Watching Me, Watching You

images of victims line the walls of the entrance court of the Terror House

Less than a stone's throw from our Budapest apartment, and clearly visible from our drawing room windows, is Andrássy u. 60. Now the home of the Terror House, one of the very best, in our view, of contemporary museums, this formidable building was, until comparatively recently, the headquarters of the Secret Police. Indeed, in the past it was not uncommon, we are told, for those passing by to cross the road rather than to risk the possibility of being noticed.

in sun the exterior of the Terror House reflects the word Terror on to the facade

Today, within its walls, a terrible and frightening past is recorded and documented. And, understandably, any visitor, Hungarian or foreigner, is made acutely aware, through a series of highly imaginative and original presentations, of the enormous fear, cruelty and suffering to be found at the heart of any totalitarian regime. To spend time in the Terror House is, as may be readily imagined, a very moving, often disturbing, experience and the visitor leaves in pensive and reflective mood. But this is no bad thing for the freedoms which are enjoyed today by so many have, so often, been bought at a high price.

some of the equipment previously used to spy on display in the Terror House

Which, rather strangely, brings us to the Sitemeter, that little green widget which all but conceals itself at the foot of the page of ours and many other blogs. Originally installed simply to record the number of visitors to the site, and to give an indication as to which country they come from, we now find, such are the wonders of modern technology together with a little 'investigation' from our IT friends, that it is possible to know so much more.