Budapest is one of the most beautiful and underestimated cities in Europe I've said before. The creative, vibrant city is the capital of Hungary and home to one of the largest populations of international students, and for good reason. Budapest is super affordable. I still couldn't believe how easy my wallet got off. The daily cost of living, and the prices of rents and food, gas astounded me. I surmise the likes of which we will never see here again in the states. And with so many students, we met many interesting people daily and had conversations with. Warbucks is currently friends with two Italian students. They even invited us to one of their parties one night...it felt like a mini–United Nations of the next generation!!!! The two of them along with a guy from Ireland were my host two days when Warbucks had business to tend too. They definitely gave me a good tour of daily life and took me to some pubs the one day. Good times. Must of their cultural events also like the ballet, opera, symphony, theatre and art events are all affordable so everyone can enjoy them, not to mention, daily transportation passes are at unheard of prices. Here in the states, it is almost an arm and a leg to go see the opera, ballet or Broadway show. Some days if you have no itinerary...just walk the streets like we did...there is always something of interest and beauty to be seen.
Stunning design in the metro station
This is one of Budapest's most moving memorials...Shoes on the Danube. Sculptors Gyula Pauer and Can Togay created a moving memorial that sits on the edge of the Danube River. Passerby will see over 60 pairs of rusted period shoes cast out of iron. Different sizes and style reflect how nobody was spared by the Arrow Party, a sympathetic to the Nazi regime. Between 1944-45 the fascist party seized power in Budapest. Thousands of Jews were then confined in the city's ghetto, and later, thousands were executed on the banks of the Danube. Before being put to death , they were forced to remove their shoes before being shot and tossed into the river. A chilling memorial.
Some of the "other" nice street scenes!!!! WOOF!
The things he could have showed me. I'm terrible Muriel.
Beautiful city -- great photos -- the shoes memorial is very moving. Never forget what extremism, hate and fascism lead to.
ReplyDeleteThe way things are going in the US we'll see a memorial like that here soon. It was very sad...as is most holocaust events.
DeleteThat shoe memorial is simply amazing! What a way to remind us of the evil of some men.
ReplyDeleteYou'd think when we see memorials like this in any city...we'd learn lessons....many have and remember...but many also didn't.
DeleteI have thought, more than once, that some grief-stricken artist in USA will do something with guns...
DeleteOh my goodness. The shoes. How very sad but glad they're there. Lest we forget.
ReplyDeleteIt really is the most remarkable city. Thank you. X
If you get a chance you should really go. You two would love the city Christina. I hear the river cruise is stunning.
DeleteThe shoes.... If things don't change here, someday we will have memorial monuments like that. The other thing that struck me: The "Breakfast at Tiffany's."
ReplyDeleteYour right about that memorial Pat. The oddest street art we saw was Michael Jackson murals and stickers everywhere. They were apparently obsessed with his music. Our classics movies are not hits there too. Hence why I think the Breakfast at Tiffany's street art.
DeleteThat memorial!!!
ReplyDeleteHistory is there to remind us that we should not repeat it.
And I love the photos. Even their military uniforms are stylish! Not to mention that Metro station.
And that local could have shown me some hangouts, too, Muriel.
XOXO
The military and police forces both have nice uniforms. And good looking forces too I might add. The memorial was just as moving as the Anne Frank house when I saw it in Amsterdam.
DeleteLots of neat stuff! I've read about those shoes.
ReplyDeleteAre those men in black and silver (pic #2) Orban's SS men?
ReplyDeleteI believe they were regular guards at the Bida Castle grounds. I noticed different places had different police guards or security...and such in different uniforms or colors.
DeleteI hope we don't need to have a memorial like those shoes someday. Now I'm curious to see what it would take to live over there.
ReplyDeleteIf not for Orban......Id move in a minute. Warbucks has a breathtaking old brownstone apartment....his rent would be around 2, 500 here. He is paying just over $980.
DeleteYep, woof! I had no idea the city was so affordable. That shoe memorial is powerful. What a world we STILL live in.
ReplyDeleteIf my William had seen that shoe Memorial he'd have been in tears. What a creative Memorial to make us all remember what happenened.
ReplyDeleteAnd the second picture down, I actually thought that was a storefront, but upon closer inspection I see the whole thing is a painted mural. Now that is a good mural. And I had no idea about the international students. And how nice that everything is Affordable. I feel sorry for the younger generation here that can't afford tickets to save the symphony the Opera or Broadway shows. Why can't everybody enjoy our cultural experiences?
That was one of my favorite murals Agnes. I too did a double take.
DeleteOh my God I so love your travel posts. Budapest was never on my radar but now I'm thinking maybe it should be. And how many people probably never even notice the street art? And the shoe Memorial.. what can be said that already hasn't? That is a powerful Memorial.
ReplyDeleteTundra Bunny here...
ReplyDeleteYour photos of Budapest are awesome. Holocaust memorials are always moving, but there's something about empty shoes that is particularly heart-wrenching: like those on the sea bottom in the debris trail of the Titanic, or the hundreds of little beaded moccasins left out in memory of children who died in the Canadian Indian Residential School system. However, my favourite photo from your trip was in your first post: a statue of a medieval knight or king holding the castle in his arms... I love how the toes of his armoured feet hang over the edge! And no, Muriel, I don't have a foot fetish, LOL!
Oh yes...I like that picture too. It was just up from the Liberty Bridge. When I say I went picture happy....I must have came back with close to 850 pictures. Can you say excessive Tundra? But this memorial puzzled me at first till they told me what it was all about. And your right about empty shoes. My uncle still has a pair of heels my aunt wore, under her chair she sat on in their boudoir. It does make one feel sad.
DeleteOne of my friends went to school in Budapest. She misses it a lot. I will direct her to this blogpost.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I blame her. It was so beautiful.
DeleteSuch glorious sites, from the architecture to the street art to the beefcake walking amongst you.
ReplyDeleteAnd that memorial? Sadly beautiful.,
Fab photos! Liz Taylor had her 40th birthday party in Budapest.
ReplyDeleteCarry on...
WHAT?!?!?!?!?! I'm surprised there was any mayonnaise left?
DeleteProbably took years to recover
DeleteThis is great. Any site in a city is nice to see, but when one sees the street art in a city it can sometimes be the highlight of any trip! You really get a feel and vibe of the city. I really like the one of the pole of a girl and it says on her shirt, You are much lovelier than you think.
ReplyDeleteAnd you mean to say the hot man didn't end up back with you two???
Street art is so much more.
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed the Street Art Tour in this post. Great way to get a feel for the city with lots of discussion on architecture, history and politics mixed in. The Shoes on the Danube is quite a powerful memorial. It hard to even think it went on.
Probably one of the most somber things I viewed outside of the Anne Frank house, or the Holocaust Museum in DC.
DeleteExcellent henny!!!! When I go to cities in the US, I often don't always have the money to see many things, so I'll go to see the many attractions exteriors, and pick one or two sights to surge on. But the street art is what a enjoy, be it art or music. It speaks to me more than curated collections of things about a city.
ReplyDeleteAnother great installment. A real insight into Budapest ang Hungary. Street art is often the quickest and most insightful way into an understanding of what is really going on in a country or city. This was no exception. And those baked goods?!?!? YUM
ReplyDeleteI agree about your comment with street art it does say a lot about the cities that they're in.
Deletenice pics and love your description.
ReplyDeletelast pic: what sexy man
The men there we awesome...handsome, trendy and fashionable...and very nice. They seem much more content , and comfortable with themselves..
DeleteExcellent pictures. And beautiful art. That memorial? yeah. Stirring.
ReplyDeleteI too love city art and murals in cities. It speaks volumes sometimes where the city is and feels.
I'm thinking I could most definitely fee at home in Budapest. These posts are amazing...and what's not to like about keeping out mind off the dark world.
ReplyDeleteAre you sure there wasn't room in your suitcase for me to go along with you??? Looks like a spectacular trip.
ReplyDeleteLove these posts....and love good street art!!! I am loving the front door painted.
ReplyDeleteThose shoes would have wrecked me. Thankfully, that fuzzy otter brought me back to...ahem...life!
ReplyDelete