Pronounced Budapesht because the “s” is a “sh” sound. We stayed at an AirBnb apartment in a 150 year old building.
Our building is the on the right of the peach-colored one in the center.
We got the transit passes and used them to get all over town. Budapest has great public transportation including subway, trains, trams, busses, trolleys, etc.
We saw the Central Market, Kalvin Square, Sisi statue, The Dohany Street Synagogue was closed (and will be all weekend), St. Stephen’s Basilica, saw a holocaust memorial by Liberty Square (having a beer festival), Ronald Regan statue, parliament, metro under the river, more churches.
We hiked to Matthias church and the Fisherman’s Bastion with a great view of Pest and the Danube, bus back to to organ (also trumpet, and mezzo-soprano duets) at St. Stephens. Big pipe organ for Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in d minor, also other pieces. Walked along Danube, saw shoes memorial to Jews who were told to take off their shoes, then shot to fall into Danube, also the parliament building,
The next day we walked across the
chain bridge, rode lots of trains today, walked around the
Buda Castle District, up and down the hill,
Semmelweis museum of medical history, trams, light rail, Buda hills,
children’s railway,
cogwheel train down, light rail, metro, bus.
Sunday morning we attended the Pest Ward with everything except prayers in both English and Hungarian. We were invited to lunch with Lazlo Torok and Ildiko Kovacs (and their children) at their house in Göd (by Felsögöd and Alsögöd). To get home we took the fancy regional train, then Metro. Later tram, then bus to the
Citadella and
Soviet Memorial on
Gellert hill. Great views, walked down the mountain and back over the river.
Whit Monday (Pentacost/7 weeks after Easter—so lots of things closed for national holiday), walked along
Andrássy Street, saw the Hungarian Opera House (under renovation), Franz Liszt Academy, the Oktagon intersection, rode metro to
Heroes square, monument and interesting statues (and bah relief sculptures) of historical Hungarian heroes, walked by
Vajdahunyad castle and lake, handicrafts and food booths, free admission to the museum of agriculture, went to
Margaret Island, 1300s Dominican church ruins, great outdoor pool/thermal springs, dancing fountains to American music.
We took Wizz Air (discount airline) to get to Stockholm. It felt kind of like a cattle warehouse waiting at the “gate”.
herdaughteranderson 