Boy at Play under Arch

KesterTester124 - Where is this? - UPDATED with Winner!

This might apper to be a near-impossible tester - but I definitely think it is sleuthable, especially considering the astonishing skills and knowledge of the blog's readership. It is, of course, shot somewhere in the CEE region - it even looks, well let's say not in a built-up area - which might be a clue (or it might lead you astray :)).

It was taken in 1992-3, if I remember correctly, but the scene has not changed much, bar some growth of those trees in the background. For sure, many readers will have been to this location at one time or another, of that I'd be willing to bet my last bottle of pálinka!

Anyway, if it proves really difficult, I'll give two more clues in a few days time, such is my soft heart.

For the chances of fame, global celebrity status and the chance to buy me two beers, takes some time off from Christmas shopping, exhibit your sleuthing powers and send your answers please via the site messaging system or in an email.

And don't forget to put the code KT124 in the subject line, so I don't miss you and get reported to the EC Competition Authority (thank you Zsolti, I'm forever in your debt).

UPDATE: Contestants and Winner!

Once again, apologies for the hiatus … Christmas and all that stuff, you know.

I thought I would have to provide extra clues for this Tester, but once again, szuper sleuthers proved me wrong!

Mihály 'have-a-punt' Hollós scribed in on Christmas Day, no less, saying the worry over this Tester had upset his present-buying sessions.

“Hello Kester,

While Christmasing / Chanukaing away, I'm sending you  my guenswer re the KT about the boy under the arch.

As always, I refrained from using the internet or any apps, resorting to my memory, brain cracking, and, in some cases, (not this time) to logic.

Recollecting memories of my travels, I believe I saw the countryside with that arch in Slovakia, when travelling from Budapest to Prague by car. 

My guess being completely wrong is, of course, in the game.

Best - Misi”

Steven Saracco stormed into the contest just 10 minutes after I published this piccie to say:

“At Mento Park in Budapest on Balatoni út - Szabadkai utca sarok, 1222 Hungary under this guy (Ostapenko):”

And supplied a photo to boot.

Hmmm. Good job the question only wants the location, Stephen!

Chris Dalton also moved quickly in this race for fame and fortune - if you can charge 'em for the selfies.

“Arch? I don’t think so, … “

All, right, clever cloggs! So what is it, cmmon!

“ … as this looks like some heroic and statuesque stance… Could it be, say, the Statue Park in Budaors

I could be wrong.”

You could. And what, no question mark in there? Writing standards of youth today are not what they were, are they?

John 'Master Sleuth' Cantwell hasn't been contributing of late. However, on 15 December, he thumped the keyboard to say:

“Hi Kester,

That would be at Memento Park, the statue below:”

Bob Dent also soon joined the fray.

“You ask where it is, Kester. My first thought was ‘I haven’t a clue’. "

I suspect you were not alone there, Mr D.

"Then I took a closer look at the photograph’s different parts. I started with the child climbing on some kind of base – nothing helpful there. Then my eyes turned to what you called the ‘arch’ above the child, or at least the little of it which can be seen. And then something clicked. This isn’t an arch in the usual sense of the term, but rather two legs forming a shape like an arch. Immediately I said to myself that what is portrayed can be found in the Statue Park near the southwest perimeter of Budapest. Is that right?”

You could be getting warm, Bob.

“The two legs form part of an absolutely a massive bronze statue sculpted by István Kiss, which originally appeared by the side of Budapest’s City Park in 1969 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the 1919 Hungarian Soviet Republic.

The statue is based on one of the most iconic recruiting posters of 1919, namely Róbert Berény’s Fegyverbe! Fegyverbe! (To arms! To arms!) which portrays the upper part of a sailor striding forward, with arms raised and outstretched, one behind, the other in front of him. In the fist of the latter, the sailor is clutching a large red streamer, or possibly the corner of a large red flag, which is floating in the air above him. All these elements of the poster are  portrayed in the statue.

Some Budapest citizens, seeing humour in anything, gave the work the title Hey, Miss, You’ve  Dropped Your Scarf!”

...............................................................................................................................................................

“(Incidentally, Kester, you might be able find a photograph showing the poster in FORTEPAN, which I am sure you are familiar with. Look for FORTEPAN/Péchy László, probably in their 1919 section. I attach a link for it in a separate email, but it may not work.)

Bob”

It didn't, Bob. But I like your sleuthing logic! Very impressive!

Hubert “Poirot” Warsmann dropped in next to say:

“KT124 Hi Kester,

That little boy was having fun on the monument to the Republic of Councils (Tanácsköztársasági emlékmű) in what was then known as the Szobor Park just outside Budapest off road 7, aka the Old Balaton Road for people of a certain age. The Monument stood for some 25 years or so on Felvonulási tér and became known as the Cloak Room attendant (Sir you forgot your scarf). The little boy helps giving an idea of the size of the statue.

Regarding the date of the picture, It can only be post 29 June 1993, which was the grand opening day of the park.” 

That is all very useful stuff, Hubert, thank you.

I don't know what's happened to Les Szabo's Tours Inc – the standards there too must be dropping 'cos no entries from any of his boys for this one. Come on Les, give 'em some culture on the next trip, for goodness sake.

OK, that's all the entries, and yes, the boy is playing on the statue best described by Bob Dent above, in the museuem-park where the communist-era statues have been collected and put on display. . Sorry Misi, but it's not in Slovakia, but thanks for having a go!

So who will be the glorious winner of the first draw out of the New Year.

I'll now prepare five numbered slips to go into the EU-Approved, Black Woolly Draw Hat and …

Abracadabra – the wily Frenchman strikes again – Number 5 means Hubert “Poirot” Warsmann prepares to fight off the selfie searchers and enter the New Year of 2025 with his elevated Tester status!

I suppose here I should publish the original photograph, just to let you see the full piccie.

Thanks for joining in the fun everyone, I'll try and find a new tester for next week!