Jó estét! (Good evening!)
Day 2! We made it!
This morning we started out at the House of Terror, which is a museum that commemorates the time Hungary spent under the Nazi, Communist, Fascist, and Socialist Regimes. It was a meaningful way to begin the morning, and I know that many people got a deeper understanding of what this country had to go through to get to where they are today. What spoke to me the most was an elevator ride down to the prison chambers narrated by a detailed description of an execution. Its harrowing presence left me thinking for the rest of the day.
After the House of Terror, we took our first (very overcrowded) bus ride to the Buda part of Budapest, and visited the Castle District. The District, originally a medieval village and home to the Royal Castle of Budapest is now a quaint town with breathtaking views and a church you wouldn't believe could be tucked away so high on a hilltop. After getting lunch (and, if you were in my group, two rounds of what we have deemed the best ice cream ever), and walking around, we then got into another overcrowded bus to prepare for our first concert!
Tonight, we performed at The Church of the Heart of Jesus's Community Center. The program was amazing, and we all performed amazingly! The highlight of the concert was when the chorus sang an English version of Esti Dal (Evening Song), and then sang it again, accompanied by two Hungarian singers who took to the "stage" like naturals. The sound we made was beautiful, and convinced me that it doesn't matter where in the world you are--everyone can speak the language of music. As an aspiring peacemaker, I know first hand how powerful music can be. From silly, nonsense songs to instrumentals to an English translation of a song loved by a country, there is no limit to the power of music's message.
Tomorrow, we are exploring Franz Liszt's house, followed by another (early) performance.
Our feet are sore, but we retain our high energy and spirits!
Wishing you all the BudaBEST (I'll have to think of something clever for Vienna),
Erica
The Church in the Castle District
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