Travelog
FROM The man in the front seat / October 29, 2019
El Camino de Santiago
The Camino de Santiago, or in English the Way of St. James, is a network of walking routes all leading to the town of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, northern Spain. In the past, most people made the journey for religious reasons as Santiago de Compostela is the final resting place of St. James the Great, who remains are buried in its Cathedral. Today however the vast majority make the journey for health and social reasons, hiking, cycling or even riding the route on horseback. Legend has it that the […]
FROM The man in the front seat / June 14, 2018
The Great Synagogue, Budapest
The Great Synagogue, or the Dohány utcai zsinagóga, located in the Hungarian capital of Budapest, is the largest synagogue in Europe and one of the largest in the world. More than 3000 faithful can fit inside and it is richly decorated, both inside and out. The building was begun in 1854 and only took 5 years to complete, being opened in 1859. It is largely based on Islamic models from North Africa, and medieval Spain. The building’s architect was the Austrian, Ludwig Förster, who claimed that no distinctively Jewish architecture […]
FROM The man in the front seat / May 3, 2018
St. Stephens Basilica, Budapest
Named after Saint Stephen of Hungary, the first King of Hungary, the building is the most important ecclesiastical building in the country as well as one of the most visited sights in Budapest. It was originally going to be called St. Leopold, after the patron saint of Austria, but the plan was changed at the very last minute. At 96m (315ft) high it is, along with the parliament building, the tallest structure in the city, in fact, current building regulations forbid the building of any structures taller. History In the […]
FROM The man in the front seat / April 20, 2018
Oberammergau Passion Play
The Oberammergau Passion Play has been performed by the villagers, from the Bavarian town of Oberammergau, since 1634. The play covers the final period in the life of Jesus, from his arrival in Jerusalem to his crucifixion, a period referred to Jesus’ Passion. Visitors come from all over the world, to see the play which up until 1790 was free. On average more than 500,000 people see the it each year, with the vast majority staying for 2 nights. History In the early 17thcentury, the village of Oberammergau in the […]