Jamie Winchester lives in Budapest, and he is a great musician. Thanks Jamie for this fantastic video!
Memorial Day to the victims of communist dictatorships
This Saturday there will be commemoration events for the victims of communism all around Hungary. On 25 February in 1947 Béla Kovács, the Secretary General of the Independent Smallholders’ Party, was unlawfully arrested and deported to the Soviet Union. The Hungarian parliament adopted a decision in June 2000 (58/2000; VI. 16.) which made 25 February Remembrance Day for the Victims of Communism.
– the official commemoration event will take place between 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside the House of Terror Museum at Andrássy út 60; this institution is ten years old this year. Everyone is welcomed to place remembrance candles and lampions at the museum, to honor victims of the communist dictatorship. (The museum is free of charge on this day, visitors get special guided tours held by well-known people.)
– speakers from 4 p.m.: László Balás-Piri, president of the Board of Trustees of the Public Foundation for the Research of Central and East European History and Society; Gábor Tallai, program director of the House of Terror Museum; Mária Schmitt, director of the House of Terror Museum; Csaba Hende, Minister of Defence.
– singers: Eszter Váczi, Ákos.
The victims of communist regimes worldwide are estimated at 100 million. In Eastern Europe, the number of those who died in famine, in labor camps or were executed on political grounds was around one million. We can not even estimate the number of people physically and psychologically crippled by the everyday reality of dictatorship.
More information in Hungarian here.
This is a statue next to the Hungarian Parliament House, representing Béla Kovács. The statue was unveiled on 25 February, 2002.
Picture from Wikipedia.
Budapest in commercials
Lipton Ice Tea 2011 with Hugh Jackman (up on Hármashatárhegy):
Canon Legria (around Chain bridge):
Microsoft Windows Phone 7 (Margaret Island, Amusement Park, etc.):
Budapest won!
I hope you get to Budapest one day. Don’t miss the New York Cafe and the boat pub A38.
According to a survey by UCityGuides.com the most beautiful Cafe in the whole big world is…what do you think, which won? Naturally, the New York Cafe in Budapest:-) We could have told you, without a time and energy consuming survey. Check it out on their website here.
What is the secret? Lonely Planet wanted to know which are the 100 top bars according to people’s rating. We got place 1 with boat A38 and place 3 with Szimpla :-). Check the list out here.
So, when are you planing to come visit us?
Last minute free Budapest tour in English
Hey everyone in Budapest this weekend. This information is useful only to you, I’m afraid.
This Sunday (February 26th) on the occasion of the International Guides Day the Budapest Chamber of Commerce organizes lots of excellent programs, mostly in Hungarian :-(.
However there is a city tour available in English.
Location: City Park – Heroes’ Square, departure from the parking area next to the Art Gallery (right from Heroes’ Square)
Activities: in the parking area Hungarian craft masters’ fair
Program: 90 minutes bus tour of Budapest departing at 2 pm in English (10 am. Russian, 11 am. German, between 9 am.-4 pm every hour in Hungarian)
This is a free program, so to ensure you get on board send an email to: szepesi.valeria@bkik.hu (with your name, number of participants and the time you would like to depart at) until 22 February 12pm. No confirmation is sent. The free tickets will be handed to the participants at the departure location.