Last full day in Debrecen and we hit the works. If you google "What to see in Debrecen"--we saw everything on the list except the baths, and could've done that if I had a bathing suit. For the goodwill of Hungarian-American relations, I did not.
This is the Nagytemplom (that means 'big church'). It's the biggest church in Debrecen and because of the yellow paint and lack of external crosses--that tells you it is Calvinist/Reformist. Also important, Calvin and Hobbes is considered a funny cartoon in Hungary...then again they like Garfield.
This is the Princess in Yellow (which makes me the King in Yellow--Iai Hastur!...go ahead, google it, you're confused, I know....). This is her favorite building in Debrecen--later on after we toured it, we spent an hour or so as artists. I sketched the church a couple different ways while Brigitte did a watercolor of the church.
This is the city crest done as a mosaic on the square in front of the Nagytemplom. It was done in 2000. It's bad etiquette to walk on it.
This is a statue honoring Kossuth and 1848. At one point during the Hungarian Revolution, the Hungarian capital and Kossuth resided in Debrecen.
This is the view from the top of the Nagytemplom to the east.
Facing north.
West towards Soviet-style housing.
South.
As a note--it was challenging getting to the top. I hit my head hard on an unexpected low beam and later getting through one passage, my shoulders were against both walls. I'm not sure my oldest son could've gotten through that passage.
This is a view of the organ and altar (though I think Calvinists don't call them altars....)
In the US, we have a ton of places saying things like "George Washington slept here" because he's a critical figure in US history. We do the same for people like Abe Lincoln. Well, Hungarian hero Kossuth sat in this chair when he attended a service in the Nagytemplom and the sign above the chair notes just that!
Long ago, when the Calvinist church started, a Pope visited Debrecen. Disgusted by Calvin and his heretical views, the pope rammed a stick into the ground and said "This Calvinism has as much of a chance of surviving as this stick does." Well, a few hundred years later, you can see the stick did just fine. So has Calvinism, and in some religious circles, Debrecen is known as "The Calvinist Rome".
This is a church (templom) near a big Debrecen cemetery. Unlike many European countries with little land available, Debrecen has land and 'typical' cemeteries. When someone dies, they hold the ceremony here in this building and then pall bearers carry the deceased out into the graveyard to his/her final burial spot. The picture isn't great for showing it, but the roof is blue, like the elephant building at the zoo and the Fisherman's Tower--any color other than a red-brown or black-gray is very rare in E.Europe for a roof.
Everywhere we went that was someplace 'serious'--a church or here at this cemetery, there were flowers. I suspect Mrs. Dietz would've liked the flowers here (and that's why this picture is in the blog...duh).
These are rich people graves. Most are above ground in little crypts. Families buy plots in groups to make sure they are together. These plots are immaculate--this is a sign of a good amount of wealth...
This is a poorer section. You can tell because the grass isn't doing well, but mainly because the plots have been turned into gardens in most cases. Things are messier. Frankly, I like this--the thought of graves being gardens seems like a good thing.
I thought the picture turned out better--so I only took one. Dammit. This is Brigitte and her voice instructor, Hajnalka Tuscon. Hajnalka has an amazing voice--we heard her from out on the street before we entered. My daughter doesn't go overboard on praise, so when she tells me, "Dad, she's probably the best music teacher I know of"--that's high praise. Also, Hungarians do not like physical contact with others unless it is someone they care about. They like personal space--so this picture should tell you something about their mutual feelings.
For dinner, we went to a pasta restaurant. Brigitte said that even Italians approve of the restaurant. It WAS good. We shared some bruschetta with various toppings--prosciutto, salami, tomatoes, green stuff. Then she had spaghetti with ham while I had pasta of Sultan which had tomatoes, corn, onion, and chicken in a sauce along with pasta. It was weird to see corn in my pasta--but it tasted pretty decent. Brigitte says corn is weird to see on pizza but tastes all right.
This is Bozda (Elderberry), the Nagy dog. She was excited someone wanted to pet her so she wouldn't sit still.
L-R: Brigitte, Bozda, Blanka, Eva (back: Tamas)
A more formal picture--add me on the left and Tamas on the right.
I took this with the camera out to the side--surprised Eva. Not bad for a snapshot without aiming.
A couple more pictures with another lighting setting.
This is Gabor, Blanka's boyfriend. He took a couple selfies...I don't think he realizes that I put all pictures taken in to these blogs. "I pity the fool!" (He likes US cultural references)
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