Day 3 - Tuesday, May 2, 2017 - Budapest - Pest
The sights that we plan to visit in Pest are not within walking distance so a van arrived to take us to various places. This was one of the more depressing days in terms of learning about the tragic histor of Europe and Hungary in particular. The first stop was the historic parliament building (third largest, after Argentina and England). It is right on the bank of the Danube and is an impressive sight from the Buda side of the river. Needless to say, it is quite impressive inside with a massive entrance staircase and gold leaf adorning much of the interior. We were able to see the crown jewels which were saved by the Americans after WWII and returned at the end of the Soviet regime. The area outside the Parliament was the site of the uprising in 1956 and one can still see the bullet holes in adjoining buildings. Many students were killed in the courtyard by Soviet snipers on the rooftops.
The next stop was the main synagogue in Budapest which was the largest synagogue in Europe to serve the large Jewish merchant population in the city. During the war, the Jewish ghetto was around the synagogue as the area where they could live was made smaller and smaller. Tragically, as the Soviets were advancing on Budapest, thousands of Jews were slaughtered and piled in the garden next to the synagogue. Although Jewish cemeteries are not usually next to synagogues, the dead were buried in a mass grave where they were found. There are name markers for the people who could be identified. One of the stones had the name Lazlo Adler although I doubt this was a relative.
From there we went back to the historic central market, passing the "Shoes Memorial". As the Russions were approaching, the Nazi collaborators killed thousands of other Jews, forcing them to take off their clothes and shoes, shooting them and throwing the bodies in the Danube.
The central market is typical of European city markets, with dozens and dozens of stalls selling all sorts of foodstuffs - meat, sausages, vegetables, cheeses, spices and "touristy" stuff. We bought paprika and had a delicious lunch of typical Hungarian dishes.
After lunch we returned to the hotel and explored more of the Buda area on top of the hill.
Entrance to Parliament building
The next stop was the main synagogue in Budapest which was the largest synagogue in Europe to serve the large Jewish merchant population in the city. During the war, the Jewish ghetto was around the synagogue as the area where they could live was made smaller and smaller. Tragically, as the Soviets were advancing on Budapest, thousands of Jews were slaughtered and piled in the garden next to the synagogue. Although Jewish cemeteries are not usually next to synagogues, the dead were buried in a mass grave where they were found. There are name markers for the people who could be identified. One of the stones had the name Lazlo Adler although I doubt this was a relative.
From there we went back to the historic central market, passing the "Shoes Memorial". As the Russions were approaching, the Nazi collaborators killed thousands of other Jews, forcing them to take off their clothes and shoes, shooting them and throwing the bodies in the Danube.
The central market is typical of European city markets, with dozens and dozens of stalls selling all sorts of foodstuffs - meat, sausages, vegetables, cheeses, spices and "touristy" stuff. We bought paprika and had a delicious lunch of typical Hungarian dishes.
After lunch we returned to the hotel and explored more of the Buda area on top of the hill.
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