Living in London, and working where I did, I saw security checks like that frequently. My office had bomb ‘proof’ film on the windows too.
This is all strengthening my wish to visit Hungary. The shoe memorial is extremely evocative and moving. I love the recycled pallets, and the Gresham Palace. It all looks most interesting.
I didn’t realise it sounded that surreal! We stopped at Auchan (yes, Auchan!) on the way home that day and bought ourselves a bottle of very nice tokai which we finished off tonight on our private terrace in Austria overlooking (well, you have to stand up to see it properly) the Danube.
butcherbirrd
July 2nd, 2013 at 2:17 pm
I visited Budapest in 2006 with friends . We were on an Insight Tour. The Polish woma in charge of the tour told us that the shoe momument was a memorial for the jewish adults children who were told to stand there and were shot dead by the Nazis. This memorial has stayed in my memory as the most moving I have seen ever. The Parliament must also be one of the best know buildings in the world – once seen , never forgotten.
Rosemary Kneipp
July 2nd, 2013 at 9:41 pm
I found it extremely upsetting and was upset seeing a young couple taking photos of each other in front SMILING. I checked the origin. Widipedia says: The Shoes on the Danube Promenade is a memorial concept by filmdirector Can Togay and was created by him and the sculptor Gyula Pauer on the bank of the Danube River in Budapest. It honors the Jews who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes, and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. It represents their shoes left behind on the bank. I shall correct the post to give that information.
Pamela
July 9th, 2013 at 7:04 am
Dear Rosemary
Finally home, for a few weeks at least, and beginning to catch up. Loving all your holiday posts and pics. Have you read Patrick Leigh Fermor’s book “A Time of Gifts” about his walk across Europe, aged 18? Including his walk along the Danube and visit to Melk? He was a great friend of Debo Devonshire and there’s also a wonderful volume of their letters to each other “In Tearing Haste” that you’d probably enjoy.
There’s a similarly sad memorial in Cracow, not shoes, but old chairs. Holocaust victims were rounded up into a little square for transportation. They were detained for a while, so some managed to bring chairs. Finally they were taken off to the camps, never to return, leaving just the empty chairs.
Budapest is such a beautiful city and we had a wonderful holiday there last year, staying in the Bohem Art Hotel (which we loved – comfortable, great breakfasts and very friendly and helpful staff), very close to the Danube. Our daughter-in-law’s parents were Hungarian so we had booked a private tour car and driver, particularly skilled in tracing family roots and connections. Visited some wonderful old towns way off the usual tourist tracks that were special family places and even located her father’s birthplace in a tiny village far out in the farmlands and forests. Our last evening we were invited to dine with her father’s younger brother – and all his family – and they treated us and our fabulous driver Zoltan like long lost relatives. Plying us with Tokaj, including a bottle to take away.
Warmest wishes, Pamela
Rosemary Kneipp
July 9th, 2013 at 11:03 pm
Hello Pamela,
Thank you for the book suggestion, I’ll definitely follow it up.
What a wonderful experience you had in Hungary – so much better than being regular tourists.
All the best
Rosemary
[…] Constance and the Doubs, all on the Eurovelo 6 route, visiting two new countries – Slovakia and Hungary – exploring new areas of four other countries – France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland – and […]
[…] Pack Me To visits the inside of the Parliament Building in Budapest which we didn’t see on our visit to Hungary last summer. Margo Letsz from The Curious Rambler, whom you met last week explains the importance […]
Living in London, and working where I did, I saw security checks like that frequently. My office had bomb ‘proof’ film on the windows too.
This is all strengthening my wish to visit Hungary. The shoe memorial is extremely evocative and moving. I love the recycled pallets, and the Gresham Palace. It all looks most interesting.
It is – and I haven’t talked about Buda yet!
[…] ← Budapest – Pictures of Pest […]
I didn’t realise it sounded that surreal! We stopped at Auchan (yes, Auchan!) on the way home that day and bought ourselves a bottle of very nice tokai which we finished off tonight on our private terrace in Austria overlooking (well, you have to stand up to see it properly) the Danube.
I visited Budapest in 2006 with friends . We were on an Insight Tour. The Polish woma in charge of the tour told us that the shoe momument was a memorial for the jewish adults children who were told to stand there and were shot dead by the Nazis. This memorial has stayed in my memory as the most moving I have seen ever. The Parliament must also be one of the best know buildings in the world – once seen , never forgotten.
I found it extremely upsetting and was upset seeing a young couple taking photos of each other in front SMILING. I checked the origin. Widipedia says: The Shoes on the Danube Promenade is a memorial concept by filmdirector Can Togay and was created by him and the sculptor Gyula Pauer on the bank of the Danube River in Budapest. It honors the Jews who were killed by fascist Arrow Cross militiamen in Budapest during World War II. They were ordered to take off their shoes, and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away. It represents their shoes left behind on the bank. I shall correct the post to give that information.
Dear Rosemary
Finally home, for a few weeks at least, and beginning to catch up. Loving all your holiday posts and pics. Have you read Patrick Leigh Fermor’s book “A Time of Gifts” about his walk across Europe, aged 18? Including his walk along the Danube and visit to Melk? He was a great friend of Debo Devonshire and there’s also a wonderful volume of their letters to each other “In Tearing Haste” that you’d probably enjoy.
There’s a similarly sad memorial in Cracow, not shoes, but old chairs. Holocaust victims were rounded up into a little square for transportation. They were detained for a while, so some managed to bring chairs. Finally they were taken off to the camps, never to return, leaving just the empty chairs.
Budapest is such a beautiful city and we had a wonderful holiday there last year, staying in the Bohem Art Hotel (which we loved – comfortable, great breakfasts and very friendly and helpful staff), very close to the Danube. Our daughter-in-law’s parents were Hungarian so we had booked a private tour car and driver, particularly skilled in tracing family roots and connections. Visited some wonderful old towns way off the usual tourist tracks that were special family places and even located her father’s birthplace in a tiny village far out in the farmlands and forests. Our last evening we were invited to dine with her father’s younger brother – and all his family – and they treated us and our fabulous driver Zoltan like long lost relatives. Plying us with Tokaj, including a bottle to take away.
Warmest wishes, Pamela
Hello Pamela,
Thank you for the book suggestion, I’ll definitely follow it up.
What a wonderful experience you had in Hungary – so much better than being regular tourists.
All the best
Rosemary
[…] Constance and the Doubs, all on the Eurovelo 6 route, visiting two new countries – Slovakia and Hungary – exploring new areas of four other countries – France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland – and […]
[…] Pack Me To visits the inside of the Parliament Building in Budapest which we didn’t see on our visit to Hungary last summer. Margo Letsz from The Curious Rambler, whom you met last week explains the importance […]
Great pictures. You have a good camera. I love the style. Thanks for sharing.