Our arrival in Budapest we were very anxious to get out
and about to see the sites. We walked to the Danube River and the Chain Bridge taking
in the sites...and crossed the bridge to the Buda side of the Danube for
panoramic views of Pest...Stopped for dinner and made our way back to the
apartment...Looking forward to tomorrow. Budapest, "the Pearl of the
Danube", stretches along both banks of the river. Buda is the most
ancient, residential and hilly, while Pest is known for business and
shops...Nine bridges connect Budapest. The next morning, we were picked up by
our Tuk Tuk drivers...being that our apartment was the Jewish Sector of
Budapest, we first toured this area and drove by the largest Synagogue of
Europe, Dohnany Street Synagogue. From here we went to the Szimpla Kerry Ruin
Bar...which is exactly what it sounds like, pubs built in abandoned/ruined
buildings. Basically, after WWII many of Budapest’s buildings in the Jewish
neighborhood were destroyed.... years later people moved into these buildings
and turned them into secret underground pubs and bars. Just before crossing the
Elizabeth Bridge, we saw the Central Market Hall, and the City Park. Crossing
the Elizabeth Bridge, we started our climb up Gellert Hill to the Citadel,
stopping to see the Gellert Hotel thermal spa. Once at the top of the Citadel
we had a great view of the city of Budapest. Next, we went to the Castle District...We
walked to Matthias Church and to the Fishermen’s Bastion with a beautiful panorama
view...this area is one of the most historic districts of the city, with
origins dating the 13th century. Leaving the Castle District, we drove along
the river to the impressive neo-gothic House of Parliament...this iconic
building is the largest building in Hungary...a spectacular site to admire from
the outside. Crossing the Margaret Bridge on the Pest side of the Danube we
passed the shoe memorial to Budapest’s Holocaust victims before boarding our
Danube River Cruise. The weather was stellar and so was the cruise...this
cruise made for great panoramic photos of all the sites we visited earlier in
the day. After the cruise we walked towards the Central Market for
shopping...unfortunately, I was the victim of the pick pockets.... they got
most of my Hungarian money...could have been worse! Later in the evening we
went on another river cruise, this time to see the lights of Budapest...a major
thunderstorm and torrential rain hit just after our cruise started...Despite
the weather, we enjoyed the boat ride...Budapest is a beautiful city.
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