We walked all over the city. We did not have breakfast included in our room rate, but they do have coffee and a small pastry in the lobby. We left the hotel and headed to the Hungarian National Museum. Since we had time before they opened at ten, we stopped at a small kavehaz (coffee house) and had juice, a small pizza and a cup of latte. While there, we saw a customer with a neat saying on his shirt and Harry found out he needs an app to be able to use his selfie stick with his I-phone 5.
The Hungarian National Museum has beautiful grounds and gardens, and looks very imposing from the outside - it was started in 1802. Inside the museum, it was amazing march of history from the Stone Age up to 1000 A.D. on one floor, from 1000 A.D. to the post Soviet era on another and in the basement, relics from various archeological digs that date back to Roman Empire.
After about four hours there, we headed in the direction of Gellert Hill. Both the Hungarians we met during Angloville and the items in the museum made it clear that this was the highest point in the city and gave power to the forces there to control the Danube and the city. We stopped for a beer and lunch at the Calvin Cafe, on Calvin Square where there was a statue of the Reformer John Calvin and one of his churches.
When we crossed over the Danube, we saw of ton of ships owned by Viking River Cruises company.
And then we began the climb up Gellert Hill. It is some 771 feet high (235 meters) and we went at a leisurely pace. At the top, there is a park with many beautiful gardens.
We then walked the last bit up to the Citadel and Liberty Statue. The fort at the top of the hill (and those forts that preceded it) we always used by occupying forces to control the area, as it is clearly the highest point for miles around. Unfortunately, it appears that the Citadel is no longer open to the public. But it is very large and Liberty statue is at the far end, closest to the river. We had great views of the city.
Then we started down, and still had more excellent views of the city.
Back at the bottom, there is this waterfall that everyone wants to be in front of for pictures.
We walked back in towards the city center and on Vaci Utca, a busy pedestrian street, found a cafe to rest and have a beer.
We then walked to Deak Ferenc Ter and big ferris wheel - it is similar in size and scope to the London Eye. After waiting to board, we had many fine views of the city. The other couple in the cabin with us were Hungarian from a city west of Hungary near the border with Austria. They spoke very good English and German, as well as Hungarian.
We then walked around and found the Barca Bianca Trattoria for dinner and a bottle of wine. It is a nice sidewalk cafe and the evening weather was perfect to be outside. We chatted a bit with a waiter who has been to the USA several times and whose girlfriend has moved from the USA in January to live with him here in Budapest. He lamented that she had not yet started working and brought 100 pairs of shoes with him.
After dinner, we took a taxi back to the hotel. My pedometer showed more than 17,000 steps for the day, some 8.5 miles or about 14 kms. An excellent day.
The Hungarian National Museum has beautiful grounds and gardens, and looks very imposing from the outside - it was started in 1802. Inside the museum, it was amazing march of history from the Stone Age up to 1000 A.D. on one floor, from 1000 A.D. to the post Soviet era on another and in the basement, relics from various archeological digs that date back to Roman Empire.
After about four hours there, we headed in the direction of Gellert Hill. Both the Hungarians we met during Angloville and the items in the museum made it clear that this was the highest point in the city and gave power to the forces there to control the Danube and the city. We stopped for a beer and lunch at the Calvin Cafe, on Calvin Square where there was a statue of the Reformer John Calvin and one of his churches.
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| Caprese salad and soup |
When we crossed over the Danube, we saw of ton of ships owned by Viking River Cruises company.
And then we began the climb up Gellert Hill. It is some 771 feet high (235 meters) and we went at a leisurely pace. At the top, there is a park with many beautiful gardens.
We then walked the last bit up to the Citadel and Liberty Statue. The fort at the top of the hill (and those forts that preceded it) we always used by occupying forces to control the area, as it is clearly the highest point for miles around. Unfortunately, it appears that the Citadel is no longer open to the public. But it is very large and Liberty statue is at the far end, closest to the river. We had great views of the city.
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| One of several smaller statues at the base of the Liberty Statue |
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| Liberty Statue |
Then we started down, and still had more excellent views of the city.
Back at the bottom, there is this waterfall that everyone wants to be in front of for pictures.
We walked back in towards the city center and on Vaci Utca, a busy pedestrian street, found a cafe to rest and have a beer.
We then walked to Deak Ferenc Ter and big ferris wheel - it is similar in size and scope to the London Eye. After waiting to board, we had many fine views of the city. The other couple in the cabin with us were Hungarian from a city west of Hungary near the border with Austria. They spoke very good English and German, as well as Hungarian.
We then walked around and found the Barca Bianca Trattoria for dinner and a bottle of wine. It is a nice sidewalk cafe and the evening weather was perfect to be outside. We chatted a bit with a waiter who has been to the USA several times and whose girlfriend has moved from the USA in January to live with him here in Budapest. He lamented that she had not yet started working and brought 100 pairs of shoes with him.
After dinner, we took a taxi back to the hotel. My pedometer showed more than 17,000 steps for the day, some 8.5 miles or about 14 kms. An excellent day.
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