Day 2 in Budapest

Had an uneventful day, here are some photos.  Happy now???  I could carry on and I will.  Woke at about 6 to a thunderstorm and a bit of rain.  By the time we had breakfast and were heading out the door at 8.30 the sun was coming out and stayed out most of the day.   It was apparently the same temperature today as yesterday but there was a good breeze which made it feel much cooler.  

We got back on the bus.  Yes, we had a two day pass on the Hop On Hop Off bus and we knew what we needed.  There was a lot less traffic on the road and we went over the river to the Buda side of the city.  As you all know the city is divided by the Danube, one side is Buda, the other is Pest.  The river was the boundary for many Empires over the centuries but the city was united over 100 years ago and they call it Budapest. 

Our first stop was Buda Castle, up the funicular and wander around the castle grounds and into the museum entry area where they have a very detailed (and thankfully brief) history of the area and the castle in particular.  Franz Josep was the King here for about 70 years until his death in 1916 so there is some information about him but also stone relics from the castle dating back to the 1300’s.  Straight back on the bus to the Citadel.

It is the highest point of the city and is home to the Liberty Statue.  She overlooks the city and was built and installed by the Russians after they liberated Budapest from the Germans in 1945.  There were another 11 statues built and installed but I think the Hungarians came to dislike the Russians in their country so the others were removed after Communist system was dismantled during the 1990’s.  She is quite dramatic and she symbolises the freedoms fought for in the country over many decades.

Smoko time by the time we got back into town near the Cathedral at midday.  After smoko decided to have a look in the Cathedral and stumbled upon the stairs up to the dome.  We were promised 302 steps up.  I think those Catholics may be a little loose with the truth, regardless, we made it.  Not a bad view from up there.  Worked up an appetite, had lunch then walked across the Chain Bridge and back again to say goodbye to the Danube for a couple of days.  Made it home soon after 5, a bit foot sore, I’m sure we’ll recover, once the medicine kicks in?

See....told you it was uneventful!!

The trams here have 6 'carriages', and they have right of way everywhere.

Back on the buses.

Our first stop - Buda Castle.

Up here

In one of these

To look at Chain Bridge

And yours truly x 2

The gates to the castle

The place is so big it won't fit in one photo.

Pam posing under the King

Sandor Palace the official residence of the President of Hungary, next to Buda Palace.

Buda part of the city - tourist buses everywhere around here.

Hussar guarding the palace grounds.

The tunnel under the palace.

Liberty Statue - can't get far enough away to get a decent photo.  She is holding a palm leaf symbolising peace.

Dragon slayer at her feet.

Amazing views of the city and river

and the bridges over the river (Elizabeth Bridge, Chain Bridge, then Margaret Bridge)

Setting up for the Red Bull Air Race this weekend.

Back to the Cathedral

To climb up there.

Beautifully decorated, acres of marble and carved stone.

Painted ceilings

Stained glass

Looking down on the first flight of stairs.

To the top

Looking down on Cathedral Square

Looking towards the back of the Cathedral.

Inside the dome

Back at ground level

Chain Bridge guarded by lions.

View of Parliment Houses from Chain Bridge

What you need to do when it is stinking hot - dip your feet in a puddle of water.