Thursday Doors Budapest 11

Posh restaurant on the Buda side of the Danube

In the Zona

Palace gates in Buda

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Music Academy

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Thursday Doors Budapest 10

Now this is what I’m talking about…

Ubiquitous CC.

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Cheeseburger, with free buns

Thursday Doors Budapest 8

More doors from Hungary

Can anyone recognise the computers on the bottom shelf?

WEAREONE – but I don’t think the padlock serves much purpose

Not sure why they would need a ladder in a tattoo parlour. Tiny door next door.

Interesting art work on the left

I now regret that I didn’t check out the rooftop igloos

Thursday Doors Budapest 7

Crazy doors.

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I did not eat at this restaurant, even though they might have been playing my kind of music

In Budapest…

Budapest has been famous for its hot springs since Roman times. These photographs are of the exterior of Hotel Gellert, one of the most well-known spas in the city.

Thursday Doors Budapest 6

I hope these Hungarian doors are not boring you all…

Last photo of the Grand Synagogue. Reminds me of the Alhambra

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You can check in any time you want; you can never leave

Door to the bike shop

Revolving door in beaten copper at the Continental Hotel (highly recommended)

Door to the chamber in the Houses of Parliament

The reflection of gold bamboozled my white balance. Houses of Parliament.

Rather nice stained glass door panel, Houses of Parliament

Beautiful wood carving. Houses of Parliament.

Red carpet at the Houses of Parliament

Thursday Doors Budapest 5

Another barbershop, next to this glorious teal (or turquoise) pair of ornate doors.

Gateway to the courtyard. Old Jewish area.

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Sometimes the gates are left open and one can take a glimpse inside

Strange how this building in the Jewish area has two different architectural styles.

Intricate street art

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Needing renovation

Ok, windows, not doors, but great font for 56

Rear doors of the Grand Synagogue, art deco design of “battlements” reminiscent of Persepolis (“By the river of Babylon, I sat down and wept”)

Interesting doorway, with scalloped surround and star window, in the Grand Synagogue. To me, it looks almost Islamic.

Sturdy iron synagogue door

Thursday Doors Budapest 4

St Stephen’s Basilica is wonderful. It was built to commemorate the first king of Hungary. Who was called Stephen. He would give his right hand to be in this Roman Catholic church – indeed, there is an “incorruptible” hand on display. The reliquary doesn’t have a door, so no gross photographs.

Side Door. Or Porta. The main door is round the front.

Beautiful carved wooden doors of St Stephen’s

I am not sure where this door leads to in the Basilica.

Although the Basilica is in the Neo-Classical style, this is the gift shop in the foyer.

Away from religious buildings, this blue door looks interesting

I think this is a hotel door, rather incongruously adjacent to a pizza parlour

Hair-Nett – obviously a hair salon. I didn’t see the German barbershop, Herr Kutz. In Chicago I saw a shop called Hair Cuttery. Or perhaps the extreme barbershop, Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. Enough.

Little food shop, non-stop 0-24.

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Doors that could do with some care and attention. And a bit of a tidy up.

Nightclub without vowels

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Cafe Society

OId Jewish Quartier

Thursday Doors Budapest 3

According to Wikipedia, Budapest has several fond nicknames – Heart of Europe, Queen of the Danube, Pearl of the Danube, Capital of Freedom, Capital of Spas and Thermal Baths, Capital of Festivals.

Wonderful script above the door, but I’m not sure if the elaborate font matches the plain door.

The figure’s face looks sad. Perhaps he could foresee future decline in fortunes.

Fine doorway on Andrassy Ut (=Boulevard) flanked by two classical sculptures. They are not looking at each other – maybe they don’t want to play ball.

Another lovely door, just along the street from the previous door. The Opera House is a hundred metres away, perhaps this is explains the sculpted metal doors.

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This building is opposite the Opera House, both undergoing restoration.

One way of making the doorway slightly larger…

Liszt Museum with collie dog and cobbled square.

Thursday Doors Budapest 2

Budapest was voted the best European city for travellers in 2019, when it attracted more than 12 million tourists. I went in November, but it is lovely in spring time. Most visitors cram into the city over the summer months, when it is warmer and crowded.

Google translate says that this shop is Finger and Son. Helpful. But nice doors.

Welcome to the Old Curiosity Shop “Antiquity”

Hat Shop – not very common in my neck of the woods

No sniggering at the back, please. This is a Doner Kebab restaurant, not a Hooters (I did actually see a Hooters, but it had closed down).

Schoolboy in camo jacket and Adidas jogging pants, lugs his homework on his back as he walks in front of a grim door, which needs lots of love

The sign translates as “Economic Entrance” – by which I think they mean “tradesmen’s entrance. I saw a few young men in hotel livery popping out for a quick cigarette via this door. They scowled when they saw my camera, so I waited until they had gasped their last and disappeared inside before taking the picture.

I think this is a bank. Heavy studded doors, with security.

Leather goods, shoe shop, but Google translate comes up with “Bordeaux Stockings”. I like the last above the door, with inverted boot.

This portal and lamp post takes me back to the Golden Age of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

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More Budapest doors next time.

Thursday Doors Budapest 1

Budapest in November isn’t as cold and grey as England. A mini-break in the city only proved that you need more than three days to see this wonderful city. The River Danube bisects the city into Buda (west) and Pest (east). Much of the city was destroyed in the winter of 1944-45 at the end of World War 2, when the Russian army laid siege. But the glorious fin de siecle architecture has been reconstructed.

Flying Bird Tea House, next to a green, graffiti-decorated door

I love the decorative iron-work on this fine pair of doors. It reminds me of Charles Rennie-Mackintosh’s designs (as shown in my blog on Northampton).

A makeshift pair of doors in front of a more elegant set of doors. I like the carved bulls above.

This door has seen better days. The lock must have been rather stiff, hence the scuff marks where a kick-plate should have been mounted. The sign on the left is advertising Dreher beer, brewed locally in a classic European pale lager-style.

Home Therapy – well, if you live in a glorious old apartment block, you need to have matching accoutrements, such as fancy chandeliers.

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The stone around the doors is often just concrete, made to resemble stone. When it starts the crumble, it looks scruffy. Car parking is at a premium in the city. I wonder if drivers routinely carry a can opener in order to extract their vehicles from tight spots.

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More doors

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Fancy ironwork and glass doors

Real estate shop. Wonderful street light and a tree growing in a wooden box.

Cycling is a very green activity, of course. But I didn’t see many cyclists – drivers in Budapest can be reckless at times.

I love these massive gates with a door inset, leading to a cobbled courtyard. This is a municipal building, judging by the coat of arms above the magnificent door. It was election time, hence the poster. Politicians look the same everywhere.

To be continued next week and into 2020. I have a LOT of door pictures.