view of Pest from Castle Hill
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8 October 1999
Went to Budapest (Hungary) today after school.
Found the hostel without any problem, and it was
a mere eight o'clock when I got there, so I
decided to go reconnoitering. Looked on the map,
got my bearings, walked around for hours through
the city. The city is really a
juxtaposition--old, stately buildings mixed with
modern chrome, glass, and neon buildings. It is
really quite stunning at night. The two old
cities, Buda and Pest, are joined by four
bridges, and these bridges are lit, the castle
and Parliament are bathed in light, and the
beauty, even at midnight, is evident. I found the
Internet cafe (which is a MUST when I go away for
a weekend) and checked my mail. Then it was time
to go to the hostel and sleep until the adventure
could continue! |
view of Buda from Castle Hill
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the Tree of Remembrance, which is
built over mass graves of Holocaust victims
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9 October 1999
Got up early, had the mandatory coffee (or
three!), and began walking through the streets (I
can tell this is going to be my method of seeing
the cities--there is no real plan formed, just to
walk until I see something that interests me). Of
course, I have a few "must do" things
on the list (always a list!!), but I think I can
see so many more interesting things by walking
through as many streets as possible. I saw the
living, breathing Attila the Hun!!! I was walking
down the street by Gellert Hill, and suddenly I
hear someone yelling, "Attila! Attila!"
I turned toward the sound, and I see a road
worker (they were putting down asphalt) asking a
guy what to do with a pile of old road. And
Attila the Hun was telling him where to put it!!
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Wound my way through Gellert Hill, around
Buda to the History Museum, up Castle Hill (which
was QUITE a climb--next time I will take the
incline!) to Matthias Church, which was
originally a church, then served as a mosque when
the Turks invaded Hungary, and reverted to a
church after 145 years. There is a Bach Mass
tonight in the church; bought my ticket and will
be there at 7:30! I then walked over to Pest, and
visited the synagogue, the largest synagogue in
Europe and second largest synagogue in the world.
The Jewish Museum was closed, but the Holocaust
Memorial was visible. This is a metal tree which
stands over mass graves dug in 1944-45. World War
II, especially the Holocaust, has always been of
great interest to me, and living in, standing in
the place where this horror happened is
indescribably important and meaningful. Then made
my way to St. Stephen's Basilica. St. Stephen is
the patron saint of Hungary, the first Christian
monarch, and Hungary's holy relic, St. Stephen's
right HAND is on display in the basilica. It is
all dried and gray and shriveled, but really,
really cool. |
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The concert (Bach Mass in H-Minor) was incredible.
Listening to Bach (in a minor key no less!) in this
medieval church, lights dimmed except towards the altar,
was almost more than I could stand. During the two hour
walk home, I felt as though I was floating through the
streets instead of walking through them
the door to this incredible
structure
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10 October 1999
On the way home today I decided to stop at the
Varosliget, a huge park that houses a zoo. Before
I went to the zoo, I looked at the Millenium
Monument (at least what I could see through the
student track meet that was going on this
morning). The monument was built in 1896, in
honor of the 1000th anniversary of the
founding of Hungary, and St./King Stephen is the
first figure (who, incidentally, was crowned on
Dec. 31, 1000!!!). It was a mistake to go to the
zoo, though. I should know this by now. It was
horribly depressing. The conditions were awful,
the animals were pacing and pacing and pacing.
The zoo was not that crowded, it was a rather
gray day, and going to the zoo was not the best
choice I have ever made. Note to self: avoid zoos
in Europe ( I have been making this note to self
for years--why don't I ever listen to myself?)
Sitting at home, typing this, I can't believe I
was actually in Budapest this weekend!!!!! |
St. Matthias Church
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