BUDAPEST: They Were Nazi Collaborators

I was quite unhappy to find out how thoroughly the Hungarians collaborated with the Nazis, as well as the fact that they played a part in one-tenth of the deaths in the Holocaust. The people of Hungary who survived the Holocaust returned to find their homes looted, and even the bricks removed from their walls. In Denmark, their neighbors watered the plants and fed their cats, and that was after making sure they made it safely over to neutral Sweden. Quite a difference.

The Hungarian Jews were systematically deprived of their rights, property, freedom, dignity, and in many cases their lives. Never during the Holocaust was there such an accelerated program of the implementation of Hitler’s final solution and eradication of so-called undesirables.

The Holocaust Museum here presented the information in a creative and unencumbered fashion, but the goulash just isn’t going to taste the same after a visit there. I’m going to head over to the hot springs fed bathhouse tomorrow, and see if I can do a bit of a soul cleansing. Then maybe follow up with a little Jazz in the evening. I shall still be glad to move on to my next country which I hope will not bear the stain of Hitler’s Reich.

Here’s the entryway to my Hostel/Apartment. It was a three-room apartment that was terribly mildewed in the common area so I had to hide out in my room which was hot, windowless, and lightless. This didn’t help my Budapest experience. It had good reviews and was supposed to be in the city center when it really was on the periphery.

This is a delightful pixie tour guide who actually started my visit off on the right foot.

Rub his belly to be guaranteed a good meal.

FRANZ LISZT – Hungarian Composer

Sculpture showing the distances to all major Hungarian cities.

The Chain Bridge

Funicular – The Easy Way Up

Our Way Up

A Symbolic Gesture To The Soviets

The Parliament Building

Closeup of the struts on the Chain Bridge

The entrance to the Holocaust Museum

A truckload of Nazis being cheered into Budapest.

László Endre – A despicable Hungarian.

The End for so Many.

 Beautiful Synagogue at the Exit of the Museum.

Memorial Wall Sculpture

A plaque in the street designating one of the many who were taken from their homes.

THE GREEN BRIDGE

THE HOTEL GELLERT

THE GELLERT BATH HOUSE

Entryway Of The Gellert Bath House – Which I failed to utilize.

RESTAURANT ROW

Duck Breast with Risotto – The best part of the visit.

I was stuck here for five days in that horrible apartment waiting for my prescription to arrive from FedEx. It arrived near Budapest on Monday, and I barely got it from customs after waiting all day at their office on Thursday. Needless to say, I will be glad to move on to Slovenia. Don’t get me wrong, Budapest is a nice city but my experience was far from enjoyable. I didn’t even manage to indulge in the baths or the Jazz Club. I was completely out of synch, I was isolated, and I ran into some very unpleasant people as well.

Absolutely nothing was falling into place. Just one of those things. I will probably return at some point in the future and give it another try. With accommodations in a better location, no FedEx issues, and a better attitude it should be a great visit. I’ve already done the Holocaust museum, so I probably start out with the Gellert Baths and eat at the French restaurant that I also missed out on.

NOTE: I did return to Budapest, and I failed to be enchanted by the city or its population. In fact, the trappings of its Nazi past have blossomed in recent years given its regressive immigration policies and human rights violations. Unless you wish to support a repressive regime and generally bad actor avoid Hungary altogether. Visit Prague instead. It’s far prettier and the people are more hospitable.