The afternoon traffic jam is here once again... Tension, honking. I would love to tell the drivers to calm down, everything will be fine, you will reach your destination, but who would listen to the words of a stone lion? But believe me, I've been here since the traffic began, longer even. Since 1852, to be precise, thanks to the sculptor János Marschalkó who created all four of us. We decorate the Pest and Buda sides of the Széchenyi Chain Bridge in Budapest. Sometimes I like to think that we also guard it. Incidentally, the bridge was handed over earlier, in 1849, as part of a ceremony led by an Austrian field marshal, Julius Jacob von Haynau – who, by the way, was famous for defeating the Hungarians in their War of Independence. However, idea for a bridge idea was not his, but rather that of a Hungarian count, István Széchenyi, who could not cross the Danube, which the bridge now crosses, because of the ice in the winter of 1820. However, the design and construction were carried out by English engineers, two Clarks, William Tierney Clark and Adam Clark. They were not related or anything, they just had the same last name. A square on the Buda side was named after Adam Clark, and I watch the traffic on it day after day, opposite the Tunnel that runs under Várhegy. We don't talk much with the lions on the other side, especially since the Gresham Palace was built on the Pest side in 1907. Since then, they claim that they have a better view, but I think that's silly, because what could be more beautiful view is there in Budapest than the wonderful Buda Castle? Well, there is one thing that is more beautiful. Our bridge, the Chain Bridge.