The Szabadsag bridge: A chance encounter

It was my tenth day in the city of Budapest since taking the first flight from the Clark International Airport at Angeles, Mabalacat, Pampanga, Philippines. I did not have that much idea about the city. I only read information about it through some blogs and forum. I practically had no idea on how to go around the city, entirely unaware of what awaits for me to see and experience in my new city for the next six (6) months of my academic journey in Europe. Inasmuch as I was getting a little bored whiling away the time surfing the internet inside my little dormitory room with no friends to tag along for a quick hang-out, I decided to venture out alone and get some walk along the streets going to my university.

After a few minutes of leisurely walk, I saw a river and a bridge over it. It was September and autumn is on. The leaves of the trees which were neatly lined up in the Salt House or Salt Building of my university were slowly changing colours. All I can see are colours of the autumn---red, orange and pale yellow mixing and fading out, giving the leaves of the trees a happy motley of tints and textures. The autumn has indeed set in. Nature has taken its course. Change is an inevitable law of nature; it is an immutable principle that guides the forces that govern the universe.

The above photo was taken during the first week of September. It is actually the picture of the Salt House, as you can notice, bicycles were parked along the side of the building.Budapest is a tourist-friendly city, you can easily walk through the city by foot or use bicycle as they have good bicycle lanes.

After some poetic musings along the silent buildings of the university which I think were built several decades hence, I decided to walk further. Desirous to know of what sights await near the tranquil waters of the river (now after a few days, I learned that river is the Danube river, one that I have forgotten already from one of my lessons in World Geography), I approached the river with overflowing curiosity. I stayed near a rim which gives an overlooking view of the river and the other side which apparently is Buda side, with its architectural structures which were beautifully and craftily organized in accordance with good urban planning. I was standing on a spot where most tourists stay to get good photo angles of the Buda side and the Danuber river. Only a few meters from behind me is one of the oldest educational buildings in Budapest, the E Building of the Corvinus University of Budapest. According to my roommate who came from the Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and who is also studying at Corvinus University, the E Building has an elegant interior which resembles one of the halls featured in the Harry Potter movie. I have not entered yet in that building during that point in time so I could only imagine and mentally visualize how the building looks like inside.

But what immediately caught my attention when I have approached the rim-like structure is the bridge which is clad in green all over. This bridge as I see it appeared to be more than a hundred years old. It has century-old structure; the materials while showing rust are well-maintained and therefore long-lasting. What impressed me is its over-all appearance. The bridge is craftily adorned with stylish curves and twists with some designs, there were several of them. The bridge breathes an air of mystery. It projects a sense of stability, timelessness, fortitude and perseverance. The bridge connects the two sides of the city, the Pest and Buda sides.

I got intrigued with the bridge. I immediately came closer to it to get a closer look. I chanced upon a group of tourists who were likewise taking pictures of the bridge. A man in black jacket asked me to take a picture of him with the bridge as the background. I readily responded to his request. I was told that the bridge was constructed in 1890’s and started operation in the late period of that decade. As I approached the entrance of the bridge, I noticed small house-like structures in both sides. They actually looked like guard houses. Apparently, these small house-like structures are designed to serve a purpose. I was only told by a Hungarian friend that these are not guard houses, but are custom houses. Truth to tell, I was not aware as to the purpose of these structures. As I go on looking at some of the smaller details of the bridge structure, I noticed that one of the pillars is decorated with the coat of arms, obviously that of Hungary. I knew it because I saw the same coat of arms in the logo at the heading of the Visa Application Form which I have filled when I applied for a visa back in Jakarta, Indonesia. I was not sure though. Another latent feature of the bridge structure is that at the top of the bridge’s metallic pillar support is an object with design made of metal. It resembles an eagle-like structure. I was not sure enough if the structure is that of an eagle. It looked like though.

Look at the two pillar structures with the eagle-like bird at the top of both pillars. At the middle as you can see from the photo below is the coat of arms of Hungary. Notice the Gellert Hill and the Liberation Monument at the hill's crest.

My interest to walk over the bridge and get to the other side of the river has been fueled by the happy bunch of Chinese tourists who were taking pictures from every angle. I set foot and walked until I reached midway of the bridge. I looked at the waters below and I saw some cruise ships and yachts which were carefully anchored near the river at the Pest side. I can almost see the top of the Gellert Hill and the Liberation Monument, with the lady holding a palm leaf with both arms raised in the sky.

As I reached the other end of the bridge, I was gradually approaching the Gellert Square where trams and buses make their stops once in a while. The cute trams in yellow are a sight to behold. They look small but mobile. I crossed the other side of the road and I saw some people, tourists and locals alike, ascending towards the north. They were heading up towards the Gellert Hill. I was a bit tired and needed to paude and rest for a while. So I took the chance to take a photo of myself.

In the picture below, I was standing at that moment at the Buda side of the city. I reckoned there was no better way to take a memento of the bridge and the river with me than taking a picture with both of them as my background. The Danube river on that day was just so splendid. Its waters are calm and was restful to look at. The bridge was just like silently celebrating with the water in the onset of the autumn. I was at the other end of the bridge, very close to the Gellert Square and the famous Gellert Hotel. Immediately near that hotel is the foot of the Gellert Hill, the track points upwards to the direction of the Citadella.

I have just walked through the whole span of one of the most important bridges in Hungary. They call it the Szabadsag Bridge. For Hungarians, it is endearingly called “Liberty Bridge.” In my personal estimation, the bridge is a little more than 300 meters in length, with sturdy and strong structures. It must have been called the Liberty Bridge to signify the nationalistic sentiments of a nation which gives great significance to freedom. The bridge, I reckon, is a reminder of the country’s love for liberty and opposition to oppression in whatever forms. It was built not only to facilitate transportation and custom operations but also as a memento of the liberation of Hungary. While this bridge appears to be the shortest in Budapest, it occupies the most important or significant historical memento in Hungarian history, I would say.

I decided to get back to the Szabadsag Bridge. It is like passing this bridge once makes you do it over and over again. It may be the first-timer's sentiment. A few meters away from were three other tourists who went ahead of me appeared to have just visited the Gellert Hill and were now heading towards the other parts of the city. I was nearing the Pest side when I noticed a couple kissing at the middle of the bridge. I am not sure if kissing in the middle of the bridge has any symbolic significance at all. But sure they look romantic!

There were also a group of youngsters having fun in the bridge’s spans, bringing with them canned beverages and snacks. They were having the time of their life. They looked like they were enjoying every moment. What a happy bunch they were!

At that moment, my stomach was already gnawing. It was time to eat. I needed to dash to the city centre to look for a food stall or restaurant and grab a bite. It was a great day indeed to have learned something about the Szabadsag Bridge. It was a nice first-time chance encounter. But this is not the last. This bridge will be a part of my journey in Budapest in the next six (6) months. Carpe Diem!