Bountiful Budapest

View of Buda from Pest

When we last wrote we were on the train to Budapest.  We spent five days in this beautiful city that straddles the Danube.  While we were in Cesky Krumlov in September, we met three Hungarians.  One of them, Katalin, invited us to visit Budapest.  Moreover, Amy thorough enjoyed Budapest when she was there this summer. That, along with the promise of good weather, was enough to add it to our itinerary. 

Katalin is an official tour guide as is her friend and colleague Kata.  Together Kata and Katalin shared the history of Hungary with us and made sure that we were able to get the most out of our visit to Budapest.  Hungary traces its history to the decision to unite by 7 tribal leaders in 896 AD.  These tribes had come from the Ural Mountains.  This explains why Hungarian is not a Slavic language but actually shares its linguistic similarities with Finnish and Estonian.  Stephen was the first King and brought Christianity to Hungary around 1000 AD.  He later achieved sainthood.  Hungary has been conquered and occupied many times from the Ottoman to the Austrian empires, by the Germans and most recently by the Soviets.  Buda and Pest merged in the 1860s.  Many of Budapest’s beautiful buildings were constructed in the late 19^th and early 20^th century.  Indeed many of their buildings near Heroes Square were constructed for the 1000th year anniversary of Hungary’s birth in 1896.

Some of the Seven Tribes 

So what did we like: Andrassy Avenue with its beautiful old buildings; the statues of Hungary’s 7 tribal leaders and other national leaders at Heroes Square; the memorial to the 1956 Revolution against the Soviets; lovely City Park with the ice skating pavilion and buildings constructed for Hungary’s millennium celebration; Szechenyi Thermal Bath where we enjoyed the thermal baths, steam rooms and saunas with Logan and Claire, a couple from New Zealand; delicious Hungarian dinners particularly at Paprika and Bali;  the Market; riding the funicular to Buda at night; a visit to the Parliament that is modeled after Westminister Abbey but two meters longer; the Ethnological Museum that offers an excellent historical overview of the Hungarian culture; a hospital built in a cave under Buda; the old buildings and ruins in Buda; Matthias Church; Saint Stephen’s Bascilica; and an evening of jazz at small club in Buda.  Most of all we appreciated the opportunity to get to know our hosts, Katalin and Kata.

 Beautiful Buda street

Pretty Pest house

Did I forget to mention, the weather was perfect!

If you ever have a chance to visit Budapest, I highly recommend it!