Pictures taken from Gellert Hill (by night)

Earlier this week we had a guided tour with a nice group of dutch people, and we reached the Gellert Hill by around 6.30. It was still quite bright, and no lights were turned on in Budapest. But then, around 6.50 the city turned into another one, almost like magic! The lights were turned on, and Budapest as we all love it became a reality. Below you can see some of the pictures we made.

Parliament finally finished

I didnt even realize that the work with the Hungarian Parliament had lasted for so long, but last week I read that the last 20 years there has been continous work on the Hungarian Parliament, or the side of the Parliament looking towards the Danube. So, I guess we all got used to the workers and the fact that we never could see the Parliament at its best… But, now it is done (the side looking towards the Danube), and hopefully it will stay nice and clean for many, many years.

To see it the best way you should go to the Batthyány Square or you can go up to the Fishermens Bastion (though the view is nicer from Batthyány Square)!

Hungarian Parliament
Hungarian Parliament

Budapest Dance Attraction (video)

Last Thursday Hungary celebrated the Saint Stephens day, and the city was packed with people. As always the city was full of tourists, and they probably all enjoyed the different attractions located around in the town. Though, I myself discovered a “new attraction” which gave me a much bigger laugh than the best theaters and cinemas around in town; it did not cost any money, and it was located in the Vaci Utca. It was not breakdances, neither “statue-men”… but it was the new Budapest Dance Attration (though I am not sure if he will perforum again).

It would not be fair not to share the experience with you all, so enjoy the video of this great dancer recoreded August 20, in Budapest.

Budapest Dancer

6th September, Budapest 1869 – The birth of Felix Salten

Siegmund Salzmann, or Felix Salten as his name became later, was born in Budapest on the 6th of September 1869. He had to move to Austria after only three weeks, as the Austrians were providing full citizenship to the Jews since 1867.

But who is Felix Salten, or Siegmund Salzmann, and what is he known for? His most famous work is Bambi, which he wrote in 1923. Bambi was later translated to English in 1928 and sold to Sidney Franklin for $1,000 in 1933. Sideny Franklin later transferred the rights to Walt Disney Studios, and they released the film Bambi in 1942.

So, next time you see Bambi you have a reason to think about the city of Budapest, and the nation of Hungary!

Another famous Jew from Budapest
Another famous Jew that was born in Budapest was Theodore Herzl (born 1860), the leader of the Zionist movement. He and his family also moved to Vienna, approximately the same time as Felix Salten did.

When they lived in Budapest, they lived just next to the big synagogue in Dohány Utca.

Read more about the other attractions in Budapest here.