Finding Memento Park

According to Rick Steves’ “Budapest,” there was a special bus at 11 a.m. that you can take from Deak Square to Memento Park. I took the subway again from near my hotel to Deak Square. That’s when I ran into trouble finding my way. If I taken Rick Steves’ book with me, he gave the cross streets as to where to catch the bus, but I left it at the hotel. So I asked one of the Hop–on Hop–off bus vendors if they knew where to catch the bus. She told me that the bus only ran on weekends and today was not a weekend day, so she gave me a map with directions on it of how to get there on public transportation.

However, I found out later that the bus was running this day, but not knowing this, I got to experience Budapest’s public transportation system. I first took tram 47 shown in the photo which crossed over to the Buda side using the Chain Bridge. I asked someone on the tram to let me know when I was to get off. The hop–on hop–off woman said I would recognize it as it was at a big square. The woman on the tram also told me to get off at the big square. But this turned out not to be the correct tram station to catch the no. 158 bus, so, in effect, I was lost.

After asking a man cleaning the square, a shop keeper with very limited English, and two young girls I passed on the street, I found the stop for the 150––it was at the next tram station from where I got off and there wasn’t a square at the stop. But I was glad that I didn’t give up and take the tram back to where I started.

But how would I know what stop to get off the bus? I asked a man on the bus if he knew where to stop would be. He did confirm that the bus did go to Memento Park but he was getting off before the stop. I don’t think any of the other Hungarian passengers spoke enough English to help me. But a fellow tourist (from Canada) on the bus heard me ask about Memento Park and came to talk to me and told me he and his wife were going there also. I told him that was great so now I could follow them. No, he said, they thought they could follow me.

Anyway, after about 23 stops up a hill, most stops in a very nice middle–class residential area, I saw a sign at a bus stop that said Memento Park. I called to the man to get off and then two young women also got off––there were five of us going to the park on the bus.

After visiting the park, I took the direct shuttle (5 euros) back to Deak Square.

Memento Park

After the Soviets left Hungary in 1989, rather than to melt down or to destroy all the statues and sculptures that the Soviets placed in Budapest to celebrate communism, they were moved to Momento Park. The park was designed by an Hungarian architect named Akas Eleodi. It was designed with symbolism denoting a failed system.

Photo: the main gate at Momento Park, just a facade with nothing behind it, as the Hungarians viewed communism. Lenin is on the left and Marx and Engels are on the right.

Memento Park

One of the statues in the park: A Fallen Hero, mortally wounded yet victorious.

I have put my photos of Memento Park on a slideshow. Go to

http://www.peggysphotos.com/memento–park–budapest/

(Slide Shows, Central Europe, Hungary, “Memento Park, Budapest”).

Deak Square

Back at Deak Square where there were both food and tourist item vendors. This area is not covered so the vendors are here only when it is not raining.

Deak Square

Both hot and sweet Hungarian paprika.

Deak Square

Photos of Hungarian horsemen.

Deak Square

Photograph of a snow–covered Little Princess.

Deak Square

Felt hats.

Deak Square

Men’s hats.

Deak Square

Furs.

Deak Square

Colorful eggs.

Deak Square

Handmade toys on springs.

Deak Square

Mrazipan.

Deak Square

All kinds of Hungarian food. Here. langos (fried bread).

Deak Square

Hungarian pancakes.

Deak Square

All different kinds of Hungarian food.

Deak Square

I ordered this––spicy meat and cooked veggies in pita bread. I don’t know what it is called––I just pointed to a sample display of it. It was delicious and very inexpensive. I ran into the three young women who were on my art and culture tour yesterday and ate lunch with them. They went clubbing last night but not at the night club that we visited on the tour.

When I was walking back to the street, I was surprised that the vendor who had waited on me asked me how I liked the dish. “Very good, the best meal I have had in Hungary” and it was.

Szechenyi Baths

After lunch I took the M1 subway––the first subway built in Budapest––to the Szechenyi Baths. Rick Steves gave an excellent outline of the bathhouse process, so I wasn’t too confused when I went there. You are given a waterproof wristband when you enter and are assigned a private changing room if you opt for one. Other options include changing in the locker room. You can store all your personal items in the changing cabin while you use the baths.

Rick Steves included how much each item costs at the baths, so I made sure that I had enough Hungarian currency with me. You need to use it for a deposit if you rent a towel––no euros accepted or credit cards, though you can charge your entrance fee.

You can use either or both the large pool where you more or less just sit or stand around or/and  the swimming pool, but you need to wear a swim cap to use that pool. You can also sign up for a massage.

I just stayed in the large pool––it is like a giant jacuzzi filled with warm, not hot, mineral spring water. A fun experience.

It was pouring rain when I left so I had a decision to make: walk back in the rain to the subway entrance or take one of those cabs across the street that would certainly overcharge me. I took the cab and it did overcharge me about 1/3 what it should have cost. Those cab warnings are real.

This was my last day in Budapest. I would leave tomorrow for Serbia on my Cosmos tour. So far, I have spent a total of six days in Budapest the two times I have been in this city. I could easily find many new things to do here if I ever come back––it is a great tourist city.