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Budapest - September 2003 (Part I) |
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I had the opportunity to visit the land of the Magyars in September 2003. My friend's wife is Hungarian and lives there part time. |
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Sunrise over the Hungarian Parliment as seen from the Buda side of the Danube. |
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A view of the Parliment building from the Pest side at the SE corner of Kossuth Lajos ter. The statue is of Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister who was executed two years after the Soviet invasion of 1956 because of his role in promoting Hungary's indepenence from the Soviet sphere of influence. |
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This is a memorial to the Hungarian Revolution of 1956 during which the country tried to free itself of Soviet-style control. |
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And just down the street from Parliment, you will find the Soviet Army Memorial which was erected by the communists to celebrate the "liberation" of Budapest by the Red Army at the end of WWII. |
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Inside the Hungarian Parliment building. The 96 steps ascend to the main dome and also are symbolic of Hungary's founding in 896 AD. |
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The Hungarian Crown Jewels. One of the oldest crowns in Europe, the top is of Roman design, and the bottom is Byzantine. Also seen are a dagger, orb, and scepter. No one knows why the Apostolic Cross is tilted. |
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I'm sitting on the Szabads�g (Liberty) Bridge. which was opened in 1896. Note the old-style communist-era streetcar. |
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This is the famous Hotel Gellert which is at the foot of the Libery Bridge. It is famous for its thermal baths and effervescent swimming pool. |
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