WanderLex

Tag: Hungary

  • Chug along on Children’s Railways in Budapest

    Chug along on Children’s Railways in Budapest

    The Children’s Railways (Gyermekvasút) which operates at Buda Hill is run mainly by children aged 10-14 under the supervision of adult railway workers. Besides engine being driven by adults, children handle jobs like tickets sales, traffic management, and various other railway operations. Sounds interesting enough for me and so I made my way from Kossuth Lajos tér station to the first stop of Children’s Railways at Széchenyihegy to experience this unique attraction.

    Children Railway in Budapest

    The world’s longest railway of its kind has been running since 1940’s and was initiated by the Soviet for children to learn about railway operations as an extracurricular activity. The communists wanted children to have a taste for responsibility. And perhaps also meant to be an avenue for propaganda as well. But I think it’s laudable for the Hungarians to keep the heritage railways running after the fall of Iron Curtain.

    So I bought the tickets from the ticket counter and all ready to hop on.

    Children Railway ticket counter

    Children Railway ticket

    Route of Children Railways

    I sat back and relax while the train slowly made its way through the forestry parts of Buda Hills till the last stop at Hűvösvölgy. I have planned to alight at János-hegy to take the chairlift (Libegő) and descend down to Zugliget.

    But decided otherwise as the wind speed that afternoon was crazy like this;

    The ride offers some great city views at a distance from the top. But most of the times, it’s just trees and more trees…

    So I spent more time watching how the children went through their duties. The young operators are neatly dressed in uniforms and are serious about what they do. Not all of them can converse in English but many of them were willing to pose for the camera. One of them told me he enjoys meeting foreigners like me. That’s because he can then practice his English and it’s more fun here compared to school LOL!

    Children at Children's Railways

    Working at Children's Railways

    Ticket conductor at Children Railways
    Ticket please?

    At Children's Railways

    The handsome one at Children Railways
    I was supposed to email his photo to this kid but I have somehow misplaced the email address…I’m sorry! If by any chance you’re seeing this, please give me a shout, thanks!

    And finally, the train reached Hűvösvölgy of Children’s Railways around 45 minutes later but I didn’t explore too far away in case I miss the last train back.

    Children Railways at Hűvösvölgy

    Hűvösvölgy station

    Around Hűvösvölgy

    [alert]

    What are your thoughts about Children’s Railways in Budapest? Leave a comment and share it with me.

    [/alert]

  • Hungarian Parliament Building

    Hungarian Parliament Building

    Not far away from St. Stephen’s Basilica is another famous landmark of Budapest – Hungarian Parliament building (Országház). In which, going on foot between the two led me to Freedom Square (Szabadság tér). This is a rather interesting place to me where seemingly, the duels between Communism VS Democracy are fought in silence, or rather, with concrete and bronze.

    Playground at Freedom Square

    Cafe at Freedom Square

    Around Freedom Square

    Freedom Square

    Taking centre stage at Freedom Square is a Soviet monument, possibly the very few remaining ones in Budapest that occupies such prominent place. The obelisk topped with a five-pointed Communist Star was erected in honour of Russian soldiers who had sacrificed during the liberation of Budapest.

    I’m surprised to see the monument especially knowing that the locals are not keen to be reminded of Soviet occupation. Hence, it’s a no-brainer to see barricades and police being deployed at Freedom Square to prevent vandals.

    Red Army Monument in Budapest
    Red Army Monument in Budapest

    The intentions to take down the monument were unfruitful after Russia protested about the soldiers buried under it. And that’s when other contrary-meaning monuments were built, perhaps to alter the obelisk’s meaning.

    One of them is a bronze statue of former American President Ronald Reagan. The statue looks to be walking towards the obelisk or the American Embassy Building behind it. Whichever the case, the Soviet monument is now flanked by the former President and the Embassy. Not that subtle huh?

    Ronald Reagan statue in Budapest

    Another one is a statue of Imre Nagy, a national hero during Hungary’s anti-Soviet 1956 uprising. With his back against the Soviet monument, he gazes towards Hungary’s democracy symbol – the Hungarian Parliament building.

    Statue of Imre Nagy in Budapest

    Statue of Imre Nagy on the bridge

    Just in front of the Parliament building is the huge Kossuth Lajos Square (Kossuth Lajos tér). The well maintained grassy square is surrounded by nice looking buildings and well placed monuments.

    Budapest Large city square

    Monument of Ferenc II Rakoczi

    Museum of Ethnography Budapest

    Grave Memorial for the 1956 Hungarian Revolution

    Hungarian Parliament building

    But of course, the star here is Hungarian Parliament building. Standing neck to neck with St. Stephen Basilica at 96 meters as the joint tallest structures in Budapest. Construction began in 1885 with the intention to commemorate Hungary’s millennium in 1896 but it wasn’t completed until 1904. Upon completion, the sheer magnitude of this magnificent building has dominated the Budapest’s skyline ever since.

    This impressive building fascinates the architecture junkie in me after seeing spectacular photos of it, I just gotta see it. Sadly for me, I didn’t get to see the interior of the legislative building due to Easter holidays. But its exterior alone is enough to be the best-looking parliament building in my books.

    Entrance of hungarian parliament building

    Attila Jozse statue at hungarian parliament building

    Attempt to take in all of the Parliament building with my wide angle lens proved to be mission impossible. Reason? The gothic building sits just next to the bank of Danube River.

    Hungarian Parliament building

    There’s only so much room one can move backwards as the below picture shows. And mind you, there’re no railings between the promenade and the river!

    Hungarian Parliament building along Danube river

    The better place to capture the Parliament building would be from the opposite bank, on a river cruise boat or standing on Danube River LOL. Here are some of the pictures I took from the opposite bank.

    Hungarian Parliament House during Blue Hour

    Charming Hungarian Parliament at night

    Hungarian Parliament House view from Margaret Bridge

    Hungarian Parliament building at night

    The Shoes on the Danube

    Along the edge of the promenade, not far from the Parliament building is the memorial made up of sixty pairs of rusty-looking shoes. It serves to remind the brutality of Arrow Cross militiamen towards Hungarian Jews. Victims were brought here to face the river and forced to remove their shoes by militiamen, before being shot in the back and washed away by the freezing Danube…

    There are shoes of men, women and even children…such brutality is inhumane and yet it happened…what world are we living in? I was near tears after seeing those tiny shoes and all I can offer is a prayer…

    The Shoes on the Danube

    Women Shoes on the Danube

    Shoes on the Danube

    [alert]

    What are your thoughts about Hungarian Parliament building? Leave a comment and share it with me.

    [/alert]