I made a commitment (to the city daily photo community) to publish my best photo from 2008 today. Since it’s 1st of January and with all that it brought into my life I wasn’t able to select a picture but I could take one of my breakfast. Here it is and I hope you’ll like it anyway.
I had no coffee this morning, but this Kreinbacher sparkling wine from Somló.
Andrássy street’s been recenty added a glamorous look by opening of so far missing luxurious designer stores and facelifts are being made constantly, although not quickly enough if you ask me. Kodály Körönd has one of the most gorgeous building clusters of the city and one of them is currently undergoing rooftop restauration works. I know for fact that some of the apartments are private but if all of them are then I don’t understand how could the owners leave the facades and the interirs to be ruined to the extent that these buildings suggest that they’ll collapse any minute now. It1 s a shame really.
Metro4, road repair, bridge renovations, … in Budapest, no, no, in Hungary, nothing’s finished on time and within budget, and the quality is usually so poor that 12 months after cutover the works could start all over again. This statement is demagog, of course, but believe me, there’s no shortest way to set a rule that applies so widely for so many public works.
In the background: Erszébet bridge, Buda Castle and the Buda hills.
Fidesz is Hungary’s chamaleon party currently being the most popular in a country where normal people are fed up with politics. FIDESZ’s headquartered in this nice early XXth century building in the Hősök Tere neighborhood ever since their widely criticized sale of their previous HQ in the early 90’s.
In the background, the Museum of Fine Arts.
CET = Central European Time. CET is also a synonym for a whale. The Mixed Use Development CET at the Kozraktar between the Petofi and the Szabadsag Bridge is both. The CET concept refers to Budapest as an important metropolitan centre in the heart of Central Europe. The CET shape somehow refers to the smooth and friendly streamlined body of a whale. The new CET development has the potential to put Budapest once again on the map of the world. Name and shape of the CET symbolizes its cultural potential and commercial pole position in one of the best preserved cities in the world.
Rotterdam, 31 October 2008 - Erick van Egeraat has won the international competition to design the City Hall in the centre of Budapest. From a field of 18 participants, an international professional jury selected his proposal, which combines restoration of the existing 18th century baroque building and new, futuristic wings to create a contemporary Main Square. This proposal makes an end to a period of almost three centuries of uncertainties at this unique plot in the Heart of Budapest.
In accordance with the objectives of the competition, this new City Hall, with its open courtyards and flexibility of use, will reflect transparency and democracy, will act as a Forum for the people of Budapest and will attract tourists. It will at once re-introduce pedestrian flow from the boulevard to the river Danube and offer a spectacular view of the city from the platform on top of the entrance gate. “This project provides a unique opportunity to both boost the economy of the city of Budapest and create an attractive new city centre for all”, says Erick van Egeraat.
I’ve recently visited Fertőrákos for the sole purpose of experiencing the Ráspi restaurant and winery. On our way back to Budapest we stopped at Fertőd and visited the castle of one of the most traditional family of the late Austro-Hungarian establishment’s Hungarian representatives. The family (Miklós Esterházy, to be more precise) that started building the castle in the XIIIth century have left heirs for the XIst century like writer Péter Eszterházy. Despite the 40 or so years during which the castle had been used as storage for all kind of crap the castle today still offers an outstanding baroque exterior and interior. Please click the post title to see more pictures of the castle. To read more about one of Hungary’s TOP 10 restaurants and more, please visit the Eat in Budapest blog.
I saw this old timer car parking in front of Iguana restaurant in downtown Budapest. The engine’s sound was quite nice too.
This picture was taken in the Budapest banking district. Quite appropriate I believe, Hungarian Forint lost 7% of its value today, my treasury bonds have no market and the stock exchange’s main index fell more than 10%.
This building is located by the Momotaro Ramen restaurant, which I strongly recommend for locals and tourists. You can read more about this and other restaurants here.
Budapest enjoys the loveliest October since many years. This shot was taken in the Buda hills on the Fogaskerekű train.
This post is about citydailyphoto.com Theme Day’s Line subject. Please click the image to see it full-size.
I know, I know… This photo wasn’t taken on the banks of river Danube but I’d rather post a nice photo from elsewhere than publishing a suitable photo which I did not have time to take.
The photo was actually taken in Cinque Terre, Italy. And I like the soft lines of the waves crashing against the hard lines on the rocks but most importantly, the shadows of people approaching the waves with respect and of those challenging the rocks by trying to climb upon it bodysurfing. Too much told already. I hope you enjoy it anyway. And by the way, please check out other bloggers’ works about the Lines theme.
Honestly, I don’t know why anyone from outside this neighborhood would find this place. But if you do, make sure you enter. I felt embarrassed taking pictures inside (there’s are photography in there, you know) but it’s worth a visit. They transformed this old-school socialist-realist bus station into a trendy place where you can site outside or inside and enjoy a quick coffee of tea and they serve breakfast (nice, fresh omelet) at 14.00. It has a great atmosphere. The place is not really visited by the typical local working-class pub-goers, rather for young artists and students.
If you want a decent coffee in downtown Budapest, you’ll have multiple choices. You can narrow your possibilities by good location, good service, bagels and fresh cakes, terrace, dog of the house, great building and there you are. If you’re American, you know the place already or you will get to. It’s the opposite side of the square from the US embassy. You’ll find many of your fellow citizens in there.
I think this is the “legendary” Pannonia motorcycle produced during the heights of the socialist era. This item may be original or a replica - I would vote for the first although the engine block seems quite new. Anyway, they’re planning to relaunch the brand combining the old image with 21st century technology. I’m curious how this will turn out…
Until then, have a closer look by clicking below.
