Hungary has had a controversial prime minister, Viktor Orbán, since 2010. His party is the far right Fidesz. From Wikipedia: “His tenure has seen Hungary government shift towards what he has called “illiberal democracy” — citing countries such as China, Russia, India, Singapore, and Turkey as models of governance — while simultaneously promoting Euroscepticism and opposition to Western democracy.”
He has spent some of his time changing Budapest by removing monuments to those he now disagrees with, and then putting up other monuments. One somewhat ironic one is a statue of Ronald Reagan close to the US embassy.
When Fidesz took power in 2010, they quickly began rolling back previous democratic reforms and imposing alarming constraints on the media. Many international observers—including the US government—spoke out against what they considered an infringement on freedom of the press. In an effort to appease American concerns, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán erected this statue on one of his capital’s main squares—and then, perhaps not quite grasping the subtleties of American politics, invited Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the unveiling.
Rick Steves
Some nighttime photos are provided below. Budapest looks a lot better at night – it’s quite striking, and my camera doesn’t do it justice.
My Airbnb apartment in Budapest is nice, and it’s highly-rated, but the building it’s in is old and shows its age. The elevator works, but is creaky and well-worn, and the lights in the outdoor atrium area don’t come on automatically. The stairs are narrow, crumbling, dirty, curvy, creepy, and completely unlit, so I usually take the elevator now. Below is a video of what it’s like to come back at night.
Today’s limerick:
Nighttime is when Budapest really shines
When a tourist goes out and drinks or dines
The lights they come on
The grit is then gone
And the dance clubs all have very long lines.
Today’s dad joke (for a limited audience, perhaps for only one or two dear readers): How is Hungarian currency like a software code loop?
Both use for(int!
Today’s travel quote:
To travel is to discover that everyone is wrong about other countries.
Aldous Huxley
Major Meander 
I remember seeing the lights of Budapest at night from our cruise ship as we departed. Quite spectacular. Too bad some of them weren’t used in your apartment.
Ha ha, good point!
Hm, I imagine Secretary Clinton declined that invitation?
Love these nighttime shots!