Lake Balaton

Just a handful of dull/sleepy abstract photos taken in Lake Balaton, Hungary.

 I'd love to thank Péter, Dorina, Boti and Gabi for the warmest hospitality!

Water Snakes

At times, kids (especially boys) are genius for finding something very interesting and odd. 

Without a boy from Germany, I don't think I've noticed the small water snakes living in Malom Lake (Malom-tó) in Tapolca... It appears there are at least two types of snakes there, however, I know nothing about them.

To be honest, this was my first time seeing snakes living in water...

St. Stephen's Day In Hungary

The 20th of August is a National holiday in Hungary. Hungarians commemorate the foundation of the Hungarian state.

It's called St. Stephen's day because it's his feast day. He encouraged the spread of Christianity and turned it into a legitimate Christian state. Stephen I is the first king of Hungary, who was canonized by Pope Gregory VII. 

Festivities start in the morning with the raising of the Hungarian flag and continue on all day long, culminating in spectacular fireworks on the Danube river!!!

Wherever fireworks take place, I am there!!! 

Mother Shipton's Cave

Everything gets petrified due to the richness of sulfate and carbonate in the well!

Mother Shipton's Cave is located in the park at Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, England. The place is known for petrifying well. This park is England's oldest entrance-charging tourist attraction, open since 1630!!!

In 1630 the section of the Royal Forest that now forms our park was sold by King Charles I to a local gentleman, Sir Charles Slingsby. By then the well was so famous and visiting it was so popular that he placed it on exhibition and charged for guided tours around it. 

The earliest written reference to the well was by John Leyland, antiquary to Henry VIII. He visited the well in 1538 and noted that it was very well known and visited by many to drink and shower under its falling waters, as they were believed to have miraculous healing powers!!!

Wishing Well

There is a wishing well around the back of the petrifying well. People visit to "petrify" their wishes...

As described above, water contains a very high mineral content. Hence It takes between three and five months to petrify a teddy bear. Actually, stone teddy bears are available to buy from the shop! 

Petrified hanged Peter Rabbit? holding a non-petrified Teddy bear...

Who is Mother Shipton, BTW?

A statue of Mother Shipton

Mother Shipton is a nickname and her real name is Ursula Southeil (1488–1561). 

Although little is known about her parents, legend has it that she was born during a violent thunderstorm in a cave on the banks of the River Nidd in Knaresborough. Her mother, Agatha, was just fifteen years old when she gave birth, and despite being dragged before the local magistrate, she would not reveal who the father was.

Ursula grew up around Knaresborough. She was a strange child, both in looks and in nature. Her nose was large and crooked, her back bent and her legs twisted.  Just like a witch. She spent most of her days around the cave where she was born. 

21st Century of Mother Shipton cosplayer

Mother Shipton had a gift. She could predict the future. It started off with small premonitions but as she practiced she became more confident and her powers grew. Soon she was known as Knaresborough’s Prophetess, a witch. She made her living telling the future and warning those who asked of what was to come. 

The prophecies may not be all historically correct and the stories may have been embellished slightly over the centuries, but she remains one of those legendary figures of romance and folklore entwined in our imaginations and the local surroundings.

What must be certain is that around 500 years ago a woman called Mistress Shipton lived in Knaresborough, people believed her and passed her words on...

The leaflet for 2018 is available here.

Zsámbéki Öregtemplom

Excursion from Budapest downtown!

I am obsessed with the beauty of destruction and have wanted to visit Zsámbék Premontre monastery church (English Wiki available).

The history of the Romanesque-early Gothic style church dated back to 1220 AD. It was built and owned by a single family, the gens Smaragd (the family of Aynard).

In the 15th Century, Hungarians had been in torment, due to the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. The monastery's been used as a fortress. The suffering era had eventually come to an end at the Battle of Buda in 1686.

However, here comes another ordeal after the retreat of the Ottoman. On June 28, 1763, the church collapsed in an earthquake and has been abandoned since then.

Around 150 years after the earthquake, the monastery had partially fixed up to the present looking.

A stunning place to visit and spend a serene time as there aren't many tourists!

São Silvestre in Portugal

A Happy New Year 2018 Part Two

The official fireworks New Year's ceremony took place at 18:00 today. Contrary to unofficial fireworks at midnight, there are tons of people gathered there. 

Well, rather say, it was too many...

A Happy New Year 2018

I went to Olomouc downtown to take photos of fireworks that are ignited by drunk locals. My ears still hurt by explosion noises...

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

Magyar Állami Operaház

Hungarian State Opera House (Magyar Állami Operaház) is a lavish neo-Renaissance opera house that is originally known as the Hungarian Royal Opera House. It is the second-largest opera house located on Andrássy Avenue. 

For those who are into opera performances, ongoing programs, and the history of the hose, please visit HP. Since this is a photoblog, I'd stress more on the stunning interior view.

Auditorium

In front of the building are statues of Ferenc Erkel and Franz Liszt. Liszt is the best-known Hungarian composer. Erkel composed the Hungarian national anthem, and was the first music director of the Opera House; he was also the founder of the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra.

façade

The opera house was designed by the Hungarian architect Mikós Ybl, whereas the Baroque ornamentation, sweeping marble staircases, frescoed ceilings, vast chandeliers, rich velvets, and gilded tiers of seats in the auditorium were mainly contributed by Hungarian painters, Bertalan Székely, Károly Lotz and Mór Than.

Ticket counter

Construction began in 1875, funded by the city of Budapest and by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria-Hungary. The new house opened with great fanfare on September 27, 1884. In the 1970s the state of the building prompted the Hungarian State to order a major renovation which eventually began in 1980 and lasted till 1984. The reopening was held exactly 100 years after the original opening, on 27th September 1984.

Foyer

As soon as entering the building, you notice that, in its beauty and the quality of acoustics, the Opera House is considered to be amongst the finest opera houses in the world. The foyer is supported by nine marble columns. The vaulted ceiling is covered in murals by Bertalan Székely and Mór Than. They depict the nine Muses.

Grand staircase

A vast, sweeping staircase was an important element of the opera house as it allowed ladies to show off their new gowns. This is the meeting point where the guided tour starts.

Feszty Bar

Feszty bar (Opera Cafe) is the place to enjoy booze and light meals before, during or after the show. The bar is flanked by corridors that used to be the place for smoking in the past...

Royal staircase

The royal staircase is a private entrance from the carriage ramp in Dalszínház street leading to the parlors on the first floor. This somehow reminds me of Ceremonial Stair Hall in Hungarian National Assembly (see this entry)...

Two bronze statues and portraits are exhibited there.

Auditorium -  a view from the VIP room on the second floor

The biggest attraction of the tour is, needless to say, the horseshoe-shaped, three-floored auditorium!!! Rich in gold red colors with a stunning fresco in the ceiling, the auditorium is capable of accommodating 1261 audiences.

Boxes

Mikós Ybl’s neo-renaissance palace has remained virtually unchanged in the 130 years since and continues to attract admirers of opera and ballet alike.

Visiting tours with a mini concert (option) in several languages are available here. No need to book in advance. Be there prior to the tour.

Teatr im. Juliusza Słowackiego w Krakowie

Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Kraków is an eye-catching beautiful baroque-style building located in Plac Św. Ducha (Holy Ghost square), close to the Kraków main station (Kraków Główny). The edifice, designed by Jan Zawiejski, is ranked among the most valuable monuments of theatre architecture in Europe. 

Later named after noted Polish poet and playwright Juliusz Słowacki, the theater was modeled after some of the most beautiful venues in Europe and was the first building in Krakow to have electric lighting in 1893!

Have a wonderful weekend.