and what is special about the building this frieze embellishes?
But first up, this week I must congratulate the modest-sized (usually about 55 folks view the KesterTesters) but highly motivated, observant, thoughtful readership we have here. I really thought KT08 would flummox the lot of yer, at least for some days.
How wrong could I be? Doubly wrong, and twice over, in fact.
For within about 20 minutes of posting it last Saturday, in came a notice with the correct answer, and another 20 minutes brought yet a second. I then committed a dreadful sin; frustrated at being thwarted from winning a resounding victory so quickly, I suspected cheating. By that, I mean these 'winners' had spotted that on the door of the building from which the photo was taken they'd spotted the HRSZ plot number, and looked it up on a data base. How else could they have got it so quickly, I reasoned? Sure enough, if you feed in that number (HRSz 29312, if you can read it) you can indeed find the location – and I confidently confronted these dastardly cheaters. “Not so,” said our 20-minute winner, “I recognised the house from a photo in a book. Checked it, and sent in the answer.” And for good measure, he attached a piccie of the book (but then spoiled it by saying my prizes were “rubbish” in any case). Really, how petty can you get? “Not so” said our 40-minute runner up. “I used to work in the area, and thought I recognised the building. I used google street view to check – if you call that cheating - but heck, I'm in Belgrade. I can't walk there to do that.” So, humble pie I must truly eateth, head must be hung in shame, and hat I must take off to these two observant super sleuths in particular. I'm trying to remember who else got it. Oh yes, John Cantwell went down to check on Tuesday evening, I think it was, and sent some photos of the (rather sad) state of affairs there today. Tom Chilton thought he'd won the right to buy me another couple of beers, but he was a day late. Nonetheless, he unearthed some really interesting history of the street – which from 1790 used to be named, he assures me Engelische König Gasse – English King Street (and yes, in Hungarian German, it was spelled Engelische, it seems). Jerry Taylor also located the building (after a bit of clue giving) and – apologies, I forget – someone else also got the right street. Now it's true, nobody got the car, so we're all still in the dark on that one, but, in truth, my master 'fooled yer' photo was a bit of a flop. And the 20-minute winner was …. drum roll …. Greg Dorey (who, despite his petulance, I will still graciously grant the right to buy me two beers next time we meet), closely followed by Hubert Warsmann (who also identified KesterTester05 - just one beer this time, but a very commendable effort nonetheless).
The photo is of (what today) is Király utca 25, taken from the gateway of number 36. At the time the pic was taken, the street was called Majakovszkij utca.
Since Vladimir Majakovszkij was a Russian-Soviet Poet (also possibly Georgian - I don't have time to do all the research), come 1990 he had to make way for the king once again.
(Incindentally, in Tatabánya, Örkény and Vajta, they either a) like Soviet poets b) are an uncultured lot or c) don't have enough money for new nameplates - because all three localities still boast a Majakovszkij utca! :) )
And talking of KT05, I took a walk to Szabadsag ter this week, and can confirm that the expansion of the US embassy into the former street does not preclude you from taking a similar photo today – but the growth of an intrusive tree does – at least until leaf fall. Enough of the spiel. I have had a hard job choosing this week's photo (for various reasons) but finally chose that published above. Quite difficult, I suspect, although there is a definite clue visible in the photo. But there is the extra question, which I really do think will be hard to get for the vast majority.
Have a good, puzzling – and safe – week all!
ps I will publish some of the photos sent to me of Numbers 25 and 36 later - I really have deadlines to meet.
pps If any readers are into nature and natural issues, I did a story on restocking the Danube with sturgeon in a recent issue of the Budapest Business Journal - here:
https://bbj.hu/special-report/giving-back-to-nature-restocking-the-danube-with-sturgeon_188776 It's a bit different from you regular CEO Q&A.