Certain places around communist Budapest had symbolic significance for the city's inhabitants. All had an atmosphere that still lingers today...
Here are some of the places that meant most to those of us living in Budapest in the 80s:
Here are some of the places that meant most to those of us living in Budapest in the 80s:
Moszkva tér
"... in Moszkva tér, peasant women in multitudinous skirts continued to sell their flowers and fruit from baskets they had filled from their gardens in the dawn light...."
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It is no wonder that for almost everyone who lived through the communist times, this square (now called Széll Kálmán tér) will for ever remain Moszkva tér (Moscow Square).
As Buda's main transport hub, meeting under its clock became standard. But it is for its illegal workers, its many street vendors, flower sellers, pubs and market that it was loved. For this reason, a film was made with this square as its title (unfortunately, only available in Hungarian). |
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"Outside the metro entrance gypsies continued to hawk umbrellas in the rain, leather jackets in the snow, and flowery dresses in the heat of summer. Groups of Hungarians and a motley assortment of men from neighbouring countries hung round the square in small clusters in the hope of being offered casual labour for a day or two, cash in hand, no questions asked...."
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