For many decades, neon signs illuminated Budapest’s night scene with colorful creativity, but now most of these attractive advertisements are no longer functioning, or have been replaced with digital-screen billboards. However, we can still observe several gleaming neon signs in perfect condition on distinct downtown facades, like the illuminated inscription above the entrance of the Írók Boltja (“Writers' Bookshop” in Hungarian), or the colorful figure mounted above the Budapest Puppet Theater, both located on Andrássy Avenue. Meanwhile, the ruins of many inoperative neon signs can be spotted all throughout downtown Buda and Pest, from ordinary storefront emblems to an ad for Soviet-era “Sztár” soda next to the Uránia cinema rooftop.
While public telephone booths once provided the only form of communication when we were out and about, with the whirlwind spread of snazzy smart phones, these formerly commonplace facilities are gradually disappearing from cities around the world. For now, it is a legal requirement in Budapest for a certain number of pay-phone stations to remain operational in every neighborhood, implying that a certain number of public telephones will remain available here for awhile – but in the meantime, many of Budapest’s frequently empty phone booths seem to be used primarily as targets for vandalism. Those who happen to wander around Budapest without an operating mobile phone, or who just want to use this soon-to-be-vintage service while it still exists, can find public telephones that operate with Hungarian-forint coins or pre-pay telephone cards at most major transport hubs, including inside railway stations, or along major roads and squares.
Postboxes have been part of Budapest’s cityscape since the 19th century, but in the past few years their numbers have been dropping as e-mails make paper, envelopes, and stamps obsolete. While we can certainly stumble upon several crimson mail-drop boxes citywide, sometimes it’s a challenge to find one. Those who want to observe these classic missive receptacles in Budapest while they are still around can spot one on Klauzál Street in downtown Budapest’s District VII, right across from UdvarROM, while a slightly dilapidated postbox is also found at the intersection of Dob Street and Rumbach Sebestyén Street in front of Red Fox Hostel... thoroughly covered with stickers and abstract graffiti.
Cruising along Budapest’s Grand Boulevard, Andrássy Avenue, or any of the city’s major roads we push past a row of robust cylindrical pillars displaying printed posters of various cultural events – including concerts, art exhibitions, and festivals – alongside colorful product advertisements; such kiosks will likely disappear within the upcoming decades. Considering that we are usually absorbed in our mobile phones while traversing the streets of Budapest nowadays, this commonplace sight could easily become one of the victims of our virtual reality, as we oftentimes ignore the plethora of advertising kiosks that gracefully flank the streets of Budapest.
Pounding through Budapest’s roads with rhythmically rattling sounds, yellow-hued trams undeniably set the city apart with their charming vintage vibe and unpretentious interiors, and these peculiar public-transport vehicles belong to the most photographed sights in the Hungarian capital. Those who want to capture the decades-old streetcars should embark on this mission in time before these retro railways are replaced by contemporary conveyances: travelers can enjoy historic rides on tram line 2 that provide an inexpensive sightseeing tour along Budapest’s riverfront landmarks – including the Parliament and the Chain Bridge – or hop aboard tram lines 47-49 that connect Pest’s Deák Ferenc Square with outer Buda districts. While newfangled vehicles surely provide more comfort and smoother rides, a trip aboard one of the old streetcars will always have a special place in our heart.
