Only one other time on a visit to Europe did I encounter sadness and depression, and that was a visit to a concentration camp outside of Prague. I encountered it again seeing the iron shoes alongside the Danube River in Budapest.
On the Pest side near the Parliament, you will find iron shoes along the river's edge. These shoes are a memorial to honor the people who were killed by fascists militia during World World II. People were ordered to take of their shoes off, and then shot so that their bodies would fall into the river and float away.
It's a sad reminder of the horrific events that took place during that time. The artist who created the iron shoes did a phenomenal job of forging the worn out, ripped and stretched shoes of all sizes--even children's--that were once left behind.
While seeing the shoes leaves you with a feeling of sorrow, and maybe even a little anger, they are definitely a must-see when visiting the city.
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