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Writer's picture Kester Eddy

The Budapest Balcony with no Backdoor (or any door!) - Updated

Updated: Oct 2

GuesterTester121 - The most mysterious balcony you're ever likely to find, anywhere.

Photo: You are not likely to find anyone sunbathing on this balcony, whatever the weather - the only form of access would appear to be from the roof.


Sent in by a master sleuther with an eye for a puzzle, the challenge for GT121 is to locate this mysterious balcony. We can't say that it's exactly in one of the main tourist areas, but on the other hand it's hardly hidden away in a back street in Budapest District XXII. Ten thousand or more people must see this building, one which could be called 'interesting', every day.


So where is it? Global celebrity fame awaits the sleuth with the correct answer, plus, of course, the joy of buying me two beers. Answers via an email or the site messaging system please, citing GT121 (or KT121).


I'll put up some additional clues if nobody can get this in the first few days.


Oh, and I will post the answers to GT120 next week, so it's still open for your ideas until then. We've had quite a few intelligent efforts so far!


UPDATE: Deepest apologies for my tardiness, have been swamped of late writing about geothermal energy potential in Hungary and roundabouts. Did you know that they have been using geothermal sources (that's 'ot water from underground) for the district heating of some homes in Paris since 1332. At least that's what a certain Miklos Antics said at a recent conference on the matter here in Budapest. And he should know, since he's a - actually THE - big wig in the European Geothermal Energy Council. That's almost 700 years, pretty impressive.


I have a suspicion, however, that those homes belonged to 'very special' hommes et dames - but I don't know.


But back to this tester, which is, perhaps, something of a frustrater rather than tester, because no one has offered an answer thus far.


OK, so here are two and a half extra clues to aid your enquiring minds.


1) As mentioned, it's not located in a recognised 'tourist area', but even if it were, 99% of said tourists would probably not give the building a second glance.


However, I'd say maybe 1% of tourists, a rather niche group admittedly, would be most interested for certain reasons - only this building probably does not feature in many guide books. (I know András Török mentioned it in his very first (1989) Budapest: A Critical Guide, and probably in all his later editions, so there are exceptions.)


2) I suspect a high proportion of my estimated 1% niche tourists would like to have a guided tour of this building, but I'm fairly confident that it is not possible. Other than staff, most people who find themselves in this place would probably rather not be there.


Certainly there is one person who has featured in this blog at times who would agree!


Oh, just to let you know, it can be done. I know, because - and not meaning to boast - but upon seeing the pic from the reader who sent it - I guessed it immediately, though I didn't actually recognise the balcony as such.


So, there you go sleuthers, please mull over those nuggets and let me know!


(I know I haven't given the results of KT120 yet ... I'll aim to get this done this week.)



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