If you are ever in Europe, go to Budapest in Hungary and ask yourself how the town got its name.
This photograph is taken from the Buda side of the Danube river that flows through the middle of the capital city. As you have (no doubt) guessed by now, this should mean that the side which is in view is Pest (pronounced "Pesht" just so there are no wisecracks about the people who live there and/or come from there.)
During the Second World War all of the bridges were either bombed or blown up and there was considerable hardship trying to get from one side of the river to the other.
While all of the main bridges were rebuilt following the war, as time passed and Hungary became more and more prosperous, the volume of private ownership of cars increased. In the era of the socialist governments in Hungary many of the vehicles on the road were built in what were known as the "Soviet Bloc" countries, most notably Poland and what was then East Germany. To be kind, pollution control was not something that really seemed to interest the authorities greatly and even though there were relatively few vehicles on the road, the city was continually enveloped in smog and the buildings took on a kind of grey hue that lasted for decades.
These days of course there is a similar, but different problem. With many more people being able to afford cars and motor bikes etc. Not only is the pollution just as heavy as it used to be, but the traffic is a lot more stressful than it used to be, especially during peak hours.
My advice to the budding traveller to Budapest is to take the car in by all means, but PARK IT somewhere and take public transport wherever you can or if you are fit enough use 'shanks pony' (i.e. walk). Unless you want to visit the industrial or outer residential areas.
Public transport in Budapest is simply fabulous and in spite of the incredible price hikes in the last few years, still very affordable and a hell of a lot less stressful.
When you want to escape the urban sprawl and head to the countryside then your car becomes more useful as you can easily visit places you want to see. BTW hiring cars in Hungary was, at the time of writing, prohibitive (at least to my budget) lease a car in France or a Camper van in Germany at around a third of the price.
BTW the picture you see on the screen was taken after a number of days of rain which seems to have literally cleared the air hence the clear views. So check your long range weather forecast and arrive in Budapest towards the end of a wet period - it will make your stay that much more pleasant.
If you come from Australia and the temperature is 30 degrees Celsius as it is in Sydney today then you will appreciate the value of shade.
