Ron and Sally Jo Blog

Archive for the ‘Hungary’ Category

Budapest

Wednesday, May 28th, 2014

View of Budapest

Highlights during our two days in Budapest:

Many buildings restored or built in 1896 for the millennium of the founding of Budapest

Szechenye Baths – Hungary is second only to Iceland in amount of thermal water. There are many spas throughout Budapest but this is one of the most famous and most ornate. (We actually did not try it out.)

Heroes Square – “tomb of the unknown soldier,” archangel Gabriel holding St Stephen’s crown and double apostolic cross, colonnades of famous Hungarian leaders; Palace of Arts; Museum of Fine Arts, statues representing God of War and God of Peace

St Stephen’s Basilica – took 54 years to build in the late 19th century; height is 96 metres—the same as Parliament (religion and government considered equal in importance); extremely ornate

St Matthias Church on castle hill – coronation church; Turks used it as a mosque

Great Market Hall – filled with produce, eateries, and souvenirs; we tried the local tradition of Langos – fried pastry with sour cream, cheese, and mushrooms (yum!)

State Opera House – opulent; built in 1875; seating for 1200

Memorial gardens of the Great Synagogue –“Tree of Life” with names of banished Jews on metallic leaves

Parliament grounds and surroundings – tour included stories from a witness of the Hungarian Uprising of 1956 when students and workers took to the streets of Budapest in the first major threat to Soviet control

Memorial of Jews killed in Budapest – Jews were taken to river, asked to remove shoes, and then shot.

Szentendre – little town outside Budapest

Evening boat ride on the Danube

Farewell evening

We heard a lot of history/stories along the way, especially about the Communists’ rule of this region. Times were very difficult but change is coming.