back in Budapest

Back in Hungary. Some things the same, others improved. Transport from airport was remarkably easy. Kudos to BKK, the public transit folks. The new station at Köbánya-Kipest looks like something in Vienna or Munich. But much of the city still looks like wwii ended not too long ago. One quick observation. Went to see Die Fledermaus two nights ago. Staging was a celebation of the melting-pot that was the Austrio-Hungarian empire. Costumes, general atmosphere. Sung in Hungarian, English plot guidelines as supertitles. It was a very solid effort, not outstanding mucically, but many many things worked to unify it. I found myself profoundly moved several times...not bad for a Strauss operetta.