A Tale of Two Cities

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Buda and Pest

The overnight train to Hungary from Romania ended up being dull and uneventful, despite the immediate claustrophobia and repeated warnings from the train guy about using a belt to tie the bunk ladder to the inside of our door to keep us safe after passing through customs, of course. How were we supposed to stay safe during the first four hours? Oy vey!

Our arrival in Budapest was marked by a trip to McDonald´s. Yes, ladies and gents, I finally went into an american fast food chain while on this journey. Having not needed or wanted one during the first three months of my journey, the fact that nothing was open at 6am that had coffee meant we just had to go. Clearly, I blame my parents (love you mom & dad!). Of course, at the time, you didn´t hear me complaining while I wrapped my mouth around an egg mcmuffin and slurped down a cappuccino - when did McDonald's go high class?

We adored Budapest. Really. It was fantastic and delivered more than we expected it could. We've even talked about returning (as 4 days wasn't enough to 'do' the town) and combining it with a river trip to Vienna. We almost never go back to places we've been unless there's a new reason for it like relatives or friends are living there and invite us to come.

Our first day there we walked around in time zone ignorance. We didn't try to enter or attend any scheduled events and so had no idea Budapest was one hour behind Romania. We figured this out on day two as we stood in line to get tickets to tour Parliament and in casually talking to folks behind us in line they kindly informed us it was 9:05 not 10:05. Ah ha! This is why nothing was open at 6am (really 5am!) and why the hotel made a comment about our early arrival. It also meant our train was only 15minutes late, the concert wasn't actually running on latin time but started promptly, and we made it to bed by our self-imposed curfew of 10pm. 😊

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Photos

Rumbles
Overnight train to Budapest

5am
Train stations sometimes really are empty

Rested... sort of
Happy to be coming out of the metro. Aren't they lovely?

Trams
Everywhere, bright yellow trams that try to run you over

Sculpture
Not your typical homage to a revolutionary

Protest against Monument to Communism
Across the path

Deco
Architecture in town

Basilica
Well, not really. But it is called one anyway. Altar.

Basilica Square
Imposing building

Lit Up
Down a side street on the way home

Link
Between Buda and Pest

River I
Boats line up to unload riverboat tours. Parliament in the background.

Buda (from Pest)
From the staircase up to the Castle Hill

Funicular
Those who took the easy way up

Sculpture
Overall, Hungarian sculptures were very emotive and almost vulnerable. In a plaza on Castle Hill.

Cupola
Inside Parliament

Chandelier
I love lighting. Every detail was looked after in the Parilament building. Czech glass.