Hopping around Budapest

It was a gloomy day as I headed off to take the bus again for day 2 of my pass. I had to repeat some of the route from yesterday to get to where I wanted to. When I arrived at the bus line change spot I had 25 mins wait for the bus. I saw a money exchange across the street ran over exchanged money.  I then crossed the street reached for my bus pass and realized it was missing I looked all through the pouch and it was no where to be found. I went back to the money exchange to see if it was there. I looked all around the bus stop nothing I was not able to get back on the bus without it. I started walking trying to decide what to do and I saw a bench and sat on it said a prayer and opened the pouch again and looked and it was in there in the corner wrapped in a ball, I pulled it out and it was like it had been stepped on and then wrapped up. I was so happy I had it again and headed back to the bus stop by that time I had missed that bus and had to wait again.

St Anne Church

Geller Spa

Gallert monument

Buda Castle

Little Princess Statue

I decided to return to the Buda side of the river to explore a bit further the first stop I got off was near Buda Castle I got off and looked around there was a Funicular up to the Castle but the line was long and since it was gloomy did not think worth the time I hopped on the next bus continued on the next stop looked more interesting and it was across from the Parliament which meant more pictures of course and I looked in a church. I had lost time with the ticket and felt tired and decided to go back to the Pest side and explore the Danube Promenade. I walked for awhile I ran across a man who way playing YMCA on his saxophone that was different and I gave him some change. I started back towards St Stephen's Basilica and found Listz Ferenc Square there were booths set up selling food and  I decided to try some Hungarian goulash with chicken it looked good I ordered some and I could not believe how little they gave me and they charged a lot. After that I made it to St Stephen and being a Sunday a service had ended and I was able to go in. St Stephen King of Hungary he became a Christian and forcibly converting the so-called Black Hungarians after their failed rebellion he was anointed King of Hungry in 1000. There were quite a few steps to the Basilica and as I have been doing going down I try and walk down holding to railings and walk sideways, there was no railing so I went sideways slow this woman came down the stairs saw me and put her arm out for me to lean on.  I was exhausted and decided to go back to the hotel and relax and read. 

St Stephens Basilica

Holy right hand of St Stephen

Budapest the Hop off and on Way

Hero's Square

My hotel was located fairly close to the stop for Hop Off and On Budapest bus tour, after buying a ticket from reception I headed off to find the bus stop.  I got on the bus and we headed towards Hero's Square.  I got off there and did some exploring, the first thing  I saw was The Seven Chieftains of the Magyars (or Hungarians) who were the leaders of the seven tribes of Hungarians at the arrival to the Carpathian Basin in 895 AD. It was quite impressive to see, when I was back on the bus I noticed another area to come back to.

The Seven Chieftains of the Magyars

The next stop was the Varket Bazar (Castle Garden) which was located on the Buda side of the river,  this was amazing too look at and I since discovered that this was recently restored it also there were a few shops and a garden and I did not realize at the time you could go up to the Castle Hill from here. There were quite a few stairs and with my knee I decided against climbing them.  There were also statues from the First World War again the size made me see Budapest does not believe in doing things in a small way. 

Varket Bazar

size of this car against the statue give and an idea how huge statue is

Then it was off to the Castle Hill also on the Buda side of the river and some serious stairs but well worth it for the views on top. The first was on the way up was the Fisherman's Bastion, which was name from the guild of fishermen that was responsible for defending this stretch of the city walls in the Middle Ages it is a terrace with many stairs and walking paths. There was  an incredible view of the Pest side including the Parliament and Margaret Island. I walked around and many people were doing selfies and I decided to try and get me with the Parliament in the background as you can see I did not quite succeed. Luckily I was able to get someone to take a photo of me and cricket with the Parliament across the Danube.

selfie

I loved Castle Hill once I got up there and it was perfect weather day with sun that set off the area. Matthias church with its Gothic edifice it was designed in late 13th century and because it was by the Royal Castle it was used as site for coronations and royal weddings. It was closed at the moment so I did not go inside. Trinity Square had a beautiful Trinity Column which was built to celebrate the end of the plague and protect citizens from another epidemic.  I walked through the area and it suddenly felt hot and I needed something cool so it was a good time for a chocolate Gelato had a bit time explaining to the girl she thought I was pointing to something else then she though I wanted two cones as I tried to explain I wanted the other one.  Sometimes not knowing the language is hard. After that I looked into the shops and also people watched one of my fave pastimes when I travel.

oh those steps to Castle Hill

Fisherman's Bastion

Matthias Church 

Trinity column

St Stephen

Well since it was sunny out and I knew rain would be coming the next day I decided to use my ticket to take the river cruise that was included. I got on the bus and headed to the spot to take the boat, I got on the boat and found a seat at the front however it turns out that was not the boat, but a place to sit waiting for the boat so we were suddenly told to go to the boat as a result I was way at the back I was looking for a spot closer to the front and just stand but a woman motioned me to sit by her and she moved.  I had a pretty good view of the Parliament as we went by and I was able to snap some good photos seeing it from the water it appeared even more amazing.  The boat made a stop at Margaret Island (Margitsziget) so i got off and started walking around I was so lucky as there was a fountain where the water was going up in down in in-tune with music (the Music fountain) and I found a seat right in the front and enjoyed several songs before it stopped so I considered myself lucky to have seen it. Feeling a bit peckish I looked at some stands selling food and everyone was buying a scone with sour cream and cheese yes as yummy as it looks. I left after decided it was time to leave so I took the boat back to the dock and then proceeded to walk along the Danube for awhile towards Parliament took my time as it was a bit of a hike.On my way back to the hotel I found Freedom Square "an awesome fountain, a series of water spouts that are timed to rise and fall at varying rates. One moment was a wall of water the next there is an opening to walk into center and stay dry."

Parliament as seen from River boat

size is just amazing

Margaret Bridge

Music fountain

fountain in Freedom Square

Freedom Square

yummy scone

Budapest at last

Budapest has been on my list for a number of years I had seen the Parliament Building in Viking River commercial, it looked so amazing and  I had to see it for myself. My trip started out special arriving at the Toronto airport and after checking I was waiting to board the plane I saw an area that was decorated and full of people eating food. I walked over and I was allowed in because I was flying Air Brussels, that had just started flying out of Toronto to Belgium.  They were having a celebration with a yummy cake and cookies, donuts, coffee tea juices and fruit.  I had to try the cake and it tasted as good as it looked. I flew from Toronto and changed planes in Brussels I had been a bit nervous about changing planes in Brussels because of the bombing that had happened a few weeks before but the airport was huge and did not see anything. I arrived in Budapest late morning and I had transportation set up by the hotel to meet me. I read to many negative reports on taking the bus into Budapest  mainly that it was complicated. The driver was there to greet me with my name a first for me and we walked a bit to his car. 

I arrived at the hotel and checked in I was lucky that they had the room available right away and I went in and laid down for about 45 minutes and then decided to set out to explore. I set off to find the Danube river and I could not wait to see the Parliament and I can honestly say I was not disappointed when I approached it for the first time. It is the 3rd largest Parliament building in the world, it is a magnificent example of Neo-Gothic architecture and is just over a 100 years old.

my first view of the Parliament 

I looked at if from all angles and took photos and sat and relaxed and then walked to the front to view the Danube and walked along it for awhile. I saw the Ethnographic museum, Hungarian national Museum but it was closing time, the building looked imposing. There was a square behind Parliament with a huge statue to Kossuth Lajos who was an Iconic Leader of Hungarian politics. I soon realized that Budapest statues were huge and impressive.  My knee was kinking a bit so I decided to head back and call it a day. I was still full from my meal on the plane but had a roll I had not eaten so had that and a few crackers.   I had only slept a couple hours on the plane so read and went to bed. 

Statue of Attila Jozsef Hungarian poet

Kossuth Lajos statue


Tisza Istuan statue

Ethnographic museum