Hanging out in Budapest for a few days

October 19, 2012

We have decided to stay put at the NH Hotel - we can cook on the deck and we are really enjoying the location. We were also able to get a discount as we are going to stay here for the duration of our visit. It would be hard to leave behind nightly saunas as well!

The view from the Citadel. There are 8 bridges connecting Buda and Pest.

Our bus for part of the day - thank goodness the weather is good. We are so lucky to be here in late October with the temperature in the high 20's and sunny.

Heroes Square at night. The millennium monument was built in 1896 for Hungary's 1,000 year celebration of their conquest of the country. The statues of Hungarian national heroes are an important focus of the monument

One of the many exquisite theatres in Budapest.

Budapest has the oldest subway system in Europe

Unlike Vienna which seemed to be without employees or checkpoints, Budapest has each station manned and they consistently check for valid tickets. On one of our rides, a plain clothes officer checked all of the tourists on the train.

The most used subway station we used as it is the transfer point for Heroes Square, the Zoo and the Baths.

The Museum of Fine Arts adjacent to Heroes Square.

Left the hotel early to go to the baths near Heroes Square. The baths are over 100 years old and feature 18 indoor baths of different temperatures and minerals, plus numerous steam rooms, saunas and 3 outdoor pools. We rented a private cabin to store our belongings and for changing our clothes.
The complex is beautiful and well used by locals of all ages.

Another therapeutic pool - even though the baths were very busy, you can always find a spot to yourself.

Great people watching and visiting with fellow bathers.

The far pool is used for water exercises - a bit cooler temperature.

Each step and corner reveals a new pool. It is no wonder that we spent 3 hours at this complex.

The people on the benches are recovering from the very hot saunas at the end of the room.

This pool featured a jacuzzi surrounded by a circular river with a strong current. As well, there were jets throughout the pool that people were standing on.

An engrossing game - these people were playing the whole time we were there.

A relaxed and satisfied bather. We love Budapest!

The central outdoor pool was undergoing repairs. The workers looked quite stressed.

We rented one of these cabins - a good idea and reasonable - but, there's only room for one at a time.

On a whim, we decided to go to the Zoo after the thermal baths. With our Budapest Card, entry was free. Our expectations were not high, but the zoo is extraordinary and we spent the rest of the day there..

A very busy meerkat keeping watch for his family.

The buildings that house the animals are heritage designated and architecturally interesting. Not your typical zoo. The turret in the background is part of the zoo.

The Madagascar section was surprising as the Ring Tailed Lemurs had free rein to run free. Most entertaining.

This little boy was having a great day at the zoo as well.

We were all watching with amusement as the lemur sat behind this woman. She was completely unaware until she looked around.

The goat was trying to eat Mary Ellen's jacket.

A Scarlet Ibis - interestingly, this is the colour of hair we see on many Hungarian women.

A most interesting and original piece - Liszt's composing piano/desk.

The music stand on the piano was specially made for Liszt as a gift.

This is the well known Chain Bridge. Part of its colourful history, is that the architect of the chain bridge said that if there were any mistakes made in its construction, that he would jump into the Danube. One of the workers noticed that the lions lacked tongues. He followed through on his promise and jumped in the Danube. The good news is that he could swim and survived!

As a feature of our Hop On Hop Off tour, we had a free river cruise. It gave us a good view of the city and the Parliament Buildings.

Margaret Island- a beautiful car free park in the middle of the Danube and an important place for people in Budapest to get away from the city.

There was a lovely soft jogging trail along the side of Margaret Island that we walked on

Looking towards Pest from Margaret Island

As we are no longer camping we decided to mail our trailer and camping gear back to Canada

A McDonalds was housed in this beautiful historic building next to the train station

The view towards our hotel. The theatre is on the left and the right is a lovely seating area for pedestrians

Mary Ellen enjoying the view from our hotel rooom

Looking towards the Parliament from our hotel room sundeck

The Hungarian Uprising of 1956 was a nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956. October 23 is a national holiday in tribute to the uprising and the thousands who were killed during the revolt

A symbolic grave representing those killed in the square during the revolt in 1956.

We have learned much about this time in Hungary's history while we have been here. Hungarians still wonder where the world was during their suffering and why no one came to help.

Barry spent a couple of hours exploring Budapest at night.
Mary Ellen has gotten sick and stayed behind to rest at the hotel.

October 23 is just a few days away and the Parliament has been decorated with banners and flags commemorating the revolt

Saying farewell to Budapest - but, we will be back! We hope to return and rent an apartment for a period of time.

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