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Sunday, October 28, 2007

The lure of European Trains

Whenever I pass a grand European train station I can't help but have a look inside and see what possibilities are on offer. Even though I am in one of the great cities of Europe and not in any hurry to leave, the lure of European train travel is always strong.

Budapest has three main train stations, of which Keleti palyaudvar receives most of the international arrivals and departures.

Keleti Palyaudvar

One afternoon when I wandered past there were trains waiting on the platform for Moscow, Zurich and Venice, with a train for Bucharest listed on the departure board.

Budapest Keleti Departure Board

Moszkva Train

Venezia Train

Zurich Train

Labels: budapest, hungary, train, train-station

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Tuesday, October 09, 2007

Hurdy Gurdy Man

A Hurdy Gurdy, or "wheel fiddle", is an instrument used in folk music, particularly in Hungary and France. (And I thought hurdy gurdy was just psychedelic dribble by Donovan).

The Hurdy Gurdy has a bass drone like a bagpipe. I find the sound of bagpipes hypnotic and I always end up following them in parades. So to with this curious instrument.

Here is a busker in Budapest playing the Hurdy Gurdy.

Hurdy Gurdy Busker - Budapest

Labels: budapest, busker, hungary, hurdy gurdy, music

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Monday, June 25, 2007

Guitarshop Mascot

Guitarshop - Budapest

Labels: budapest, hungary

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Strap-on Number Plate

Strap-on Number Plate - Budapest

Labels: budapest, hungary, number plate

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Sunday, June 24, 2007

The World's Largest Hourglass

The Timewheel, near the City Park of Budapest, is the world's largest hourglass. Technically it's not really a hourglass as it does not measure time, nor does it run by the hour.

Timewheel

The Timewheel was commissioned to commemorate the enlargement of the European Union on 1 May 2004, when Hungary joined the Union.

Timewheel Base

The Timewheel is turned once a year midnight on New Year's Eve.

Timewheel Side

Labels: budapest, hungary, timewheel

Posted by James Clark - editor of itravelnet.com
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Friday, June 22, 2007

Children's Railway - Budapest

The Children's Railway in Budapest is an interesting curio left over from Hungary's Communist past.

Formerly known as the Pioneers' Railway, everyone working on the railway is a child, except for the engineer (the train driver). The kids are aged between 10 to 14 and run the operation to the same standards of the State Railways of Hungary (MÁV Rt). They even have the same uniforms as the adult railway workers.

Children's Railway Carriage

the railway is set in the forest of the hills of Buda and runs on a narrow gauge line for eleven kilometres. There are different stops on the way so you can get off in the forest along the way.

Children's Railway

Szechenyi Hegy Station

Szepjuhaszne Station

Labels: budapest, childrens railway, hungary

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Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Espressamente - A real Italian coffee chain

I had read this article in Business Week about Illycaffè and how they are opening a chain of cafes called Espressamente. I am all for the espresso, so I support this concept. I saw this Espressamente at Budapest Airport.