#helloHungary

I'm not sure what we have done to deserve this weather, but it has been fantastic.  When I was checking out the forecast before we left home, it was calling for highs of 14-17 Celsius with one day of 22.  Yesterday, it actually reached 29!!!  The only problem is that I packed for 14-17 so have jeans and long-sleeved tops when capris and t-shirts would have been more appropriate.  Oh well, I will suffer, especially since I have seen winter storm after winter storm at home.

So we arrived in Budapest on Wednesday around noon.  We managed to find a taxi and get to our hotel uneventfully.  Then because there was so much we wanted to see and do in our day and a half here, we decided to purchase hop on-hop off bus tickets rather than trying to figure out how to use the public transit.  It worked as we ended up seeing most of the things on my lengthy list.  Unfortunately the hop on-hop off buses stop running their usual routes around 6 pm so we didn't make it to the New York Cafe which is supposedly the most beautiful cafe in the world and we didn't see Vlajuhad Castle or the Heroes Park either (essentially everything on the Red Line) but saw everything else.

Castle Hill

We stumbled across this while searching for the Hop On-Hop Off bus stop on our first day.  Since it was on the to-do list, we took the funicular to the top; the funicular was first opened in 1870, destroyed during the war and restored and reopened in 1986.

Once atop Castle Hill, we explored the castle grounds and gardens.  Buda Castle was first completed in 1265 but the current palace occupying the site was built between 1749 and 1769.  I believe we heard that much of it was destroyed during WWII, however, so most of what is there today is a restoration.

As we continued walking, we discovered the Matthias Church amongst the cute cobble-stoned streets and the Fisherman's Bastion.  Apparently the Fisherman's Bastion was built as part of a series of developments to celebrate the 1000th birthday of the Hungarian state.

The Parliament Building

Apparently the Parliament Building in Budapest is the largest building in Hungary.  There are 365 peaks, representing each day of the year.  We had an amazing view of it from our hotel and it is truly impressive.  Yesterday when we walked around it, we happened upon a changing of the guard type ceremony.

St. Stephen's Basilica

This church is named in honour of Stephen, the first King of Hungary.  His right hand is supposedly housed here (we didn't see it or look for it, for that matter).

The Dohany Street Synagogue (aka The Great Synagogue)

Until 2005, this was apparently the biggest synagogue in Europe.  We didn't end up going inside as we were running low on Hungarian money at this time and couldn't find a place nearby with a reasonable exchange rate.  It was also a fairly steep entry fee compared to the other places we visited.

The Great Market Hall

This is the largest and oldest indoor market in Budapest.

Szimpla Kert

During WWII, the Jewish Quarter became the Jewish Ghetto and much of the area was left rotting and empty for decades.  In 2001, a bunch of guys bought a dodgy old building before it got demolished and opened a bar, the first 'ruin pub'.  The original Szimpla has since moved to it's current location and a number of other ruin pubs have popped up.  This one is the largest and most popular, among the locals and tourists alike.

The Bridges of Budapest

At one time, Buda and Pest were two cities, separated by the Danube River.  Buda was apparently named after Attila the Hun's brother while Pest was the old Hungarian word for 'oven'.  Now, Buda is the hilly side, home to Buda Castle, the Citadel, and Gellert Hill.  Pest contains the Parliament and a number of other important buildings.  There are now 8 bridges spanning the Danube and connecting the two sides of the city.  The Chain Bridge is the oldest and most famous of the bridges.

The Gellert Baths

Budapest abounds in fountains of healing waters and as a result, houses a number of bath houses and spas.  The Gellert Baths were opened in 1918.  Spending time in the healing waters there was a welcome treat after days of walking.

Monuments and Statues

We discovered a number of monuments and statues during our walks in Budapest.  One of the most profound to me was the 'Shoes on the Danube' memorial.  60 pairs of iron shoes are attached to the stone embankment on the Pest side of the Danube to represent the 3500 people (800 of them Jews) who were lined up along the Danube in 1944-45 and shot so that their bodies would fall into the river.

We also saw Ronald Reagan, who never actually visited Budapest.  The Hungarians appreciated his efforts in ending the Cold War and the USSR influence on Hungary.

Imre Nagy was Prime Minister of Hungary twice, the second in 1956 during the uprising.  He and Robert had a nice chat.

Attila Jozsef was a Hungarian poet of the 20th century.

Imre Kalman was one of the Hungarian composers who played at the Budapest Operetta Theatre.

Robert also befriended this guy.  He was actually quite sweet.

Food and Drink

Of course I also had a list of foods and drinks we were to try while in Hungary.  After choking down our Palinka at supper last night, Robert decided we didn't have to try everything.

Goulash Soup

Chicken Paprikash

Kolbice

Gelarto Rosa ice cream (I had strawberry-elderflower and white chocolate lavendar; Robert had pistachio and salted caramel)

Well-deserved beer (Dreher Classic Arany)

Palinka (a traditional fruit brandy)

Chicken Paprikash, noodles, roast duck, roast pork, rice, potato wedges, Hungarian goulash, dill pickles, and salad

Today we have a more relaxing day as we check out of our hotel and board our boat for our river cruise.  It looks like it's raining out too so our feet may get a bit of a rest.  Tomorrow - Slovakia!