Budapest — exciting to be here

Got to Budapest yesterday, the 12th. As our hotel is around the block from one of the National Museums we went. I really liked the the examples of 15th century clothing and for men wish they would make a come back. A little warm in the summer, but rather dashing in the cooler months.  Needs color though.

Hungary was a significant empire in Central Europe but did have some hard times, one of those was when the Ottoman Turks swept through, defeated the Hungarians and occupied Budapest. Here is a painting celebrating the recapture of Budapest. That is the city burning and the conquerors are happy.

  

It is such a significant victory that it is celebrated in a huge tapestry too.

A surprising thing was the amount of animosity that developed in Hungary towards their participation in World War I as the war progressed. This is one of the many anti-war posters that were on display. It is rather gruesome if you take a look at what is on the shovel and who is doing the shoveling.

Hungary mobilized 3.7 million men and of those nearly 661,000 died, 743,000 injured, and 734,000 captured - mostly by the Russians early in the war. Total losses of nearly 56% of all men mobilized - the highest rate of any country involved in the war. Perhaps a motive for the anti-war sentiment.

As a former Boy Scout, I really liked this Hungarian Boy Scout suit from the 1930s. I think the cape would be a good accessory for me now. If the 15th century look does return.

Skipping over World War II during which Hungary had a conflicted role according to the museum, (it was an ally of both Poland and Germany for example and allowed Polish troops to retreat into Hungary).

The Hungarians were reluctant and like other eastern European nations resented Russian occupation.  Artists among others were "influenced" by Soviet "thought".  Note the wholesome appearance of the young student engaged in a wholesome activity - studying and the subject is Stalin- (a double good).

There was a display on the Hungarian Revolution of October 1956. I remember it very well as it had a profound effect on me and shaped much of my reading and study thereafter. It was about the time of my 9th birthday and was extremely well covered by Time and Life magazines as well as the TV news (though news in those days was not the 24 hour onslaught we have today).

The Hungarians fought the Russians with barricaded streets with rubble, street cars and fought with molotov cocktails, captured tanks, rifles. The Russian Army suppressed the revolution quite violently as Armies tend to do.

The Communist-era flag with the Communist symbols cut out was the revolutionary flag and is the Hungarian flag today (without the hole).

We went by St Paul's Cathedral but there was a wedding so we were limited in the photos we could take as access was limited. We will come back - it is as you can see amazing.

I did get a photo of the bride and the women guests who were in attendance.  

And St Stephen's from the outside.

and Patt, of course in the foreground!

And our hotel, not as grand, but nice.