Ben's Early Birthday in Budapest Part: 2

Our next stop was the House of Terror. This building was the headquarters for both the Hungarian Nazis and Soviet Secret Police. It looks like a normal apartment building on the outside. There is some art on the outside to represent the iron curtain and other aspects of the 40’s-60’s. When you walk in you see a tank on a fountain inside the first floor with a wall behind full of dead victims of the building. You start the tour on the top floor and then work your way to the basement. The first part showed Hungary after WWI and all the destruction. Then you go into a conference room with the Hungarian Nazi party (Hungarian Arrow Cross Party) outfits and a mannequin shouting speeches in uniform. Then you go through rooms filled with video of victims telling their stories. Then you walk into the sections about the Soviets. The next floor deals with injustice and propaganda and other things from the Soviets. There is also a room with a winding hallway titled “Peasants”. The cool thing is that the hallway’s walls are made of soap bars. Then you walk through the religious oppression section before you take a elevator to the basement. 

As the elevator goes down you watch a video about how executions were done at the prison which is located in the basement. When you arrive the prison cells look like something from your worst nightmare. They are small, smelly, and dark. You see the beds and interrogation room. Then you see the room for executions. It was a small room with a 8 ft wood pole with a noose at the top and a wooden step. I couldn’t help but feel horrible for the people who went through this place. I also couldn’t believe that idiots like Glen Beck and other extreme conservatives back home compare Obama or Liberals to the monsters that ran this place. I want to bring them there and maybe it will make them shut up for 10 minutes. Then we walked through a room celebrating the 1956 revolution. Then you see video of the Soviets soldiers leaving after 1990. 

Pictures of the victims go from floor to ceiling.

Propaganda/ Everyday life room.

Hall of Tears.

Finally, we ended on a room full of pictures of people who were the victimizers, but never brought to justice. It was incredible how many there were. Many have passed away but many are still around. We left the museum and were happy to have seen it but were definitely given a dose of reality.

We then worked our way toward dinner. We couldn’t resist the temptation when we saw a Fridays and ended up eating at it. I know that sounds ridiculous and their food is not that great. However, we have been here since August and it is nice to have a little taste of home. I ordered a Cajun meal and Dana ordered a BLT. We also got an awesome ice cream shake with Kahlúa and Baileys in it. After we finished we had trouble with the card again. I ran across the street got more cash and then we took the 8 p.m. train home. 

It's like we never left home. :) ha, ha. 

We had a great time and look forward to visiting Budapest again before we go home.