Socialist Commonwealth
Establishing Nation
Top 7 things to do in Adony
So you have arrived in the capital of Tarján. You have overcome the counterintuitive visa process of the Socialist Commonwealth, acquired all the necessary paperwork and, despite the language barrier, managed to book a flight to visit the state of the Eastern Magyars. Rejoice! All the bad parts of your trip are behind you and an amazing destination awaits! Here are 7 things you absolutely should not miss during your trip.
1. Take a stroll on the Vesztel promenade
The mighty Vesztel-river is the lifeblood of Tarján. Its gentle majesty is best observed by taking a stroll down the riverside promenade in Adonys downtown. This is a popular spot for locals, especially on weekends, too and you will be able to observe many of them just taking a picnic, exercising or relaxing on a sunny day. The promenade is also dotted with small food stalls, should you get peckish, and when dawn arrives, many of them will readily serve a glass of wine to enjoyed in the athmospheric setting.
2. Visit the Museum of Modern Arts
Sometimes, the popular tourist destinations are popular for a reason. Adonys Museum of Modern Arts is one such case. It will most likely be crowded. You will most likely have to wait in line. You will not be able to brag about having found a hidden gem. All of that doesn't matter. The museum is outstanding, not just within the Commonwealth, but in all of Europe. Almost a century of patronage by the Socialist Commonwealth has amassed a collection without compare, dominated by artists from the Commonwealth, but with works from numerous famous artists from across the globe. Don't miss it.
3. Look at the Imperial Palace and relax in the Royal Gardens
Adony used to be one of the centers of the Triple-Monarchy and back in those days, the royal family would often spend the winter months in the city. Their palace has long been vacated by the former royals, for obvious reasons, but the socialist government has maintained the complex throughout the last century and turned it into a museum. The exhibition details the opulence of royal life in the 19th and the first two decades of the 20th century, but it also makes a point to contrast it with the misery the common people had to endure during that period. If all of that is a bit too heavy for you, a relaxing stroll through the royal gardens, nowadays a public park, will help soothe your soul.
4. Try Tarjáni wines
Wine-making has a long tradition in Tarján and these centuries of experience have led to some truly unique flavor profiles. The city is dotted with wine-bars, popular amongst the locals, and they are almost always a safe bet for any visitor. However, if you need a recommendation, try Finkel's, located in a cellar on the Tavaszi Utca. Satin-covered couches and dim chandelier lighting gives the establissement an opulent flair. Try one of their dessert wines!
5. St. Georges Cathedral
It is the second largest cathedral in the Commonwealth, but size alone isn't everything. In our humble opinion, no church in the Commonwealth is more beautiful than the seat of the Bishop of Adony. The concordat between the Papacy and the Commonwealth has ensured its continuous maintenance and protection by the state, which, for us travellers, means we can enjoy the center of Catholicism in Tarján in its full, untouched splendor. This includes what is supposedly a nail of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, a massive treasure of golden artworks, as well as equally splendidly golden royal tombs of medieval Tarjáni kings.
6. Goulash at the People's Kitchen
The People's Kitchen is steel and plastic, it is hectic even on a slow day and it serves only one dish. It is also an institution of life in Adony. Founded as a socialist soup kitchen decades before the revolution, it got expanded twice after it, pursuing its goal to serve a daily warm meal to the common people of Tarján. It is always Goulash, that famous paprika-flavored stew, but it is not always the same recipe every day. If, however, you want to feel like a true Commonwealther for a day, you will file into line and enjoy a hot bowl of what might easily be the best meal you will eat in your entire life.
7. Let your soul float at the Thermal Bath
Adony is famous for its hot springs, which have attracted travellers since ancient times. The Municipal Thermal Baths present the pinnacle of this tradition, built on the ruins of a former Tiburan bathing complex they were opened in 1886. The structure, built in an imperial classicist style, is itself worth a visit, but it is also still fully operational, so why not soak your skin in its hot water and let the minerals unfold their healing properties for your body and soul? However, remember that visiting is open and free to all, while space in the facilities is limited, which means it pays to be an early bird.
So you have arrived in the capital of Tarján. You have overcome the counterintuitive visa process of the Socialist Commonwealth, acquired all the necessary paperwork and, despite the language barrier, managed to book a flight to visit the state of the Eastern Magyars. Rejoice! All the bad parts of your trip are behind you and an amazing destination awaits! Here are 7 things you absolutely should not miss during your trip.
1. Take a stroll on the Vesztel promenade
The mighty Vesztel-river is the lifeblood of Tarján. Its gentle majesty is best observed by taking a stroll down the riverside promenade in Adonys downtown. This is a popular spot for locals, especially on weekends, too and you will be able to observe many of them just taking a picnic, exercising or relaxing on a sunny day. The promenade is also dotted with small food stalls, should you get peckish, and when dawn arrives, many of them will readily serve a glass of wine to enjoyed in the athmospheric setting.
2. Visit the Museum of Modern Arts
Sometimes, the popular tourist destinations are popular for a reason. Adonys Museum of Modern Arts is one such case. It will most likely be crowded. You will most likely have to wait in line. You will not be able to brag about having found a hidden gem. All of that doesn't matter. The museum is outstanding, not just within the Commonwealth, but in all of Europe. Almost a century of patronage by the Socialist Commonwealth has amassed a collection without compare, dominated by artists from the Commonwealth, but with works from numerous famous artists from across the globe. Don't miss it.
3. Look at the Imperial Palace and relax in the Royal Gardens
Adony used to be one of the centers of the Triple-Monarchy and back in those days, the royal family would often spend the winter months in the city. Their palace has long been vacated by the former royals, for obvious reasons, but the socialist government has maintained the complex throughout the last century and turned it into a museum. The exhibition details the opulence of royal life in the 19th and the first two decades of the 20th century, but it also makes a point to contrast it with the misery the common people had to endure during that period. If all of that is a bit too heavy for you, a relaxing stroll through the royal gardens, nowadays a public park, will help soothe your soul.
4. Try Tarjáni wines
Wine-making has a long tradition in Tarján and these centuries of experience have led to some truly unique flavor profiles. The city is dotted with wine-bars, popular amongst the locals, and they are almost always a safe bet for any visitor. However, if you need a recommendation, try Finkel's, located in a cellar on the Tavaszi Utca. Satin-covered couches and dim chandelier lighting gives the establissement an opulent flair. Try one of their dessert wines!
5. St. Georges Cathedral
It is the second largest cathedral in the Commonwealth, but size alone isn't everything. In our humble opinion, no church in the Commonwealth is more beautiful than the seat of the Bishop of Adony. The concordat between the Papacy and the Commonwealth has ensured its continuous maintenance and protection by the state, which, for us travellers, means we can enjoy the center of Catholicism in Tarján in its full, untouched splendor. This includes what is supposedly a nail of the cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified, a massive treasure of golden artworks, as well as equally splendidly golden royal tombs of medieval Tarjáni kings.
6. Goulash at the People's Kitchen
The People's Kitchen is steel and plastic, it is hectic even on a slow day and it serves only one dish. It is also an institution of life in Adony. Founded as a socialist soup kitchen decades before the revolution, it got expanded twice after it, pursuing its goal to serve a daily warm meal to the common people of Tarján. It is always Goulash, that famous paprika-flavored stew, but it is not always the same recipe every day. If, however, you want to feel like a true Commonwealther for a day, you will file into line and enjoy a hot bowl of what might easily be the best meal you will eat in your entire life.
7. Let your soul float at the Thermal Bath
Adony is famous for its hot springs, which have attracted travellers since ancient times. The Municipal Thermal Baths present the pinnacle of this tradition, built on the ruins of a former Tiburan bathing complex they were opened in 1886. The structure, built in an imperial classicist style, is itself worth a visit, but it is also still fully operational, so why not soak your skin in its hot water and let the minerals unfold their healing properties for your body and soul? However, remember that visiting is open and free to all, while space in the facilities is limited, which means it pays to be an early bird.