Looked out at my window and what did I see...

If It's Wednesday...it must be doors

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Being one who enjoys celebrations of all kinds whether for a reason or for no reason other than being alive - St. Patrick's day is a natural. Budapest is beginning to recognize the day beyond the Irish Pub and it is likely that friends and I will end up at the Caledonia (Scottish restaurant and bar) for some green beer. Where will you be celebrating (if you are). Happy Monday in any case :)

Commemorating March 15, 1848

Celebrations are going on throughout the city by the various political parties. This so close to the referendum election held last Sunday, the usually high emotional charges of Hungarian political commemorations are even more evident. The leading party lost the election by a wide margin and so the momentum is present in this celebration of the people.

If It's Wednesday...it must be doors

Waiting for the Tram

Yesterday went to look for some kitchen tiles and across the track this ad for an updated version of the traditional classic Vilmos pear brandy. This is with honey and the ad claims that it is an easy flavor with manly content.

Sunday Musings with an Appology

Unfortunately, I've not been out taking pictures. Last night my cousin and I went to a dinner organized by the International Women's Association at the Hilton. Last year's dinner was a great success with the ladies letting their hair down after some time by the open bar and some great food.

This year was no different although for some reason there were fewer people. It made for a more comfortable party, but still interesting. There was dancing and karaoke - the guest for the evening was a former American scientist (with NASA) who landed in Hungary over a decade ago and is now producing a night club act as a transvestite. I dare say he has better legs than some females and as my cousin put it, he is more feminine than a lot of women she knows.

Karaoke was cool - there were no Billy Joel songs I wanted to tackle, didn't have the Ronstadt number I would have liked (Long, Long Time) and someone was already signed up for Cher's 'Do You Believe in Life After Love' - that left me the old favorite standby of Mama Cass, 'Dream a Little Dream of Me'. It was fun.

As to why you are not seeing pictures of Budapest and why I would like to play on your sympathies - see for yourself. The situation is way out of hand as I've one more week to pack up and get as much out of the apartment before work begins on the 17th:

Happy International Women's Day

Cheers to all the ladies every day, but today with some flowers in recognition of the International Women's Day.

FGIF

Could not believe this sorry looking two wheeler what bad shape it is in and yet it is still serving. Don't know - I always thing "Velveteen Rabbit".

Sitting Pretty in the Park

This lovely park with its greening trees sits between the Four Seasons Hotel and the Danube. A wonderful place to watch the world from.

If It's Wednesday...it must be doors

Because of traffic the photo had been cropped and looks a bit strange but the door is great. :)

Lions of Chain Bridge

The lions are restful in their watch over traffic of Chain Bridge. There are two on each side (Pest and Buda) of the bridge. These two are looking at the Four Seasons (from yesterday) on the Pest side.

The initiation for building the first permanent bridge between Buda and Pest was by the great statesman, Istvan Szechenyi and a generous noble Gyorgy Sina financed it. Work began in 1839 and completed/dedicated in 1849 (designer was the British Tierney Clark and the overseer of the construction the Scottish Clark Adam - after whom the square behind the bridge on the Buda side is named). The Lions for both sides of the bridge are the work of sculptor Marschalko Janos. The bridge was bombed by the German army at the end of WWII. The reconstruction was completed on the 100th anniversary of the bridge in November of 1949.

The Four Seasons Hotel

The former Gresham Palace was recently refurbished completely and opened as the Four Seasons Hotel directly across from the Chain Bridge in Budapest. For some reason the gold enhancements throughout the facade of the building did not show through and that is unfortunate. The entrance now closed by a glass door is where a gate used to be and automobiles could drive into the courtyard. The new design made better use of space and the former drive way is now a splendid mosaic covered entry hall.

Hungarian Academy of Science

This beautiful building sits on the bank of the Danube, close to the Chain Bridge and across the park from the Gresham Palace (the new Four Seasons Hotel in Budapst). It is also the Academy where the wedding reception of of Sophia Loren's son and his Hungarian violinist bride was held.
Below, in the frying pan accompanied by some onions - can you tell what is bubbling? It helps to have a lot of these if you expect to be walking the halls of the above mentioned Academy.

Theme Day - Graffiti

A pedestrian underpass of the highway coming off the bridge crossing the Danube. It is pretty sad to me but to some it is art. The befits the Ides of March. Have a wonderful week-end.
Be sure to visit the other participants of this theme day - here they are:
Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Baziège, France by PaB, Belgrade, Serbia by BgdPic, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Bucaramanga, Colombia by Fernando, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Chicago (IL), USA by U R us, Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Cologne, Germany by April11, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Detroit (MI), USA by Taittems, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, Evry, France by Olivier, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Le Guilvinec, France by ds2944, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Jsaltao, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico, Mexico by Poly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montréal, Canada by Douber, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by MumbaiIteanu, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK by Cassie & Chris, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Radonvilliers, France by Deslilas, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rome, Italy by Giovanni, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation by Lark, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Diego (CA), USA by Zentmrs, Santa Fe (NM), USA by Randem, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Silver Spring (MD), USA by John, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Terre Haute (IN), USA by Zann, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Wrocław, Poland by Loompi, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn