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Suburban Jungle Szentendre, Hungary 2011

A bird’s eye view of some of the tightly packed housing in the small town of Szentendre.

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Faux Rome Budapest, Hungary 2011

The Ják Church in Budapest is a replica of part of a Romanesque Benedictine church from 1214 in Ják near the Austrian border. The replica itself is “only” about 125 years old.]]>

Roadblock Budapest, Hungary 2011

The imposing St. István’s Basilica, Hungary’s largest church, takes up a number of city blocks in central Budapest.]]>

Kossuth Mausoleum #5 Budapest, Hungary 2011

One last look at the Kossuth Mausoleum, this one from the back side. I might hope to live a life of monumental deeds worthy of such a memorial, though I certainly haven’t racked up any as of yet and am not likely to in the years I have left. But on the off chance I do, let it be marked only in history books if at all. I’m not really into big giant trophies.]]>

Kossuth Mausoleum #4 Budapest, Hungary 2011

The view from the top of the mausoleum.

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Kossuth Mausoleum #3 Budapest, Hungary 2011

Some nice geometry in the steps at the Kossuth Mausoleum.

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Kossuth Mausoleum #2 Budapest, Hungary 2011

A close up view of the ceiling in the Kossuth Mausoleum.

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Kossuth Mausoleum #1 Budapest, Hungary 2011

Architectural detail from the massive mausoleum housing the remains of Lajos Kossuth, a former president of Hungary. He was a quite famous leader although his claim to fame seems somewhat confusing in that I’ve seen him referred to as both a “virtual dictator” and “freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.” The size of his mausoleum would suggest the more positive view of him has won out, in Budapest anyway. Advocating for national independence always gives one the benefit of the doubt I guess, at least if the drive for independence is successful.]]>

Gellért Steps Budapest, Hungary 2011

Stairs on Gellért Hill leading up to a statue of St. Gellért. Known as Bishop Gellért before his martyrdom, he was sent to Hungary to convert the population to Christianity in the 11th century. He was martyred some say by pagans who preferred to stay that way.]]>

Still Life With Losers Szentendre, Hungary 2011

An odd paring of memorabilia from two diverse failed military/political movements at a curio shop in a small town in Hungary. (That’s a Communist star pinned on a Russian military hat on the left and of course the Confederate flag on the right.)]]>