Yes, some more travel posting... I know you all love it. But at least I have included a few more of the family in these! We loved Budapest. It was interesting to compare with Prague, and very similar. But I summed it up as more fun, and easier. It is definitely dirtier, and hasn't been fixed up as well, and I think that has to do with a more sprawling old town and center. But it was really easy to get around, and I didn't feel like I was mixed in with the crowds of tourists everywhere I went (even though we were much of the time, there just weren't quite so many of us.) We used almost every form of public transport, including train, subway, tram, bus, taxi and boat, and found it quite easy to navigate and jump on and off despite the big language barrier!
We left Thursday for Budapest, by plane, from Frankfurt... Luna was excited she had her own suitcase...
3 year old "patience" generally includes a little dancing, or wiggling, or soooooomething...
View of Buda's Castle Hill from the Pest side.
Lots of lovely street sculpture in Budapest...
And lots of Secessionist and Jugendstil details everywhere...
Crossing the Chain Bridge.
We had beautifully warm weather.
At the far end of the bridge, is a square (Ter) which is considered "kilometer zero" in Budapest. All points are measured from here. You can see a tunnel which goes straight through the hill under the castle, with a "magnificent, triumphal" entrance.
And the funicular for the lazy footed like us...
Some fun souvenirs... I guess gas masks say "I've been to a former Soviet block country" to some tourists...
"Don't touch that Luna..."
That's the famous Hungarian Parliament building in the background.
This is the Palace where the President lives.
Fun street musician...
"Matyas Church" or "Church of Our Lady." Multi-colored tiling seems to be typical for Hungary.
Luna crashed out soon after climbing back into her stroller...
I kept getting the ISO settings on my camera out of whack. I guess if I'm going to change it and run it in "M" mode, then I better pay better attention to what it is set at! Anyway, beautiful carvings on the facade around the main door, if a bit washed out. I had some other details as well, but they didn't turn out... like the tiles on the roof. Oh well...
Newly cleaned Madonna with Child above the main door.
Loved the details of the blanket tassels on this guy's horse...
Part of the Fisherman's Bastion which ran the length of the hill in front of Matyas Church. It is a memorial or monument to fishermen...
Some fellows trying to make some money with a hawk and a falcon.
This is the Hilton that was put up next to Matyas Church, and just behind the Fisherman's Bastion. It was a controversial choice of designs... can you tell why?
All the trees were blooming...
This is what remains of the church the Hilton was built into... you can't see it very well, but they put a lovely tower with matching fiberglass siding on top of this section as well. Definitely helps the structure blend into its surroundings...
Fun restaurant name...
We happened on a great, little cafe for lunch. We would soon find out that we were going to be spoiled with the wonderful selection of fine eateries (or Etterems as they would say!)
Here's the Hilton again...
I wasn't sure if this guy was going to make it across without knocking someone else off!
Loved this vintage advert for "Pick" sausage. This kid is carrying his sack on one...
Luna ran right over to this phone booth and got in.. I didn't pose her at all! She thought it was fabulous! I love the colors!
Irony is this place was right next to McD's...
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