BUDAPEST, HUNGARY: A little background to this AMAZING City,
one that we had visited previously. Buda and Pest were two separate
Cities, separated for centuries by The Danube River; they were united in 1873
and connected by a series of walk able/drive able bridges. The two parts,
however, are so different, it is as if one is getting two fascinating cities for
the price of one.
Thus, we stayed 2 nights up on Castle Hill of medieval Buda, and 2 nights down in the more cosmopolitan European flavored Pest. Taken together, Budapest is the 6th most popular City in Europe and the 9th most beautiful City in the world. If you take a Danube River Cruise (which is WONDERFUL, in and of itself), build in extra time in Budapest or you will find yourself returning as we did. And maybe even a third time....
 This tunnel takes buses and cars with permits up to the top of Buda, known as Castle Hill |
 To the left of the tunnel, there are "train tracks" for the Fenicular that carries pedestrians up to the top. It is also walk able, for those who are accustomed to climbing towers.... |
 Hapsburg Gate |
 Hungarian National Gallery |
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 The Royal Palace |
 An architectural marvel is The Fisherman's Bastion, with its seven towers representing the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 896. |
 Its neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque terraces, stairs, and walking paths provide panoramic views of the Danube and Pest below. |
 Countless Kodak moments for the t-shirt photo
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 Even a nod to Dragons... |
 ...from a Hat Dragon |
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 Matthias Church, near The Fisherman's Bastion, at night |
 The view from the back side of Buda (facing away from Pest) |
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 Houses that date back to the 14th c
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 Narrow winding streets that we could explore forever |
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 The Plaque explains this house was the site of the British Legation, where lived Carl Stutz, representative of The United Kingdom, and rescuer of 1,000's of Hungarian Jews |
 He is considered a "Righteous Gentile," the living embodiment of the Jewish Talmud which says," Whoever saves a life is considered as if he has saved an entire world."
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Grand Tour pg.13