The large statues of Heroes Park tell the story of Hungarian Heroes. At the top of the pillar is the archangel Gabriel bringing a crown to St. Stephen, who brought Christianity to the region around the year 1000.
Day two of our Budapest adventure involved a whirlwind adventure through the PEST side of the city. It was far different from the Buda side - much more flat, much more commercial, and far more vast. As opposed to Prague, where all the important sites are within walking distance, here we were going to have to rely on buses, trams, metro lines, and most often, are feet. Let's get to it!
I think these horses inspired the Lord of the Rings.
The thing you need to understand about Budapest is the number 96... as in 1896. This was the year of Hungary's millennium anniversary bash, which prompted the ruling Hapsburgs to commission literally every important site in the city. Our first stop was the massive Heroes park, built in (you guessed it) 1896. It houses a large square, a number of museums, the city zoo, restaurants, and a famous Turkish bath. The statues in the park depict all the Hungarian Heroes, and present a very "tough guy" image.
Walking through the Hungarian history museum.
The exterior of the Szenchenyi baths, one of Europe's largest public bathing facilities.
Deep within the park is the Szenchenyi baths. These are probably the city's most popular set of outdoor thermal pools, and after looking inside, we wished we had gone here instead of Gellert. Old men stand around playing chess, and others simply lounge like they are penguins. Definitely interesting people watching here!
The baths at Szechenyi.
Jumping on Europe's first metro system, built only 10 feet underground, we caught a tram down Pest's grandest boulevard, the "Andrassy Ut" to the center of pest. Along the boulevard you can find modern shopping (Burberry, Louis Vuitton, Apple Store), the Opera House, and the TERROR Museum. This museum depicts the Nazi and Communist oppression. We were really hoping to go inside but it was closed on Mondays. This boulevard also is home to the famous Opera house, which is in the "Big Three" of Opera Houses (with of course Vienna and Milan).
The Terror Museum. The outlined words are supposed to depict the oppression that reigned down on the people of Hungary for over 40 years.
Catania-esque buildings.
The St. Stephen's Basilica is the centerpiece of the "Neo-Baroque" part of the city. It has a beautiful interior and boasts one very interesting artifact - the actual mummified hand of Saint Stephen!
Interior of St. Stephen's.
A cool cross.
THE HAND!!! Only 2 Euro will light it up for a minute... wow... (sarcastic)
Clean boulevards lead away from St. Stephen's. This is the best part of Pest.
These statues depict the Communist ideal for their people: the dutiful worker, the obedient child, the home-making wife. It must have been fun being told to be a robot.
The smiling face of American capitalism.
It's good that we can make fun of the KGB and Lenin.
Christie looking über-Euro in her black tights,
Is there a better ending to our time in Budapest than a night walk through Heroes Park.
~ J. Twice
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