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Hi fromĀ Budapest!
As I walk over the greatĀ Danube, freezing in my improvisedĀ multi-layered outfit (heading to sunnier places again!), I’m reflecting on how my perception of Budapest isĀ formed by its size. From how I see its boulevards, its architecture… The entire city is so monumental that when I noticeĀ aĀ Moon floating in one courtyard, I don’t even blink. It’s the most appropriate size for a Christmas bauble in Budapest. XL.
When it was announced that the area around the neglectedĀ RĆ”kosrendezÅĀ train station would be developed into a luxury district financed by theĀ United Arab Emirates, the public quickly nicknamed the project “miniĀ Dubai“.
ButĀ Eagle Hills, the investor company thatĀ plans to injectĀ over 12 billion euros into thisĀ new world-class green neighborhood of theĀ HungarianĀ capital, announced it will run under a new name –Ā Grand Budapest.
One should never underestimate branding that comes with big words, at least those that are as big as ‘grand’ or ‘great’.
Just look atĀ Great Britain, a country whose colonial efforts brought fruits such as the deciphering code of theĀ Rosetta Stone, one of the key exhibits of theĀ British Museum.
EgyptĀ wants the looted monument back. If Great Britain ever gathers enough inner greatness toĀ respondĀ positively to the request, Egypt would place the stela just across theĀ Great Pyramids of Giza, in a newly opened cultural facility – theĀ Grand Egyptian Museum. Maybe they could house it in the museum’sĀ Grand Atrium, or on itsĀ Grand StairsĀ (all official names of the exhibition spaces),Ā together with other grand exhibits.
You see where this is going. Words matter. The return of Rosetta Stone mightĀ make Egypt great again. TheĀ MEGA Egypt, still just a shadow of the civilization that once ruled this space, could,Ā at least for a tiny moment, leave an impression that owning a narrative of aĀ country’s story is possible without entering a war with those who want to claimĀ a piece of it.
Even withĀ hundreds of thousands of Egyptian artifacts missing from the country, there are still amazing things to see at the greatest (howĀ else?) archeological museum in the world. Catch a glimpse of its highlights in Pipeaway’sĀ YouTube Short!
Have the grandest week,
Ivan KraljĀ Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Pipeaway.com
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