Köszeg

KÖSZEG, HUNGARY

OWe went to Köszeg twice.  The first time with the Jensens.  This is  our livingroom in our new apartment in Szombathely.  The Jensens are very funny people to hang around with.  This was Christmas Eve.

The second time we went with the Szombathely Elders and Hannah Brown.  Left to right is yours truly, Hannah Brown, Elder Haws, Elder Mortensen, Elder Blake, Elder Lindow and Sister Scherrer.  What a great group of people.

Train trips are always a fun time to goof off.

This town was established in 1328AD.  Város means city.  This is the cover of the city drain system.

The Catholic Church in the center of town is impressive.  Sister Scherrerr is in the foreground.  Inside they had a display of the Nativity.  One of the wise men had a elephant instead of a camel.  Hmmmm!

This is a general over view of the city.  Some buildings are much older than others.

This was the mote that probably went around the castle.  Watch for this old stone.  It was part of the Roman walls in B.C.  

Another piece of the Roman wall.  

Besure to notice another part of the Roman wall.

I am telling you.  i love this architecture.

This statue probable means something very important because someone has put flowers at the base of it.

The most important part of our trips was this Catholic Church.  This was taken with a telescope lens.  It is on top of one of the hills in Köszeg.  We climbed up to it.  It had roads to it but I wouldn't dare to drive up there in the winter.  

We climbed up the hill and took these pictures.

The church was built in 1715AD.  This is a little building next to the church.  I don't know what it would  be used for.

These plaques were attached to the walls that went around the perimeter of the church property.

The inscription says " Jesus is taken off the cross".   Too bad they didn't mention that He was resurrected.  

I enjoy embroidering on the train.  My friend Ildiko taught me the Hungarian style emboidery.  It's very relaxing.

SZOLNOK, HUNGARY

A Nativity scene in Szolnok city center.  

Christmas lights.

A Jewish Synagogue.  Judging by the condition of it, I would guess they use this Synagogue.

A walking bridge across the River Tisza.  The auto bridge is only a few yards up the river.  

The bridge is called the gate of Nagykunság over the River Tisza.

The River Tisza.

The Theatre in Szolnok.  A few famous people have performed there.

In Hungary it is customery for the bride and groom to walk down the streerts to their wedding.

It is an honor to see a wedding.  Branch President, Bíró Szóltan and Farkás Mónika are the groom and bride.  (i hope I spellled their names correctly.  Last names first.)  It looks like the Elders will be on time.  

Beautiful bridesmaids.

The ring bearers look like princesses.  

Here comes the bride and groom. 

The City offical was a woman is this case.  Hungarian rule is that you must be married by a government official.  Hungary does not recognise church authority in a marriage.  This choice couple will not be able to go to the Temple until they have been married for one year.

A reception at the Church house.  The bride served the cake to their friends.  It was a joyous occassion.  

Just a typical street in Szolnok.

Statues similar to those in the States.  Atkinson Növèr is sitting by this girl and standing by the fisherman.  Every city puts up a Christmas decoration in the middle of city center.  This one is not finished yet.  They all have 4 candles.  They light each candle each Sunday before Christmas.  

FASCINATING ARCHITECTURE

WINDOWS:

I just love the architecture in Hungary.  It is like living in history instead of reading history.  I have taken a few pictures of windows and doors.  I hope you enjoy my collection.  (I may be FORCED to add more to this post as time goes on).  

This is probably the oldest window in Pápa, Hungary.  This is also the path I take to the Church each Sunday.

This is the Parliment building in Budapest.  So of course, it is very ornate.  Even the attic windows are beautiful. 

Most of the time each of the windows in a home or business are different.  I have wondered if the more ornate window is the more important room like the kitchen rather than the bedroom.  

It seems like a lot of expense to put this window into the attic but you have to admit, it is ornate and beautiful.

I suppose there is a starecase to the tower of this church.

If you look closely at the "windows" in the foundation, you will see a smaller window.  That is actually the outlet for the smoke to exit the basement.  In the olden days (before chimneys were invented) their fireplaces were in the basement.  Now they have regular chimneys instead of outlets.  I am sure they had to keep the windows closed when they had a fire in their basement so the smoke would not go in the house.   This is an apartment building.

DOORS:

I have yet to seen any 2 doors the same.  Such exquisit labor and money in peoples doors.   It fascinates me.  Most of these doors are 10 or 12 feet high.  Some of them are badly in need of repair.  I see some replaced with new doors, however I haven't found much regular maintenance done on the older doors.  They must be very expensive to replace.

This is a doorway to the backyard.  This is probably an apartment building.  People probably park their cars in the back.

This will be familar to you.  It is the St. Charles Church and also the town square in Pápa.  These large doors remind me of the doors on the Mormon Salt Lake Temple.  Now I understand more fully why our ancestors wanted to put large doors on the Salt Lake Temple.  This is the part of the world where many of the first converts came from.  

One side note about these wondows.  Can you see a covering over the window?  That is an outsde blind that can be raised or lowered from the inside.  I have seen a few in America.   Very common here.