Trabant, as an East German symbol, reminds us of the demolition of the Berlin Wall.
It was still very common 30 years ago, but it is now very rare to see this type of car. Its shape, design and the use of material are very distinctive, not to be confused with anything.
Its "cracked pot" voice and the nasal-squeezing smell of its bluish smoke are also unparalleled in their kind. This Trabi is a part of an outdoor exhibition in Székesfehérvár, the work of a contemporary Hungarian painter and even has a registration number, so it’s in use. See the pictures and find symbols! If you never lived in the socialist bloc, you don’t understand what they mean. I understand them all, because I was a student in 1989. I have experienced a change in the political system and I have also been involved in street movements. I listened to Free Europe radio and alternative rock music and wanted to go west to try my luck. Then I stayed home. The former leaders of rebellious youth of 1989 sit in the Parliament and in the Ministries of Hungary today and are as oppressive and corrupt as their socialist-communist predecessors.
Trabant is gone, and now smart cars with sophisticated electronics are running on the roads. Apparently everything has changed, it seems to become prettier, easier and better, but in fact, politics has worsened even more than it was 30 years ago. Is there an alternative? Yes, but only upward, toward spirit and awareness, with awakening, togetherness and love.
