Budapest by day

As in Vienna, we chose to see Budapest in a smaller group taking public transportation rather than driving around the city in a bus. Much better; better feel for the place, we all agreed. We started at the Chain Bridge, the oldest across the Danube whose nickname derives from the fact that the bridge is supported by a large long chain. We had to dodge bicycles along the way but we made it across safely!

On the other side we boarded trams to take us to the top of the hill on the Buda side. Buda and Pest were once separate cities on either side of the Danube that were united several centuries ago, but each side is still referred to as Buda and Pest. Buda is the bluffs; Pest is the flat city center. Up to Buda to see the views!

A beautiful view of the Danube, looking north.

The changing of the guard at the Presidential office.

Given that the President is elected every five years (he's not royalty) and the office is largely ceremonial (the prime minister runs things), it's not clear to me why he needs the Buckingham Palace treatment. But I guess that's up to the Hungarian taxpayers.

More churches! Hey! This one is quite pretty: Matthias Church, about 1000 years old, in the castle district of Buda next to Fisherman's Bastion (from which they would defend Buda from enemies on the Danube).

Taking the 16 bus down the hill from Buda, across the Danube to continue our walking tour in Pest.

It's warm in the bus but Matt takes it all in stride.

We passed a pub and I was thirsty for an Ördög, but our group kept moving. (Wanted to see if the waitresses really were so attired!)

The city's Jewish synagogue, reputedly the largest in Europe. The Nazis held tens of thousands of Jews here before deporting many to concentration camps. When the trains were too full the Jews were made to walk along the Danube into Austria. Those too frail to continue were shot on sight and dumped into the river.

The Hungarians erected a remembrance to this atrocity along the Danube: bronzed shoes of those who were killed.

We finished the tour on a much lighter note, thank goodness. We enjoyed visiting the Central Market Hall, a large enclosed marketplace where locals shop for produce, fish and clothing, and tourists buy souvenirs.

Debb was excited to buy paprika!

Tomorrow morning we disembark the ship and head to the airport to fly home. We've had a lot of fun but we're ready!

 

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Sailing into Budapest at night

Our ship sails into Budapest tonight, the last stop of our trip. Now I know why they chose to sail from Bratislava during the afternoon rather than overnight: because the arrival is so spectacular. Enjoy these pictures. I don't know what the buildings are yet, but it doesn't spoil the beauty.

 

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Bratislava

Bratislava! The capital of Slovakia. A country that's 20 years old. It used to be part of Czechoslovakia, but those two countries split peacefully in 1993. Prior, it was under Soviet subjugation since WWII. It's nestled in between Austria and Hungary but is of Slavic heritage. As such, the alphabet is filled with the craziest accents and its hard to decipher the words.

Can you figure this out?

Bratislava has its own castle, harking to the Hapsburg dynasty. But the Soviets took it over and whitewashed it, and used it for headquarters. But it still commands a beautiful view of the city and the Danube.

Then a stroll through a beautiful old town, early on a Monday morning. Many shops weren't open, but the cafés and souvenir shops were!

New friends!

Suz finds the perfect new red bag.

I have *no* idea what this is!

A beer and a snack, then back to the ship.

 

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Vienna Residence Orchestra

OK, I'm not exactly sure who the Viennese Residence Orchestra is, but if you're in Vienna and someone asks you if you want to hear a symphony performing Mozart and Strauss, could you possibly say no?

We were not disappointed! From 8pm to 10 we were treated to a fabulous performance in a private palace (!) and had a delightful time. A great way to finish our day in Vienna. Debb absolutely wants to return!

 

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Vienna

Finally we're in a city whose name I already know. Vienna is the capital of Austria, and later tonight we'll have the special treat of attending a Mozart & Strauss orchestral performance. For today, we walk over to the subway station and take the Red Line (the U1 train) into the city center to see the Hapsburg Winter Palce and other sights.

The Opera House

The Winter Palace

You could tour the city by carriage, but we didn't.

Stopping for Melange coffee and apple strüdel at a sidewalk café.

Suz shopping for an embroidered purse.

At the Museum of Natural History where Matt marvels over the size of a dinosaur leg ...

... and the largest sea turtle ever.

We also saw the end of the national bicycle race, the Tour of Austria, which ended in Vienna! Debb couldn't figure out why they didn't all crash into each other, such was their speed and how tightly they were packed.

 

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Dürnstein

You see that castle up on the hill? That's the Dürnstein Castle, from which the small town below takes its name. We dock this afternoon in the neighboring town of Krems and bus back to Dürnstein, from which you can hike up the hill to the castle. Why? Well, for one thing it's great exercise, and I truly sweated through my clothes. But better, the castle contains the dungeon where Duke Leopold V of Austria imprisoned Richard the Lionheart ca. 1192 when the two Christian Crusaders got into a fight about something or other and at some point the Pope had to intervene.

A closer view of the castle.

Getting closer...

At the top!! Huzzah!

Beautiful view of the town and the Danube.

Jailed in Richard the Lionheart's dungeon.

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