Where in the World Archives

December 1969 Issue

Liberty Statue (Budapest, Hungary)

The Szabadság Szobor (Hungarian for “Liberty Statue” or “Freedom Statue”), located in Budapest, Hungary, was pictured in our August 2018 mystery photo. Hungarian artist Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl sculpted the bronze female figure, which was first erected in 1947 in remembrance of the country's liberation from the Nazis by the Soviets during World War II.

Towering above the city at a height of 131 feet, the icon can be seen by all of Budapest. Standing atop Gellért Hill and an 85-foot-tall pedestal, the 46-foot-tall figure holds a large palm leaf in her hand. On either side are two shorter male figures representing “progress” and “evil.”

After the fall of Communism in 1989, the inscription on the statue was changed from, in part, “To the memory of the liberating Soviet heroes. . .” to “To the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom and prosperity of Hungary.”

Forty-one correct answers were submitted, and KATHLEEN WOOD of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, won the drawing. ITN Assistant Editor Dan Barr took the photo.

Correct answers were submitted by:

Nanci Alexander, Lexington, KY; Ralph Barrett, Knoxville, TN; Peter Basto, Newton, NJ; Shirley Becker, Skokie, IL; Rachel Bishar, Santa Barbara, CA; Lucyna Boyle, Mesa, AZ; William H. Brown, Baton Rouge, LA; Diane Casillo, Dallas, TX; Maria Cueto, Weehawken, NJ; John F. Dubay, Spokane, WA; Nancy England, Oak Ridge, TN; Rita Fisher, Des Moines, IA; Russell Gluck, Franklin Lakes, NJ; Signe Haugen, San Carlos, CA; Magali V. Hinojosa, Laredo, TX; Jane & Clyde Holt, Hinesburg, VT; Andrea Jones, San Francisco, CA; Deb Kalikow, Westford, MA; Karyn Kandell, Kyoto, Japan; Margaret Kilgore, Sharpsburg, GA; Theodore Liebersfeld, Boynton Beach, FL; Milton Lilie, Rye, NY; Earl Mack, San Ramon, CA; Nick Melillo, Carlsbad. CA; Edith F. Moates, Norman, OK; Ron Oakham, Tucson, AZ; James Oerding, Capay, CA; David J. Patten, St. Petersburg, FL; Donna Peterson, Patch Grove, WI; Raymond Prince, Maple Valley, WA; Marcia Ritter, St. Louis, MO; Lisa Robertiello, Burbank, CA; Pam Ross, Louisville, KY; Ed Schlenk, Marshalltown, IA; Mary Schmidt, Fairfax, VA; Jacqueline Siegel, Davis, CA; Phyllis & David Stolls, Riverside, CA; Charles Twine, Durham, NC; Jonathan van Bilsen, Port Perry, ON, Canada; Karen Warburg, Seaside, CA; Kathy Wilhelm, Cary, NC; WINNER: Kathleen Wood, Lakewood Ranch, FL.

December 1969 Issue

Botchan Karakuri Clock (Matsuyama, Japan)

In Matsuyama in 1994, Dōgo Onsen Honkan, one of the oldest public bathhouses in Japan, celebrated its 100th anniversary. In commemoration, the Botchan Karakuri Clock (the subject of our June 2018 mystery photo) was built near the hot springs, steps away from the Dōgo Onsen tram station.

Located in the Hōjōen plaza, the clock “comes to life” each hour between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m., when mechanical figures depicting characters in the Japanese novel “Botchan,” written by Natsume Sōseki, emerge to act out scenes from the story. Next to the clock is a footbath that is free to all visitors.

Starting Jan. 15, 2019, various parts of the bathhouse will be closed for renovations over several years.

Eleven correct answers were submitted this month, and KARYN KANDELL of Kyoto, Japan, won the drawing. We thank John Penisten of Hilo, Hawaii, for submitting the picture.

Correct answers were submitted by:

Maria Cueto, Weehawken, NJ; Russell Gluck, Franklin Lakes, NJ; Signe Haugen, San Carlos, CA; Jane & Clyde Holt, Hinesburg, VT; WINNER: Karyn Kandell, Kyoto, JAPAN; Melanie Lathen, Sebastopol, CA; David & Yoko Light, St. Louis, MO; Donna Peterson, Patch Grove, WI; Pamela Ross, Louisville, KY; Jill Sullivan, Waynesboro, VA; Karen Wagner, Monarch Beach, CA.

December 1969 Issue

Avalanche memorial (Seydisfjordur, Iceland)

In 1885 in the town of Seyðisfjörður in eastern Iceland, an avalanche swept several homes into the fjord and killed 24 people. In 1996 in the same town, another avalanche wiped out a fish factory, leaving several of the factory's girders mangled. Luckily, no lives were lost in the 1996 event, but the twisted girders were painted white and erected to create a memorial to those who had previously died. It was named “Snjóflóð” (“Avalanche”).

As the author wrote in his guidebook “Rick Steves Iceland,” “Scenic as they are, the steep mountain walls around Seyðisfjörður come with a steep price: the danger of being buried by snow.”

The strange sculpture was pictured in the mystery photo in our April 2018 issue. Two correct answers were submitted this month, and RAYMOND PRINCE of Maple Valley, Washington, won the drawing. We thank Linda Beuret of Santa Barbara, California, for submitting the picture.

Correct answers were submitted by:

WINNER: Raymond Prince, Maple Valley, WA; Pam Ross, Louisville, KY.

December 1969 Issue

Rendall Doocot (The Mainland, Orkney Islands, Scotland)

Nearly four centuries ago, in 1648, to be exact, a structure for birds was built for the lairds of the Hall of Rendall on The Mainland, which is the main island of Orkney, off the northeastern shore of Scotland. The location of the beehive-shaped structure, known as the Rendall Doocot and pictured in our February 2018 issue, was the challenge.

Young pigeons were considered a delicacy in ancient Rome, and the dovecotes housing them were a common sight. Centuries later, the Normans introduced dovecotes (doocots) to Britain. The Rendall Doocot's beehive or wedding-cake shape sets it apart from others in the area, since most are rectangular with lean-to roofs.

Five correct answers were submitted, and JANE B. and CLYDE F. HOLT of Hinesburg, Vermont, won the drawing. We thank Gordon Kitchens of Atlanta, Georgia, for submitting the picture.

Correct answers were submitted by:

WINNER: Jane & Clyde Holt, Hinesburg, VT; Donna Peterson, Patch Grove, WI; Raymond Prince, Maple Valley, WA; Pamela Ross, Louisville, KY; Mary Schmidt, Fairfax, VA.