Moving on to Budapest

When the day dawned we were already awake so got moving early.  We had to have our bags out by eight and be out of our cabins by 8:30.  This was only a problem because our transfer tour wasn’t until 9:30.  Carol and I went up to the sundeck to take pictures of the shore of Budapest.  We were docked right by the Chain Bridge with three other Viking boats.  They have the prime docks everywhere they go.  We were on the Pest side with a view of the National Museum and the Castle with St. Mathias Church.  The Parliament was on our side but on the other side of the bridge, so not in view.

Elva and her family loved seeing the beautiful buildings for the first time ever.  Hard to believe that has much as they have traveled in Europe they have never been there.  Budapest is, indeed, a beautiful city to visit.  We had a great included tour which covered all the important sites of this capital of Europe. 

Don with Virginia, Allan with Mary, Elva peeking out, Carol and me.  The backdrop is not the amazing Parliament Building but the National Museum.

Rita was a great guide. As we drove around she pointed out the famous buildings, described the statues, and told us the history which I have linked to above.  When we reached Castle Hill. On the Buda side, we had a nice walking tour of the city with an orientation since our Hilton hotel is there where we will check in later today.  In the square is one of the many statues of Stephen I of Hungary, the first king to unify the tribes.  Here is also the entrance to the Matthias Church.  It is named after one of the favorite kings of Hungary.

 

  Memorial statues of the various wars at a new museum.

 

Castle Hill and St. Mathias Church with its amazing painted ceramic tile roof!

Here are some views from the Fisherman’s Bastian which is so named because this side of the castle was at first protected by the Fisherman’s Guild as it overlooks the Danube.  The seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes.

The famed Parliament Building gleams whitely on the Pest side!  Next time I am here I am definitely going to find a tour of the inside of this elegant symbol.

A Panorama view.  On the right is part of one of the ornate seven towers.

This, like some others we have seen, is a painted church.  But unlike others it is a Cathedral and every inch is elaborately, and expensively painted.  Gold and gold leaf highlights are everywhere.  It is used for coronations.  Franz Liszt has a history here as well.  He ordered and ensured the beauty and sound quality of the organ. He saw to its installation but was not invited to the coronation.  Some of his music was played.  He was not elite enough.  He was not a member of the Hungarian 10,000!

The Gray Crow is unique to Hungary and very unique to have on a coat of arms.  Here is the legend!

Our Hilton Hotel was directly next to the St. Mathias but we were not ready, yet to end our tour here.  We walked through a beautiful neighborhood with an overlook to the city below.  Pest is a flat and modern city while Buda is the hilly side of the river.  It is old money and considered more elite. Rents on this side are about double of the other side.  How do you know where your friends are from?  If they tell you Buda pest they live on the Pest side and try to gloss it over with the Buda mystique.  If they say they are from Buda then you know that they have money and like the prestige it offers.

We went back into the Pest side of town to the Central Market on the flat side of the river.  Here we walked through the first floor to look at fruits, vegetables, fish, cheese, and meats. It is one of the largest markets in Europe and has three floors. 







Upstairs are the arts, crafts, and food booths.  Allan, Mary, Elva, and Carol enjoyed a lunch of sausage and sauerkraut at one of the stalls.  It was all way too crowded for me, and honestly, I don’t like this kind of food and am really tired of pretending to enjoy it.

Paprika paste.  Girl on the jar is mild, man is hot!

It was a surprise to find that on the basement floor was a store I am familiar with at home.  And, by the way, in case you are ever here, it is good to know that by the Aldi's the rest rooms are also discounted.  Half Euro instead on a full one!

Our stores do not have fresh bakery.  Aldi and Lidl are both European markets that have expanded to the USA!

I went out for a walk around the neighborhood.  It was beautiful.  Sidewalk cafes, beautiful architecture, and nice people to talk to made for a nice hour and a half in the fresh air.  There was a Burger King across from the Market entrance.  They advertised Angry Burgers.  These looked like regular double cheeseburgers but had hot peppers on them.  Hungarians like spice.  I browsed in the French bakery where free Wi-Fi had all the tables filled.  Down the pedestrian street the tourists were checking out all the souvenir shops. I met the others at the appointed time for the rest of our tour.

  

Central Market entrance

Costumed lady attracts shoppers and tourists.  She is passing out coupons.

Beginning of the pedestrian street.

Love a good bakery but sadly only took pictures!

Bike rentals always make a good picture but now there are also scooters!  Swipe your card and go!

Central Market is huge!

Our last stop of the day was the Liberation Monument.  It was erected in 1945 in honor of the Soviet soldiers who liberated the Hungarians from the clutches of Germany.  But as these countries say, the Soviets liberated us but then forgot to go home.  I guess it was a sort of welcomed invasion!  The statue was modified by the Communist government but allowed to remain standing.  The park around it offers spectacular views of the city.  On one side is the famous, older part, of both sides of the Danube.  On the back side is the view of the rest of Budapest.  The part tourists never visit.  Homes, industries, shopping malls, that kind of thing.

Liberty

Kids love to play "Squeeze the Lemon!"

 These two statues are on either side of the steps up to the Liberty monument.

 

Finally it was time to head to the Castle Hilton.  The location could not have been better and the hotel was beautiful.  When we travel with Viking or OAT we stay in hotels that are way better than we ever could afford to book on our own! After we settled in, the rest went out to dinner but I enjoyed the peace of being close to the end of the trip.  I enjoyed Budapest revisited and it was altogether a beautiful day.

The hotel is built right into the hillside.  In the basement are the remains of the Monastery in the Rock.

The room could not have been bigger, more comfortable or nicer in any way!

Our view in one way, the pillar in the other.

Even tough I didn't join the others for dinner I went out for a bit after dark and the city is spectacular.  Here is a link to better pictures than I could take and also of some places that were out of reach.  Our location was fantastic.

Budapest at night!