Budapest 2003
Ann & I had a break in October 2003 in Budapest. The Art’otel we stayed in was very smart, right on the Danube on the Buda side. Unfortunately – but not surprisingly, the weather was very cold. Below is the view from our bedroom window of the Fisherman’s Bastion and the imposing Neo-Gothic style Church on the hill behind our hotel.
Fisherman’s Bastion is an early 20th Century folly. Silly & useless, but good views over the Danube & the Pest part of the city.
It was a brilliant but freezing day. Ice on the steps made it treacherous to walk along the Bastion. The photo on the right shows the Danube in the background.
The Parliament building is massive – the largest building in Hungary. The building is not as old as it looks – completed at the beginning of the last century. Below is a view of the Danube in the early evening, with a cool, clear winter light.
Bishop Gellert was martyred a thousand years ago by being put in a barrel & thrown from the top of this cliff into the Danube below. The Gellert monument is lit up at night & easily visible from the city below.
The Central Market was massive – on two floors. There were many such colourful Paprika stalls in it.
Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube is a large pleasure ground where the locals (& tourists) go to relax.
Hero’s Square is another monumental space fashioned to impress the masses.
Liberation Monument The Communists were dedicated to raising monuments hailing their glory. At least they chose high locations with good views. Notice I had the digital camera & Ann was still clinging on gamely to her trusty 35mm one.
Behind Ann, there is a plinth with a statue missing….
But what do you do with all these Communist-inspired monuments & sculptures after you boot out the Russians?
Answer – see the next page!
