Does anybody know why all the roads and pavements of Budapest are white? Is it white everywhere? Or just where I live and work? I’ve been told that it’s because of the salt (I didn’t lick it to testify) but it’s so evenly spread that it’s really hard to conceive how it was done. And besides, why pour salt on the roads when there’s no snow? And I don’t think we’ll have any very soon - not in minus 10 degrees.

Alice

Morning Alice, have no idea why the roads are white and am still trying to work out if I like it. It looks very pretty but also lures me into a false sense of security that the roads are icy and therefore everyone will drive slower....... yeah right.

Morning everyone, salt dosen't freeze. Salt crystals are scattered on the roads and pavements to prevent ice from forming. The foot/car traffic grinds it to a fine powder. Nice white iceless roads.
If you drive you should wash the salt from the bodywork of your car as it will speed up the rusting process.

Yes, you must be right GA. I didn't think cars could grind salt to such a fine powder...

And after you finished washing the car you can carry on by cleaning your shoes as salt practically devours leather.

Mia, on second thought you must be a hell of driver. I wouldn't feel secure on icy roads, not even if I was the only one driving on it.

alice

Winter driving is just a matter of practice...

Are you (or rather am I) allowed to park in Bus Stops in Hungary?

Is this some trick question? No, of course not, nobody is. In fact normally there should be an orange zigzag line painted before and after the bus stop marking the areas to be left free so that the bus can manoeuvre easily. (Taxi drivers sometimes think this rule doesn't apply to them and park there, but they are not supposed to.)

alice

No it wasn't a trick question. I parked in one last night and noticed that the bus driver didn't seem to mind, on the basis that I usually get beeped at, flashed at, stared at even when I have done nothing wrong, I figured maybe it was ok to park in bus stops. Thank you for clarifying, I won't do it again (...... but the spaces are so much bigger than all the rest......)

Bus driver has more patience than an average stupid car-driver. They see too much idiot drivers, so usually they don't bother with your parking.
but if they run out of patience, don't forget they have a big bus.