly decorated egg is a treasure waiting to be discovered. Giggles and shouts fill the air as the Easter egg hunters unearth the hidden treasures. Some eggs lie in plain sight, while others require a keen eye and a bit of cunning to find, tucked away in the most unexpected corners of the garden. The thrill of the hunt spurs the kids on, their determination unwavering as they comb the landscape. Every find is met with triumphant cheers, as they proudly display their treats to one another, comparing sizes and designs with infectious excitement. But the true magic of the Easter egg hunt isn’t just in the discovery of colourful eggs. It is in the shared moments of joy and camaraderie, as friends and family come together to celebrate the arrival of spring and the promise of new beginnings. It is in the laughter that echoes through the garden, and the memories that will be cherished for years to come. The faces of the kids are flushed with excitement and their hearts are full of happiness.

Easter is a fun time for kids but for adults, it has a more significant meaning.  It is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as described in the New Testament of the Bible. It is considered the most important and holiest day in the Christian calendar besides Christmas. For Christians, Easter is a time of spiritual significance, symbolizing hope, renewal, and the victory of life over death. It is a time for believers to reflect on the teachings of Jesus, his sacrifice for humanity, and the promise of eternal life through faith. In addition to its religious significance, Easter has also become associated with various secular traditions and customs, including the Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, and Easter egg hunts. These traditions often symbolize fertility, rebirth, and new beginnings, which align with the themes of renewal and rejuvenation that are central to the Easter holiday.