Communism

Heroes' Square

Millenial monument constructed 1896

 www.budapestinfo.org/herossquare

Today I took a communism walking tour. It is rainy, so only three of us taking this tour, the guide is Miki. He shared many stories of growing up under communist rule. He said said that the country was poor, but they weren't hungry. He has happy memories of his childhood, a little less so when he was in secondary school.
One of the first places we stopped at was originally a bus station for international travel (I'd passed this place several times, wouldn't have known what it was) of course when it was built no one could afford to travel so the bus left with only the driver. Neither the bus nor driver returned to Budapest. Later when people could afford to travel it was still difficult as they were allowed only once every three years to exchange money into US dollars and only 70 dollars worth.
One of the later stops was in front of the building that housed the national television station. He said that it use to broadcast opera and ballet, culture for everyone. Another show he remembers was a talent show that the could vote for the ones they liked. They voted through power consumption. If you liked then act, you would turn on appliances (anything drawing power), then the television station would contact the power company to see when the highest consumption was, and they'd figure out the winner.

Facade on building facing the square the basilica is on. Constructed in the favourite communist style - Neo-ugly

Freedom Square
Controversy surrounds the monuments in this square.
www.failedarchitecture.com/budapest-freedom-square

Memorial to Soviet Red Army

Ronald Reagan

Imre Nagy

Monument remembering the Nazi occupation

Rememberance to the victims of Bloody Thursday

1956 Revolution

Parliament

 

After lunch I went to the terror museum. No pictures allowed. 

www.terrorhaza.hu/en/museum

Iron Curtain