the infamous Batthyány Örökmécses (Eternal Flame):
Orszaghaz (Parliament)
I was very disappointed to discover that the Holocaust Memorial on the side of the Duna has been flooded, so therefore the memorial is submerged! I paraded up and down Szechenyi Rakpart hoping to get a glimpse of a least a bit of a cast iron shoe, but no such luck. It just means that I will have to return to Budapest at some point in the future - and this time with more room in my suitcase for shopping!
I walked across Lanchid into Clark Adam Ter. The bridge is quite beautiful in its construction.You can also get some good views while walking across as well.
The next bit of my travels was a little confusing, to say the least. I decided that I would like to look at yet another church, Szent Anna templom. At some point, I'm going to count all the churches that I have visited in the last 4 days as it's been quite a lot.
So, seeing as I was way north of the funicular, as well as north of the other entrance to Varnegyed, I decided to enter through the Viena Gate. God forbid I ever do anything easy. I had quite the time trying to find these damn stairs.
But let me tell you, once I walked through the Vienna gate and located the Zenetorteneti Muzeum (Music History Museum), it was all worth it. The museum, although small, had some great items, including several square pianos, a piano forte, and even a positiv organ. The best part was discovering that some of the Kodaly estate was on display for a special exhibit - so I didn't go to Budapest without some Kodaly in my experience!
So I lost a little self-control and played the Bosendorfer - hey it didn't have a key protector!!!! I got yelled at - hah!
Here are some of my favourite places on Varnegyed:
Buda Palota was a stunning palace, but how huge it was!! What could the royal family have done with all that space, really ???
I had a tour of Sziklakorhaz (Hospital in the Rock), which was a functional hospital during WWII and later a nuclear bunker during the 1950s. Unforunately, we were not allowed to take pictures. The hospital was still as it was in the 1950s. There was lots and lots of old equipment, medical supplies, generators, gas masks, etc. There was even an old WWII air raid warning siren, which we were allowed to try. It was a great tour, and definitely something I would recommend to anyone in the medical field should you visit Budapest.
One of my favourite architectural structures is Halaszbastya (Fishermen's Bastion), and there were even musicians serenading tourists during their visit.
I headed back to Andrussy ut to grab dinner at my staple, Bombay Express. This time I had wonderful Chana Masala and Indian seasoned vegetables over Basmati Rice. Apparently, I am going to live off of Indian food while I'm here, although I'm certainly not complaining.
The ballet performed at the State Opera House "In the Vortex" was 5 short ballets. The first ballet I did not find very interesting but after the second and third intermissions I was almost moved to tears. The choreography of the last 4 pieces were innovative, powerful, and very technically difficult. One ballet even incorporated the sounds of thunder while the two dancers, one man and one woman, incorporated the use of a small table into the performance. My favourite piece was Philip Glass at the very end. A rain storm was simulated on stage - including a severe rainstorm ON the stage. I'm still trying to figure out how they rigged that. All five pieces were about love - the good and the bad about love. I must admit that by the last ballet, I had a few tears streaming down my face. If the ballet should ever come to the states, I would drop everything in a heartbeat to see it again.
Oh, and by the way, apparently I either look Hungarian or seem very much at home here. People keep stop asking me for directions! Sometimes I am able to help, and sometimes I'm not - all in magyar.
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