Ferenciak Tere

Just one of the many amazing buildings in the city.  This is right across from our metro and bus stop.

Szabadság Ter

This picture is taken in Szabadsag Ter or Freedom Square in downtown Budapest.  I think what makes this picture somewhat interesting is that I took it standing near the US Embassy, with a monument to the Soviet Union's liberation of Hungary at the end of World War II in the foreground.  On the other side of the monument, not visible here is a statue to Ronald Reagan and in the background is Parliament. I'll have to get a picture of Reagan looking at thee monument at some point.

St. Patrick's Day

So it wasn't the biggest celebration I've seen but Budapest had it's second annual St. Patrick's day parade.  I don't know that people exactly know what it is for, in fact one woman walking her dog asked us what it was, but as soon as they realize it's just an excuse to have a few pints I'm sure it will catch on.

More from Revolution Day

Normally our street is a very quiet street.  We are right downtown but our street is a narrow one way street until it gets to the end of our block, then it's one way the other way so you either turn right onto a dead end street or take a left and then a series of turns on many more narrow one way streets before you hit a major road.  Due to road closing for the holiday festivities our road some how became a major thorough  fair.  The picture below was taken out of our window, the cars on the right are parked, the cars on the left are just stopped.

Hungarian Revolution of 1848

 

Today Hungary has one of it's big holidays celebrating the Revolution of 1848 and even google is celebrating here!

Esztergom

Last weekend we went to Esztergom.  It's north of Budapest on the Danube bordering Slovakia (in the picture below, the town on the other side of the river is Sturovo, Slovakia) and was the capital at one time.  It's a beautiful town with a large Basilica and a castle.

 

Szent Istvan's Coronation

Anyone else confused?

Hungarian is only spoken by about 10 million people world wide and there is probably a good reason for that, it's really difficult to learn.  Knowing only very few basics I need to rely on signs a lot. But signs like the one below could use a little clarification.  Dog or no dog? Fire or no Fire?