DAILY PHOTO: A Rampaging Stakhanovite in the Szoborpark

Taken outside Budapest at the Statue Park in 2002

Taken outside Budapest at the Statue Park in 2002

 

The Szoborpark, or Momento Park, is an open-air collection of Budapest’s old Communist-era statues. Needless to say, these statues were not popular, and many were probably rapidly destroyed when the Soviet strangle hold waned. However, a collection of these Lenins, Stalins, and their Hungarian equivalents (e.g. Béla Kunremained. Furthermore, peppered into the collection were a few of images of the unknown “good soldier” and Stakhanovite workers, just to reinforce the notion that “all pigs are equal” (even if some are a little more so than others.) This one is the biggest of the lot. As I recall it stands about 2 stories high. The park is on the outskirts of town on the south side of the Buda (west) side of the Danube.

DAILY PHOTO: Buda from Across the Danube

Buda from Pest; Taken in December of 2008

Buda from Pest; Taken in December of 2008

TODAY’S PHOTO: Vajdahunyad Castle Entrance in Budapest

You just don't see enough moats these days.

You just don’t see enough moats these days.

DAILY PHOTO: The Danube from Gellért Hill

Budapest's south side

Budapest’s south side

Gellért Hill is a prominent overlook in Budapest; it’s topped by the Citadel. The hill offers splendid views both north and south down the Danube River. I show the view to the South to be contrary  (pictures to the north, dominated by the sprawling neo-gothic Parliament building, are ubiquitous–and are commonly the subject of postcards.) If you want some exercise, you can walk up to the top. The stairs are adjacent to the roundabout at the foot of the Buda-side of the Erzsébet bridge.

DAILY PHOTO: Danube Bank in Budapest, Hungary

The steeple is Matthias Church in the Castle District

The steeple is Matthias Church in the Castle District

The Danube River flows through the middle of Budapest. Budapest was originally two cities that grew together. The hilly west bank (seen here) was Buda, and the flat east bank was Pest. High in the background one can see such tourist attractions as the Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church.

Winter in Budapest

I took these five years ago… how time flies. But, tis the season.

City Ice Rink next to the Vajdahunyad Castle

City Ice Rink next to the Vajdahunyad Castle

This has been one of the most popular pics on my photoblog as of late.

The Neo-Gothic Parliament building from Normafa.

The Neo-Gothic Parliament building as seen from Normafa.

Normafa overlooks Budapest from atop of the hill. On this day the hilltop was dusted while there was not a trace of snow in Budapest.

Normafa near the tower

Normafa near the tower

The aforementioned dusting of snow written over by long shadows of winter.

A cross in the woods

A cross in the woods

A solitary cross and headstone next to the trail.

Winter markets

Winter markets

It wouldn’t be Budapest in winter without a shot of one of the markets. When it’s blustery and gray outside, the warm scent of roasting nuts or baked goods  bring a smile to the face.

The big winter market at Vörösmarty Square.

The big winter market at
Vörösmarty Square.