In gloomy weather, slightly fearing the rain, the Szentes 1 group set off for a trip on its Family Day. We departed with an early train to see as much as possible; the team—young people, parents, siblings—gathered at the Szentes railway station for the half past six morning service. No wonder there were some who spent part of the journey there still sleeping.
Arriving in Budapest, after a short metro ride, we arrived at the Hungarian National Museum. Many of us had never been here before, and the sight of the monumental block of the building alone made an impression on us, and of course, we know what an important role that staircase, where we gathered for a group photo, played in our history.
We decided to view the current temporary exhibition, which is about the Hun leader Attila, together. This single exhibition alone is so vast that in the countryside we could walk through an entire museum in this much space. First, we took a seat in a yurt, where we learned the most important basic information about the Huns, and then we started from room to room. What was interesting about the exhibition was that we could see not only the objects of Attila’s era and the life of the Huns, but it also presented a great number of artworks that were about his person in later periods:
“It was worth seeing the Attila exhibition because it was a spectacular and special historical experience at the same time. The exhibition brought the world of the Huns close with original archaeological finds, weapons, and gold treasures, while helping to imagine this era with modern, interactive solutions. It was particularly interesting that it presented not only the legendary Hun king but also how the Attila myth evolved over the centuries. The atmosphere of the exhibition, its spectacular presentation, and the lots of new information made it a memorable, lasting experience. We could also learn that a find from our neighbor, Csongrád, was exhibited as well. Despite the gloomy weather, we all had a good time. It was good to spend a day together with our big family. Thank you for letting us be a part of it!”
Bozó family, Szentes 1 group
Afterwards, everyone could freely decide what they wanted to see and do in the remaining hours. There were those who chose from the other exhibitions, but most of us headed to the museum garden instead. Indeed, the 29th May Day of Museums event enticed us with the opportunity to get to know about fifty museums at their stands, and almost everywhere it was possible to make something, dress up, fill out a quiz, or play. The outdoor program was more inviting to us, so we gave preference to this. We could catch a glimpse into many interesting museum works; we went through it with several families, so the day passed pleasantly. Before we headed home with our train, we had lunch together in one of the fast-food restaurants at Deák Square. By evening, we arrived home tired but recharged with experiences, and even the weather favored us—we did not get soaked all day. Thank you very much for this day, it was a great opportunity to get to know the life of Attila and the work of museums; children and adults alike could occupy themselves usefully.
Mária Mezei-Csík parent, Sándor Kovács mentor