Webcamera Shot

This was an idea I got yesterday after sending the link of the web camera to one of the readers. I don't really have a photo that shows more of the city and this is such a great photo by the web camera from the Citadel (on the Buda side). Perhaps the camera was not working as the photo that appeared was one taken in August :)



Here is the link for you as well to see a 'live' shot over Budapest. Hopefully, by the time you see it, it really will be LIVE.

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

Rather than the wooden doors we've seen before, here is an equally beautiful wrought iron doorway. The craftsmanship is still there and the sheer size is overwhelming.

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)

What is there to do? Aim, shoot, enjoy :) It is Wednesday already - we can do this!

December Theme Day: Bridges

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.

Please visit the other participants of the theme day by clicking on the links below:

Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Glasgow, Scottland - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary

Salman Rushdie in Budapest

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."

First Snow in Budapest

As long as it had to be cold and gray, it might as well be decorated. It was - the first snow in Budapest on Sunday. Began with a drizzle of sleet then huge flakes of snow for a couple of hours before turning to rain that lasted into the night. Too bad that my camera did not do justice to the vision that lay before me from the bedroom terrace.

A Glowing Facade

After the dark cloudy afternoons, Thursday greeted Budapest with brilliant sunshine. Caught this impressive facade on the opposite side of the street walking to work. It was enough to bring a smile to my face. Hope it will do the same for you.

Quiet Before the Storm

After another sunny morning, things got cloudy in Budapest by afternoon (Oct. 22nd). Roads were being closed to prevent demonstrators from 'spilling' into official function locations. PM Gyurcsany was to give a speech at the Opera House and as a result Andrassy was closed from the Oktogon to the next largest street (Bajczy-Zsilinszky), the section including the Opera. People who lived in the area had to be collected at crossing points and escorted to their homes by police.

The picture above is the approach from the Korut to the corner of the Oktogon where Andrassy crosses. Smell of rain in the air and a sense of unusual calm.



Here is around the corner of Andrassy at the Oktogon. Yes, there is another flower vendor and look, Burger King. If you don't tell anyone, I'll admit that occasionally I simply MUST have a Whopper.


View from Andrassy looking toward City Park. Although it is not entirely clear on the photo, the new Siemens trams are just passing each other in the middle of the road.

The closed off section of Andrassy, the beautiful boulevard, that runs between the Oktogon and Bajcsy-Zsilinszky the Opera a couple of blocks up on the right.

By 8 p.m. there were special bulletins of police disbursing crowds with tear gas, some trash cans set on fire but I've no pictures of that as I opted to stay in. I did put my shoes on but decided against going out. Instead stood on the balcony in the rain (by then) looking towards the Oktogon which was sealed off on all sides. Suppose it was to prevent marchers to collectively go to the House of Terror museum on Andrassy below the Oktogon.

As the rain persists today and more demonstrations are expected, call me a coward, but it seems a perfect day to stay inside.