the 'Romkocsma'

In a break between two rounds, let me here comment on a recent phenomenon in the Budapester pub life: the 'Romkocsma' (lit. ruin-pub). This newly-found hybrid unites the disadvantages of drinking in a pub and drinking in a park - with the possible exception that one isn't taken to the Yard if caught.

Whatever you got used to and love in your local watering hole is completely missing: the sense of intimacy or privacy and cosiness is gone with the enormous crowd coming in - these places are quite fashionable; the relationship between barfly and barman/barmaid is missing for the same reason. The drinks are disproportionately expensive - without obvious reason, not counting the principle of demand and supply. It seems that there is great demand for these places, though, why this is the case is beyond me.

On a slightly different note, an observation: for some reason, in any romkocsma one happens to frequent, the people sitting around one all look the same.