"Parade Boots"

CHAPTER X
_{Small Double}

Budapest’s shopping scene in the early 20th century was as elegant as the city itself. The iconic *Párisi Nagy Áruház* (Paris Department Store), opened in 1911, dazzled shoppers with its Art Nouveau splendor and extravagant window displays. It wasn’t just a place to buy clothes—it was where the city’s elite strutted to see and be seen. Bargaining in local markets like *Nagy Vásárcsarnok* (Great Market Hall) added to the charm, as butchers, bakers, and gossipers turned the aisles into a lively social event.

After World War I, times grew tougher. Department stores adapted, offering everything from high-end hats to humble home essentials. By the 1930s, Budapest's boutiques balanced between a nostalgic flair for old-world charm and modernist efficiency, though war and austerity loomed.

Under communism, shopping took on a whole new flavor. State-run stores like *Skála* were more functional than fashionable, notorious for their long queues and limited inventory.

Countless absurd stories can be told about it, like the story of clothing store and their "innovative" boots that promised to be both stylish and waterproof. The boots were advertised as ideal for any weather. However, when customers bought them, they found that the waterproofing only worked when the boots were perfectly still. As soon as they walked, water leaked in through the seams, leaving their feet soaked. The store, embarrassed, claimed the boots were "designed for standing still in wet conditions." The boots became a local joke, with people mockingly referring to them as "perfect for socialist parades" where no one moved.

Or the story of a "high-tech" sweater that promised to keep the wearer warm in freezing temperatures while remaining lightweight. When customers tried it on, they found the sweater was incredibly thick, heavy, and made them sweat as soon as they moved.The store, trying to save face, claimed the sweater was "designed for the toughest socialist winters." And so on...

+ Bath
+ Toiletries
+ Cosmetic mirror
+ Tea station
+ Drinking water
+ Dresser
+ Clothes hanger
+ Dining table
+ Working table
+ Coffee table
+ Antique furniture
+ Armchair
+ View

+ Space
+ Wi-Fi
+ Double bed 160*200
+ AC
+ Blackout curtains
+ LCD TV
+ Hairdryer
+ Minibar
+ Safebox
+ Electronic lock
+ Slippers
+ Bathrobes
+ Shower