MAGICAL MALLORCA!!: Budapest - Day 3

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.