Budapest

The train from Bratislava to Budapest is only an a few hours and a great way to see the county side.
Arriving at the main train station in Budapest it is easy to access the public transportation. We hopped a metro car (subway). The first car was a vintage art deco, art nouveau car and very classy and made the transfer to the new line a bit surreal.

vintage metro ca

In no time at all we were walking past the Opera house through back allies to find the Opera
Gardens Hotel and off to lunch. We turned a few corners and ran into "Most", a place we had been hoping to find and not even begun to look. So we knew we were off to a great start in Budapest.

This city is fantastic. The capital of Hungary. The city was split by the Danube River and  17 November 1873 the city was united the west bank - Buda and Óbuda with east bank -Pest, now Budapest.  After lunch we strolled through the allies in Pest to cross the chain bridge to Buda.  The west bank of the Danube has a steep slope and a funicular took us up to the National Gallery for a great view of the city and an afternoon in art. The gallery has a great collection of wood panel alter pieces and we were fortunate to see the exhibition of prints and original draft drawings from illustration, poster and advertising of early art nouveau propaganda.

 

We left the gallery after sunset to view the Danube and a panoramic view of the city lights.
We made our way back to the Pest to find dinner, but we ran into a bubble bar in the park. It looked like a sophisticated blow up jump room for kids...but it was a bar. We had to stop in!

  This night we splurged at a top notch restaurant. NY Times reviewed "Dia" and my first manhatan since I left the states was a great way to start the evening, and the meal was superb. Tomorrow we have a booked a walking tour of Budapest.

 Nov. 17

There is a great organization of free walking tours available in Budapest, if your going check out http://www.triptobudapest.hu  we highly recommend it! We saw highlights of the city with a great guide giving the history, politics and ins and outs of life here. A great source of information and a great way to see the sites- free!! ( & they do enjoy tips).  Here are some shots of the city on our tour.

make a wish

locks of lovers

 It was a gorgeous day and we walk up the Danube to the Great Market Hall in Pest for lunch. Here is the largest indoor market in Hungary (since 1894) and the place to get your sausage, beer and souvenir salami.

And then we found this bar for a more beer.

 The walk home was quite enjoyable!! We headed "M" for dinner. This is a great place for dinner. The entire place is covered with butcher paper and all the details, piano, hand rails, lamps..everything is drawn and the food is fantastic. After dinner we headed for the Jewish quarter to find a bunch of great hole in the wall taverns for a few drinks. 

Nov 18

After a long day of touring and a late night, we slept in a bit before walking the lenght of Andrassy Avenue. This world heritage avenue, lined with spectacular Neo-renaissance mansions dates back to 1870's, connects the centers Elizabeth Square with the City Park and the Széchenyi Medicinal Bathhouse. We spent the entire day relaxing in the 15 different pools, a variety of dry and wet saunas and aroma therapy steam rooms.  We gave thanks to the Ottomans for bringing the "turkish baths" to a palace standard  in Budapest ...and... ahhhhhh!! 

Tomorrow we head  back to Vienna, with hopes to return to this fantastic city!