Budapest - Day 4 - A Funicular, a Palace, a Cathedral, the Parliament, & the Baths!!

Greetings...

Unlike yesterday when I took 100+ photos, today I took only 89.  In my review process, I whittled it down to 71 to keep and only 40 (only) I'm publishing here.

It was another hot day (93) in Budapest (102 back in Palma!) but I was determined to check off more sights from my list.

First stop:  Buda Castle (or Palace).  Visitors have a choice of walking up to the top of the hill via a serpentine path, riding a mini-trolley, taking a city bus, or riding the funicular.  No way was I walking...I took the funicular just for its uniqueness.

Onward to the photos!!!

Looking up at Buda Hill from the bottom it doesn't look all that high, but it's a substantial climb. 

At the top.  

Much of the Buda Castle houses several museums.  I didn't go in any.  I wandered the grounds and courtyards.

Looking across the Danube to the Pest side and the Chain Bridge.

A very interesting 'hunting' themed fountain.

I couldn't get the whole thing framed in my camera.

CLICK HERE FOR A SHORT VIDEO OF THE FUNICULAR AND FOUNTAIN

What's he gonna do....gum me to death?

I walked down the street (still on Buda hill) to my next stop:
Matthias Church
Nearly 750 years old, the whole building was remodeled a century later in a Gothic style.  In subsequent centuries, various wars inflicted damage but though most churches in Buda were destroyed, this one was not.

I love the tile work on the roof!  Very unique and uncommon.  Normally, I would leap at the chance to climb the tower, but it was just too hot and since I was already on a hill with limitless views, I wouldn't see anything more than I already could.

Unlike most churches/basilicas/cathedrals I've been in, the interior of this one is almost entirely painted.

Fishermans Bastion
It's one of the most popular tourist attractions due to the unique panorama of Budapest from the Neo-Romanesque lookout terraces.  Personally, I thought it looked like some modern-day Disney creation.  The only accessible parts were the balconies and turets.  Sort of a letdown, but the views were unsurpassed.

I left the hill and headed over to the Parliament building.  Due to its popularity, I had to make an appointment the day before to join a group tour with an English speaking guide.  The only way to see the interior is via guided tours.  You're not allowed to wander on your own.

Built in a gothic revival style, it was inaugurated in 1902 and is the third largest parliament building in the world.  

It has two absolutely identical parliament halls of which one is used for politics, the other for guided tours.I  t is 879 ft long and 404 ft wide.  Its interior includes 10 courtyards, 13 passenger and freight elevators, 27 gates, 30 staircases and 691 rooms (which includes more than 200 offices).  Inside and outside, there are altogether 250 sculptures on the walls.

Gold, gold, everywhere was gold.

The main staircase where only royalty and dignitaries enter.

All others must use the side entrances.

Inside one of the twin national assembly halls.

I can easily imagine Nancy Pelosi up there banging her gavel.

Outside the assembly hall is this room used for socializing and smoking during session breaks.

Those are cigar holders/ashtrays. Why the numbers?  
The politicians could snuff out their cigar and place it in a numbered holder, remember his number, and return to the assembly hall.  
Upon return, he knew where to retrieve his cigar and light up again.





Looking up at the inside of the dome.

The crown of St Stephen, the first King of Hungary. 

Displayed under the central dome (above photo), and guarded 24/7 by two soldiers. The two main soldiers are on shifts for an hour, have three choices of how they hold their saber, and rotate with each other every fifteen minutes

More than fifty kings were crowned with it, up to the last in 1916.  It is thought to date back to 1000/1001.

Also, the crown was moved around for safety during WW2, and stored in Fort Knox for about thirty years thereafter during communist rule.

It was returned by President Jimmy Carter.

I had yet to experience one of the many thermal baths in Budapest.  I was ready

Along the way, I spotted this oddity.

Do they know a Martian spacecraft landed atop their building?

That's the Rudas thermal baths complex on the other side of the bridge.  It was first built in 1550.  I couldn't take my camera inside, so I 'borrowed' a couple of photos from the interwebs to show you.

In 2006 a modern wing was added on that features a large swim pool along with several therapy pools, saunas, salt room, and this rooftop sun area and jacuuzi overlooking the Danube.

Next up...Day 5...I Go Underground!!

Dano

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Budapest - Day 3 - Got Booty!!

Hola!!!

My experience, thus far, in my Home Exchange travels, is that I take a LOT of photos.  The first full day out in Budapest, for example, I took over 100 shots!!!  When I get back to my apartment, I download them and do a first cut....those I don't like.  That might reduce it to 80.  But, to make my blog, I have to really whittle it down to content I think my readers will find valuable.  I think.

One day, a hundred photos.  Can you imagine (and yes, I can) back in the 'old days', which is only the 1980's and before, where you had to buy film and then turn it in for processing after your trip and get back an envelope of your developed pictures only THEN to find out the mistakes you made when you took them and now you're back in Cincinnati and there's no way to re-take those shots in Budapest??  And, if you took 100+ photos you practically had to take out a 2nd mortgage on your home to pay for them?

Wellll.....thank goodness for digital cameras and no more going to the FotoMat drive-thru kiosk to get your photos processed.  Now, it's real time and a LOT LESS missed opportunities!!!!

On this, the 3rd day, I did the HoHo.  No, it's nothing like doing the 'hokie pokie'.  It's the Hop On Hop Off double decker bus that takes you through the city giving you a glimpse of the most popular sites.  It was $27, good for 48 hours, and included a 1 hour cruise on the Danube.

Today was HOT...about 90...but at least I found breezes on top of the HOHO bus and a few shady spots...not spots that are 'shady'....but spots that are IN the shade!!!

Though Budapest is a gorgeous city....during the summer...I can imagine it's pretty dreary during the off-season.  I noticed a lot of decididuous trees that lose their leaves.  That with the dull colors of stone buildings and cold/wet winters must make Budapest pretty bleak in other-than-summer times.

Ok, let's get on with the photos!!!   Remember, as I've said before, many photos require scrolling left/right to see and appreciate the full image.  I recommend you view this via a NORMAL computer, one with a large screen, versus that tiny little I-phone/cell phone thing you have strapped to the front of your face 24/7.  Just sayin.....

CAUTION....OVER 50 PHOTOS AHEAD !!!

At a Asian fast food place next to the apartment where I was staying, I ordered 2 egg rolls.  Well, LOL, what I got were these two massive 4 x 6 flat egg 'rolls'.

I'm always in awe of the underground subway systems and what it must've taken to build them, buried soooo deep!.  Sometimes it takes two lonnnnnnnnng escalator runs to get up out of the hole!

The front facade of the huge Central Market.

Inside the Central Market.

Interesting architecture.

An older version of the surface Tram.

The Central Synagogue.  

Also known as The Dohány Street Synagogue complex consists of the Great Synagogue, the Heroes' Temple, the graveyard, the Memorial and the Jewish Museum.

Quoting from Senor Wiki:  "In 1944, the Dohány Street Synagogue was part of the Jewish Ghetto for the city Jews and served as shelter for many hundreds. Over two thousand of those who died in the ghetto from hunger and cold during the winter 1944-1945 are buried in the courtyard of the synagogue". In memory of those who had died, there is a memorial by the sculptor, Imre Varga, depicting a weeping willow with the names and tattoo numbers of the dead engraved on metal leaves.

Upon entry, men were given a Kippah (jewish cap) to wear and women had to cover themselves (if skin was showing in the breast area or legs) with what looked like a hosptial gown.  EEEESH

Outside the synagogue, in the gardens, is a display of original images and text describing what occured on this very site.  Take note of the background (ie; the arches).  I'm standing in the same spot and the mounds and grave markers are right in front of me (now trees and shrubs rise above the rectangular mounds).  Very moving.

Almost all, where dates were known, were 1944 or 1945.

A mere 75 years ago.

Heroes Square and the parks and museums surrounding it.

Interesting to see so many of the older, historical buildings (some former mansions of the aristocrats) now house modern businesses.

How come no one ever seems to create these kinds of whimsical entries to our modern buildings?  Starbucks could certainly afford it!!!

Hard work was not an issue back in 'the day'.  Can you imagine all the physical therapy these 4 buff dudes had to go through to keep holding up the entrance to this edifice??

Along the HoHo (Hop On Hop Off) bus tour, we passed this museum with huge statues out front on the sidewalk.  Pretty damn dramatic me thinks!

I went up to the Citadel (which was closed) atop Gellert hill.  A bit of a steep climb after getting off the HoHo bus, but worth the fantastic views.

That's St Stephens Basilica (from Blog Day 2) behind the wheel.

Apparently, some dragon got pissed off and decided to attack this guy (who was buck naked at the moment) and someone made a statue out of the scenario.

....and this is where I got 'booty'.

The Liberty Statue or Freedom Statue monument, holding an outstretched palm leaf, commemorates those who sacrificed their lives for the independence, freedom, and prosperity of Hungary.  The bronze status is about 45 ft tall, standing on a 80 ft tall pedestal.

Ummmm...what is that?

Keep following my blog to find out!!!

Next up...Day 4...Another Jam Packed Day!!

Dano

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