This rather long portrait of Budapest may be of use to some, lots of photos as well.
A Times journalist spent three months capturing a contemporary portrait of Hungary’s capital, where he lived for several years as a child in the early ’90s.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20451 posts
I can report that the link is safe, the photos are gorgeous and the reporting is naïve and without context.
For some travel is about finding and understanding context; RS even points that out in his summary on Travel as a Political Act.
But he does take dang nice pictures.
Thank you for the post.
Posted by
San Francisco
15020 posts
These nice and revealing photos certainly provide further incentive for revisiting, they bring back memories of my day trips there in 2010, 2014, and 2015, especially those of Heroes' Square and those of the Mathias Church (where the last Habsburg was crowned in 1916 as King) and that overlooking the Danube bridges from Gellert Hill. The Hungarian Military-Army Museum is located there, signs in English point the way.
One could say that one of the political photos is a manifestation of political naivete and contradiction, the pro-Russian rally where the Confederate flag is flown. A one party state would absolutely not brook any demonstration of rebellion against central authority. Maybe these Hungarians at that rally forgot how many times in modern European history the Russians invaded their area, aside from the obvious in 1956 or had Hungary as their operational objective, if they could only get over the Carpathians.
On my day trips I saw tour buses of international tourists, Korean and European. On Gellert Hill and Castile Hill they can be seen.
Posted by
Magyarország / Rep of Texas
20451 posts
History and culture is complex. There are no straight lines. To begin to comment on most of this requires more understanding than a tourist can assimilate. But thats the beauty of travel, to comprehend what you don't comprehend.
G-d its a beautiful city and a beautiful country and my experiences of the last month reinforce that they are on balance a beautiful people. I am dying to share the stories, but this isn't the correct forum. I leave in 2 days and if life offered such choices I would just stay.
Fred, the rallies are a long subject not appropriate here but revealing if you knew the background.
Posted by
San Francisco
15020 posts
@ James....Your points are well taken.
"...to comprehend what you don't comprehend." That's eloquent ! Even without any audio guides or explanations either in German or English, seeing that museum on Gellert Hill gives one the impression that modern Hungarian political/military history is complex with numerous forces at play.
That pro-Russian rally with its Confederate flag flapping certainly wasn't revanchist.
Posted by
San Francisco
15020 posts
"...it's a beautiful city." How true. What i can say after doing 3 day trips there, it certainly is that, and that's only from the outside. I have yet to see the insides of the prized buildings, the Parliament building, the Operette house,, etc. by way of guided tours..