- Budapest is the capital of Hungary as well as its most populous city.
- It used to be two cities, Buda and Pest. The towns were united in 1873.
- It's pronounced Buda-PESHT, not Buda-PEST.
Second, some pictures of the city we took walking along the Danube in the evening.
Hungarian Parliament
Hungarian Parliament
"Why such a huge building for such a small country?", I hear you ask. It's because when this was opened in 1902, Hungary controlled parts of present day Poland, Romania, and Austria, as well as most of Croatia and all of Slovakia. They lost 70% of their territory after World War I.
Today started early with a trip (via tram) to the funicular that would take us up to the Castle Hill area. I'm glad we went when we did--it got pretty crowded later. The place is beautiful with great views.
The above is just one picture of a whole complex built around thermal springs. We may have gotten better pics if we went in, but they expected you to swim or sauna and we didn't have time for that. A lot of locals were there though and it looked like fun. Click the link to get a feel for this--it's impressive.
The Vajdahunyad Castle was built in 1896 as part of Hungary's Millennial Exposition. It was originally made of cardboard and wood, but was so popular they converted it to stone and brick between 1904 and 1908. This was actually pretty touristy--there was a guy with a snake, some Star Wars characters, and other hucksters trying to get you to take a picture and there were all kinds of vendors inside. But it was unique and we had a pretty good lunch of pork and fried potatoes, which replenished us.
The last major site of the day was Heroes' Square. The statues along the sides include the seven Magyar chieftains who originally settled in the area, as well as other important leaders.
Buda Castle
Looking upriver
Today started early with a trip (via tram) to the funicular that would take us up to the Castle Hill area. I'm glad we went when we did--it got pretty crowded later. The place is beautiful with great views.
Fisherman's Bastion was built between 1895 and 1902 to celebrate the 1000th anniversary of the Hungarian nation.
At Fisherman's Bastion
At Fisherman's Bastion
At Fisherman's Bastion
I was trying to get a shot of the Parliament from the balcony when Fe jumped into it. Just kidding, it was all planned this way, of course.
Mathias Church is a Roman Catholic church in the Castle District.
Matthias Church
Holy Trinity Statue outside the church
Front of the church
Buda Castle was completed in 1265 as the palace complex of Hungarian Kings. The Baroque palace occupying most of the site today was built between 1749 and 1769.
Buda Castle dome
Mathias Fountain. The same Mathias that the church was named for.
View of Parliament from Castle Hill
View of the city with the Chain Bridge in the foreground
We started this morning at about 730 am and we finished the Castle Hill area at around noon or maybe later. Whew! Then we did more.
Our eating schedule was shot. We did some souvenir shopping in the Castle Hill Ditrict then had a late-ish breakfast of coffee and apple tarts at a cafe. Once we took the funicular back down the hill, we rode a tram to the southern end of town (just to see it) and then we went here:
Vajdahunyad Castle
Vajdahunyad Castle
The last major site of the day was Heroes' Square. The statues along the sides include the seven Magyar chieftains who originally settled in the area, as well as other important leaders.
Heroes' Square
Heroes' Square. There's that pesky Fe again--I can't keep her out of the pictures!
Two things we also tried to look at before the above stops were the Central Market Hall and Corvinus University. I figured the University would be closed on Sunday, but I didn't expect the market to be. AND they will be closed tomorrow because it is a holiday--the Monday after Whitsunday. We'll try on Tuesday, our last full day here.
Interacting with the locals #1: Fe and I were taking the subway back to the hotel, but as the train was approaching the subway guard asked me where we were going. My natural obedience to authority had me stop and tell her--and she was really trying to help because we were getting on the wrong line. Fe by this time had gotten in the train and it stared pulling out with her on it. Now, what I should have done was jump on the very next train to the next stop to get her. But I overthought it and assumed Fe would get on the opposite train and come back to where we were separated. That didn't happen and after a couple of trains went by I was getting nervous. I also knew that the subway guard was watching and I knew she felt bad for what happened. So she took me along to the next station to see if we could find her. She even let me try to use her phone and she checked with the guard at that stop. Unknown to us, Fe had come back to the first station and was waiting. So I was relieved to see her when the guard and I came back. Have I told you I don't take vacations to relax, but to subject myself to different types of stress?
Interaction with the locals #2: After such a long day and after a break at the hotel, Fe and I were walking that evening and found a bench to sit on. It was not unoccupied however, and we sat next to a grandmotherly-type lady. I smiled and nodded to her and I thought that would be it. But after a few moments of silence she started some rapid-fire Hungarian to us. It didn't take long for her to realize we couldn't speak it, but I used my Google translate and we managed to exchange some pleasantries. She even asked about our schooling and when the friend she was waiting for showed up, we figured out that they were ethnic Romanians (from Transylvania) who had lived in Hungary since they were little (remember earlier when I said that Hungary lost 70% of it's land?). Fascinating!
Interacting with the locals #1: Fe and I were taking the subway back to the hotel, but as the train was approaching the subway guard asked me where we were going. My natural obedience to authority had me stop and tell her--and she was really trying to help because we were getting on the wrong line. Fe by this time had gotten in the train and it stared pulling out with her on it. Now, what I should have done was jump on the very next train to the next stop to get her. But I overthought it and assumed Fe would get on the opposite train and come back to where we were separated. That didn't happen and after a couple of trains went by I was getting nervous. I also knew that the subway guard was watching and I knew she felt bad for what happened. So she took me along to the next station to see if we could find her. She even let me try to use her phone and she checked with the guard at that stop. Unknown to us, Fe had come back to the first station and was waiting. So I was relieved to see her when the guard and I came back. Have I told you I don't take vacations to relax, but to subject myself to different types of stress?
Fe and the Subway Guard. Turns out the guard was at the end of her shift and stayed to help me find her.
Interaction with the locals #2: After such a long day and after a break at the hotel, Fe and I were walking that evening and found a bench to sit on. It was not unoccupied however, and we sat next to a grandmotherly-type lady. I smiled and nodded to her and I thought that would be it. But after a few moments of silence she started some rapid-fire Hungarian to us. It didn't take long for her to realize we couldn't speak it, but I used my Google translate and we managed to exchange some pleasantries. She even asked about our schooling and when the friend she was waiting for showed up, we figured out that they were ethnic Romanians (from Transylvania) who had lived in Hungary since they were little (remember earlier when I said that Hungary lost 70% of it's land?). Fascinating!
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