Budapest I

I thought I would begin writing a few posts about some places I have been, offering different ideas about each place. We'll see how it goes.

So this begins the first of a few posts about Budapest. Budapest is an amazing city. It is currently quite a value, as you can do, see, and eat pretty cheaply.

Budapest has a sad history from the twentieth century. The city spent much of the last one hundred years under some very oppressive regimes: first the Nazis, then a fifty year occupation by Soviet communism. WWII was not nice to them, as Hitler took over the country. Then the aftermath of the war allowed the Soviets to bully them for decades.

They seem to be doing well now, twenty-five years after the Soviets pulled out. The effects of Communism can be seen if you just look up. But, at the same time, their recovery efforts are also quite visible. My favorite place in the whole city is Ferenciek tere, a city square located not too far from the center of the city. There are two identical buildings in this square, straddling a road. Both had fifty years of dirt and soot on them, as cleanliness was not high on the list of importance during the Communist regime. One has since been cleaned and looks beautiful. The other building remains dirty. All you have to do is compare the two to get a stark reminder of Budapest's history.

The Cave Church lives on today.

Located on the banks of the Danube River, this church is literally located inside a cave. It's a beautiful place.

This is but one of the sanctuaries inside the church. The church was locked up for many years during the twentieth century, as the government did not allow worship to go on freely. I cannot remember all the particulars; but the church has a fascinating history, as people have met secretly to worship, at different points, for hundreds of years. The church is still in operation today and provides worshippers a very unique setting in which to worship.

You will not find the Cave Church at the top of many travel guides' lists . . . and rightfully so. You probably should not spend a great deal of time here, unless something really catches your interest. But, nonetheless, I would highly recommend taking the time to go inside. If you decide to go to the top of Gellert Hill to see a panorama of the city, be sure to go by it on your way up or on your way down, as it is located at the bottom of the hill, on its southern side. You will be rewarded with some beautiful views of the river and of the city.