Aiya, on the 2nd day after we went to the mistaken-as-the-but-not-the-Bastion place, where I happily exclaimed - FISH! we didnt immediately head back to the hostel even though it was already dark cos cos the time was only erm 6pm?! Hahas. So we made a trip down to the Parliament - the kind lady at the hostel told us that due to some ongoing demonstrations, we could not enter the parliament as per other normal times - to take photos and to gape at it cos we heard that it is a very beautiful and grand place.
The view of the Parliament at night
The view of the Parliament with Tram 2 across the road
And then we left and headed back to the hostel after an unsuccessful hunt for the Holocaust memorial. And FOUND OUT that we can go into the Parliament building by bribing the guards hahaha! No la, there were still ongoing guided tours to the Parliament albeit fewer?
Okay Day 3 was bright and cheery. Well no rain and no snow = bright and cheery
Day 3 in the morning!~
As twin has mentioned and I will recount, this is Matyas Templon aka Matthias Church. While twin likes to provide the actual names, I like English. (Hungary = no English, missed English!) So it is Matthias for me. (Sher: er. it's called National Heritage. Like how Hungarians call Hungary Magyar - I think it's a prettier name.)
We woke up very early so that we could spend more time in this church which was said to be very beautiful and BIG. Acccording to twin, I like things that are big. I don't know why she thinks like that. I mean, I only like big servings of food. (Sher: That she can never finish...)
Well, we got in and were pleasantly surprised that if we declare ourselves as students, we get to pay the student price without them checking our documentation. *Happiness* We also saw many Asians come to this place. =) Thinking that perhaps the guided tours would be conducted in English, we inched nearer and nearer the tour group but erm...*string of Japanese words!* Haha, you got the idea. =)
A little history on Matthias:
At the very heart of Buda's Castle District is the Mátyás Templom. Officially named as the Church of Our Lady, it has been popularly named after King Matthias Corvinus (Good King Mátyás) who ordered the construction of its original southern tower. In many respects, the 700 year history of the church serves as a symbol (or perhaps a reminder for Hungarians) of the city's rich, yet often tragic history. Not only was the church the scene of several coronations, including that of Charles IV in 1916 (the last Habsburg king), it was also the site for King Mátyás' two weddings (the first to Catherine of Podiebrad and, after her death, to Beatrice of Aragon).
Any Hungarian historian of note will tell you that the darkest period in the church's history was the century and a half of Turkish occupation. The vast majority of its ecclesiastical treasures were shipped off to Pozsony (Bratislava) and following the capture of Buda in 1541 the church spent life as the city's main mosque. To add insult to injury, ornate frescoes that previously ordained the walls of the building were whitewashed and interior furnishings stripped out.
The prettiness of the church in the pictures. Shall not elaborate too much.
This really looks like an eye right? The way it is spiralling into the mural. This greatly fascinated the both of us.
The church organ at the top of the picture. Twin and I realized that church organs in churches are like the hardest to capture in photos cos the lighting is just erm not good.
We were walking in the church when this caught our eyes. Money! Laughs. Its actually in the basement where I think is not accessible at least not to tourists and erm the space in this basement also seems to double up as some form of heating in the church.
The very pretty murals in the church that actually narrates a story albeit in pictures! But as the saying goes, a picture says a thousand words...
The confession boxes. That evilness twin was commenting that I need to stay in there for prolonged periods. Well cant really blame her...just in the morning, we went to the mart and I dropped bread on the floor and erm. didnt pay for it and took another one and erm. ok i committed a sin.=(
Sher: er. Ach she put the bread back and someone bought it. Gosh. But then again, I should go into those boxes too... cuz I kinda didn't stop her. hahaha And we were just saying "maybe it's fine not to be too ethical." Then again, don't know when we'll be eating stuff someone else dropped and returned to e shelves as well... Karma. It's all goin 2 come back to us. haaa
Me: It was in both our heads lo. Guess who voiced it out first?
Sher: yeah. Just trace back to who dropped e bread when there's only 2 pieces in 1 big bag. ahhahaha No excuses yeah =P
One interesting fact about Matthias that I am not sure I recall correctly was that there was a period of war where people were taking refuge in the church and fighting the invaders, when suddenly a wall of the church collapsed and crushed the invaders. Isnt it cool?
Oh another thing. Haha. The church is full of pictures up in the ceilings depicting many stories which I think relates to both Christianity and the history of the church. It is really really amazingly breathtaking. Oh and the whole church does feel serene and makes people feel at ease.
After the morning, we headed down to the labyrinth. (that is part 2 haha no time so continue later)
Thats twin looking happy. haha.
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