The last day of 2007
This lovely statue is right by the bus stop on Roosevelt Sq. where I landed Tuesday night. It was so graceful that I checked on the person it was created for. The statue is of Gabor Szarvas, a Hungarian linguist (1832-1895). The statue is by Gyula Jankovits created in 1899 and the creation stands 3.65 meters high.
Most people have become used to it, but there is something extra ordinary about this otherwise ordinary sidewalk. Don't you think? It could have been plain as the rest of the sidewalk, but there was that whimsical thought in the mind of the designer that said - nope, let's do something different. :) I like it.
The walls are scarred by graffiti and age, the door had a box attached to it in which advertisements can be dropped into rather than in mailboxes inside. Most doors are now locked and one enters by key or electric code. This door has a panel on the left (see red lettering)
It was a mild Sunday and people had a chance to enjoy the outdoors and each others company along with the performances and "window shopping." A nice day all around.
As if the colors and design were not plain enough - take a look at the sign above these gentlemen. The name of the store is simply a description 'italkereskedes' (beverage sales). Across on the bottom of that sign, in oh so many plain run-together letters is the statement: smoking seriously damages your health and the health of those in your immediate environment. 
Here is Margit Hid, or Margaret Bridge, one of the bridges that connects Buda and Pest. What makes this bridge unique is in its name - in the middle of the river it also touches the tip of Margaret Island. You can walk, bike or ride a tram or bus onto the island. During the summer there are great lawns and ancient trees, flowers, fountain, fish pond, petting zoo, food stands where they even sell beer and benches for lovers and seniors and anyone in-between.
As lines queued up in front of the store and waaay into the mall, us reporters gathered at the couch where Mr. Rushdie was going to sit. The colorful posters are the front covers of the Hungarian translations of the authors latest works. He was late in arriving and so we shuffled.
Whether it was due to my humble Cannon or the others pushing in and my arm not being steady - it really does not matter. Bottom line is, these are the best photos I can offer you of this author with a gentle soul.
He sat down and the others positioned themselves either on his two sides or crouched down to below eye level with their cameras. That left me standing there conspicuously in the middle in front of him. As noone had actually said anything or introduced him - I felt the time was right.
"Good evening Mr. Rushdie - welcome to Budapest. Would you be so kind and autograph this book for my daughter, please." No pen? No problem, I've one you are welcome to. It was a miracle of miracles - never in my life had I produced a pen from my bottomless pit of a purse in such record time! "Thank you Mr. Rushdie."
And THIS! is the ceiling of the drive up portico right before these doors. Simply magnificent.
Enjoy your day and thank you for coming by to visit.
of Mr. Oszter, who is having some difficult events facing him these days. First of all, he is a man! As such, being a father of an attractive young woman is proving most difficult for him. First, there was the open debate about Alexandra accepting Playboy's invitation to pose in Playboy. (As the cover claims "The pictures that made Sandor Oszter (that would be papa) lose it".
From the Vigado looking across the Danube is the Royal Castle building which now serves as a museum. The grounds are used annually for the wine festival - a most noble venue for such noble substance. The very chic boat on the Danube is one of the River Cruise boats traveling between Budapest and Germany.
Absolutely love walking through those doors at least twice each day - my office is located in the building.
