There we were, on October 22, 1984 in Budapest at the Congress Centre, which was high on a hill on the edge of Buda.
We had quite a nice room and we ran into lots of colleagues and friends from all over the world.
Pieter's Campbell Soup colleagues Lung-Chi Wu and Frank Gabell also had arrived by plane from the USA.
Budapest, Hungary
We were around 14:30 at the Congress Center
HOUSE OF AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES (translated from above card and mind you, this was all state owned, the entire congress center! That's Communism...)
Number 225/2 (room and 2 keys)
Departure date October 28 (but we left on the 27th...)
Check out, please leave before 10:00
Baggage and storage of valuables is available at no charge
Finally
Saturday
Meal Time (which was all left blank...)
We both followed Dutch business friend Piet Theeuwen (from Theeuwen Compost then and now Walkro), driving into the center for strolling around and seeing some shops.
Finding a good restaurant to eat, which would be Belgrado with Hungarian music. Pieter's colleagues who had joined us in our car, loved it!
A very good first evening in Budapest, the Paris of the East!
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HEROES' SQUARE with Archangel Gabriel standing on top.
On Tuesday, October 23 it was a date which Budapest for 28 years never forgot.
The day to remember that in 1956 the revolution started and that the Russians knocked down brutally on November 4th in 1956.
Soviets Crush Hungarian Revolt (1956) | A Day That Shook the World
Soviets Crush Hungarian Revolt (1956) | A Day That Shook the World
As a little girl, I remember that we prayed for Hungary with Catholic nuns, our teachers... It made a very strong and lasting impression on me and the adults were talking about war again, they all feared the Russians would invade further.
In 1984, Hungary had 11,000,000 citizens and 2,500,000 lived in Budapest.
Their salaries were very low and most people had to have 2 or 3 jobs for making ends meet.
Rent was usually 1/3 of their salary in 1984. State loans for 35 years at 2% interest, after their own initial capital.
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From the Heroes' Square I also went to the Matthias Church
Greetings from Budapest is written on the card...
The Matthias Church was used as coronation Church by Hungarian Kings and it dates from 1015.
The Matthias Church was used as coronation Church by Hungarian Kings and it dates from 1015.
Check out the Matthias Church's Roof Tiles and the Holy Trinity Statue here click it through.
St. Stephen's Basilica
Greetings from Budapest is written in Hungarian on this card...
Budapest is really a marvelous city with its Buda and Pest embankments.
Top left you see the famous Fisherman's Bastion in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style.
Budapest is really a marvelous city with its Buda and Pest embankments.
Top left you see the famous Fisherman's Bastion in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style.
To the right the letters ANSP are visible, guess that is the Hungarian Air Navigation Service Provider.
It also gives you an idea of the cars from 1984, lots of Trabants during the Communist era...
We got to see 8 bridges from which 7 got destroyed during WWII and needed to be restored.
While I was out with the Ladies, Pieter was seriously attending the lectures at the International Congress.
At that time, there were translators and you could opt for languages to listen to.
In Hungary they speak often German so that made it easier for us.
But for English speaking attendants, it was not easy...
Pieter is seated in the 3rd row from bottom and he's the 3rd from the left.
His two Campbell Soup colleagues were seated 1st and 2nd from the left.
We met for lunch after we got back around 13:30 and we went with the two American colleagues shopping in Budapest. Traffic is a disaster... Stinky cars, no clean emission at that time!
We parked and I wrote the name of the street down for all, with question in German for direction, so they too could find their way back, by asking if needed.
We ourselves could ask it verbally...
Shopping on foot and Frank came back with a red Hungarian rose for me; very sweet!
Not easy for finding our way back in the dark. With asking in German, English with Hungarian replies - what a language!
By the way, Hungarian is only related to Finnish and Estonian...
But we made it back to our Congress Center and Hotel.
Here I'm on the balcony with the red rose I got gifted from Frank...
We had to get ready for the official reception with cold buffet.
We met with several colleagues/friends from The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia (at the time!), Bulgaria, Russia and Hungary...
It was an interesting day, till 22:30...
Stay tuned for more...
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Thanks for your visit and comment!
Related link:
Driving to Communist Hungary with Husband Pieter Part I - Mayerling | previous post by me
Budapest: The Best of Hungary click to go to my Pinterest for EDUCATIVE video
Hello Mariette, Regimes come and go (including capitalist ones which tear down old buildings for profit, or have misguided urban renewal programs), and each does its damage, but every city seems as a whole to retain its basic character and history.
ReplyDeleteWith all those people to feed, it is good at least that communist Hungary did not try to be self-sufficient, but invited outside agricultural experts in to improve their situation.
--Jim
Dearest Jim,
DeleteEspecially Budapest has kept its character during the communist regime with lots of Political persecution. Sad history for several decades. But you are so right about the capitalist regimes also destroying a lot of old buildings only for monetary profit.
Yes, the Hungarians were the most open to the outside world I think and that was good.
Hugs,
Mariette
Looks like a charming European city with a long varied history, and how fascinating it would be to make a return trip in the present day to see the many changes of the last 20 years. Many young people enjoy spending periods of time there, as well as, its surrounding countries.
ReplyDeleteDearest Debra,
DeleteYes it is a very charming city and we both have been lucky enough to see it back, only 6 years after it regained its freedom. No doubt it has changed over the last 20 years... A most fascinating culture to visit for all ages.
Hugs,
Mariette
Liebe Mariette,
ReplyDeletebesten Dank für deinen schönen Post.
Sonnige Grüße
Elisabeth
Liebe Elisabeth,
DeleteDanke und froh das du dich darüber freuen konntest.
Liebe und sonnige Grüße zurück.
Mariette
I have never heard it called the Paris of the east...I like that. There use to be a blogger from there that I enjoyed. I hate that so many people have given up their blogs.
ReplyDeleteI too remember the events of 1956. Enjoyed your pictures and memories.. Janey
Dearest Janey,
DeleteYes, I've heard that more often and it sure is the Paris of the East.
Wondering why some bloggers closed their blogs or quit...
Yes, those events from 1956 are forever etched into my memory and so good for having visited there later.
Hugs,
Mariette
I would love to visit Budapest and see all these buildings and sceneries. The church's roof tiles look pretty!
ReplyDeleteIt's so sweet Frank gifted you with a rose. I love the photos of you holding it :-)
Have a happy holiday weekend, Mariette! xo
Dearest Tamago,
DeleteWho knows, one day you might be able to go there and enjoy it as much as I've done.
The architecture is standing out and is so very special in many ways.
Yes, it was very sweet of Frank and considering this is from the era that none of us had a handheld GPS or whatever.
Hugs and happy Memorial weekend to you as well!
Mariette
Hi Mariette! Wonderful to see pictures of memories.
ReplyDeleteDearest Anne,
DeleteThank you and both of us love to relive those special moments!
Hugs,
Mariette
You look like a young girl in those pictures. And of course you were young. I have had some travel and adventures but yours far exceed mine and I LOVE reading about it. I will tell you I would love to see the Matthias Church. That place is steeped in elegant history and quite beautiful as well.
ReplyDeletex
Dearest Katie Isabella,
DeleteSure there is a lot of difference between then and now...
We both would also love to tour it now, with ample time to admire it, but on those programs there often was no time for doing so.
Budapest is very beautiful with unique architecture and culture!
Hugs,
Mariette
Thank you for your post!
ReplyDeleteFor me it is especially interesting seing how Budapest has changed since than. Incredibly!
Dearest Smily,
DeleteNo doubt you know how much that change has been and it sure is incredibly - thank God!
Hugs,
Mariette