Clearly my boot fetish has a genetic basis. All of the Russian statues are wearing engineer boots.
Another lovely dinner. Fantastic prosciutto, pesto, and mozzarella, followed by more goulash and fresh olive bread.
Thoughts on Budapest
I haven’t been here long, just a few days, but Budapest has already made some strong impressions.
- My mind is constantly being blown by the architecture. It’s so grand and so classically European.
- Bikes are everywhere, with separate lanes along most arterials, and separate signals. See http://tumblr.com/xki20tbhp6 for an example.
- Couples are very affectionate. Holding hands, kissing in the subway or on the dance floor, snuggling in the public baths. It’s very sweet. Makes me wonder why we don’t do more of this in the US.
- Paprika and peppers. I’ve never seen any place with so much identity tied up in such a specific food. Peppers and pepper products (pepper sauce, paprika, pickled peppers, dried peppers, etc.) are everywhere.
So far, two thumbs up. I’ve got one more full day before coming home. I’d definitely visit again.
Coloman of Hungary, who prohibited the burning of witches with the phrase “As for the matter of witches, there is no such thing, therefore no further investigations or trials are to be held.”
Heroes’ Square. We don’t make monuments like this anymore.
Shoes on the Danube holocaust memorial.
One of the holocaust memorials at the Dohány Street Synagogue. There are names on the leaves. This moved me in a way very much like the temples at Burning Man. Very intense emotion embodied in a physical space.
Goulash! Turns out it’s basically stew, often beef, with a lot of paprika. It’s really good.
