Budapest – Page 2 – SteveWhittythoughts1965

May 25, 2013

Széchenji Chain Bridge – Budapest

Of the bridges that link Buda with Pest across the Danube, the best known is the Széchenji Chain Bridge. It was opened in 1849. The name comes from the major sponsor of the bridge István Széchenji.

There is a British connection to the bridge. It was designed by William Tierney Clark and the construction was supervised by Adam Clark.

P1000820 — Statue of Lions on the Bridge

This is the bridge to cross if you want to make your way to Castle Hill over in Buda. I think this is a beautiful construction that highlights Budapest in its glory days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

May 24, 2013

St. Stephen’s Basilica – Budapest

One of the outstanding buildings in Budapest in my opinion is St. Stephen’s Basilica. It is named after St. Stephen the first King of Hungary. Though it is not the largest church in Hungary it is the most important. It also ranks as the third highest building in Hungary.

St. Stephen's at Night. — St. Stephen’s at Night.

As I may have mentioned before that I like to visit religious buildings even though I am not a great believer. To me it is a great way of exploring and taking photographs. There is an ornate beauty to churches, especially old ones. I hope that these photos give you an idea of what I mean.

The highlight of any visit to St. Stephen’s is the chance to view the right hand of the saint himself. It is said to be incorruptible. It is housed in the reliquary inside a glass case. For 200 forints you can light up the case for a better view.

St. Stephen’s is also an important venue for Choral and Classical concerts. There are regular organ recitals taking place. In the summer the Basilica choir performs every Sunday.

There is no best time on when to visit the basilica. If you visit during the day you can have the chance at extra cost to visit the Treasury or get to climb to the top and take in the panoramic view of Budapest. However, my visit coincided with a cold snap and it was just too cold. Alternately you could visit at night. The basilica takes on a different look in the night sky. I was fortunate to have been able to both. Whatever time you choose to visit is up to you but I recommend that you visit all the same.

St. Stephen’s Basilica, 1051 Budapest, Szent István tèr 1.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

May 19, 2013

The Royal Palace – Budapest

Let me start with one piece of advice. It is one hell of a walk to the Royal Palace. Sensible footwear is in order. The Royal Palace was the home to the Kings of Hungary. It is part of the Buda World Heritage Site.

Inside the Royal Palace complex there is the Hungarian National Gallery and the Budapest History Museum.

From the Royal Palace you get amazing views across the Danube into Pest.

I would recommend a visit to the Royal Palace. It is a great way to spend an afternoon whatever the weather.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

May 16, 2013

Photo of the Week – Lunch in Budapest

There is nothing better to do after a walking tour than eat some good food in a local restaurant. This was certainly the case in Budapest.

Like the idiot I am I have forgotten the name of the restaurant. All I can tell you is that it is on the top of Castle Hill in Buda. The meal itself was delicious. It consisted of pork, potatoes and red cabbage and washed down with a bottle of the local brew. Even better it was spent with good company with some of the people from the walk.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

Posted with Blogsy

May 14, 2013

Free Walking Tours – Budapest

After arriving in Budapest I was at a loss on deciding what to do on my first full day. I noticed that there was a flyer for 'Free Walking Tours.' Always taking advantage of anything that is free I looked to find my way to the meeting point at Vorosmarty Square. It seem at one point I would be the only person there. However, before 10:30 a lot more people turned up.

The tour was due to last 2.5 hours. The first 30 minutes seemed wrapped up in telling the history of Hungary. Fascinating it is but my bum was starting to feel numb sitting on the steps. Eventually we set off and soon we were bombarded with the sights and stories attached to them.

The tour itself took in the highlights of Buda and Pest. Crossing the Danube and making our way up Castle Hill. The guide was excellent telling stories as we made our way. A lot of these stories were funny and made the walk go a lot quicker. The tour ended up finishing past the Castle in Buda. We were more than happy to tip the guide. She recommend a fine restaurant to have lunch.

Free Walking Tours in Budapest offer four tours. The original morning walking tour, the afternoon tour, the Communism walk and the Jewish walk. All are free with just a tip to be paid out to the guide. It is part of the United Europe Free Tours Group. They also operate free walking tours in Berlin, Prague, Bratislava, Sofia, Ljubljana, Kiev and Bucharest.

As a solo traveller I enjoy walking tours. It is a great way of meeting fellow travellers and also a great way of familiarising yourself with a new city.

Free Budapest Walking Tours Team – http://www.triptobudapest.hu

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

Posted with Blogsy

April 25, 2013

Photo of the Week – Trolley Car, Castle Hill, Budapest

This week’s photo is of the Trolley Car that takes you up the Castle Hill in Budapest.

The Trolley Car climbing its way up the hill.

This is the alternative way of climbing the hill if you did not fit enough to do so by foot. I’m glad to say that I walked up Castle Hill.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 18, 2013

Photo of the Week – Statue of Ronald Reagan in Budapest

This week’s photo is of the Statue of Ronald Reagan in Budapest.

The statue is located in Freedom Square not far from the old Soviet Monument. The recent death of Margaret Thatcher has reminded me of the time they were both in power. The Cold War was at its height. Their role in ending the Cold War meant that whole of Eastern Europe was opened up to travellers to explore. I did not agree with their politics but as a wannabe traveller I am grateful to the pair of them.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

April 11, 2013

Photo of the Week – Statue of Imre Nagy

This weeks photo is of the statue of Imre Nagy.

Imre Nagy was the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Republic of Hungary at the time of the Hungarian Revolution in 1956. He was executed in 1958. The statue is located in Vértanúk Tere (Martyrs’ Square). It has Nagy looking towards the Parliament Building.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

March 31, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Days 10 & 11

Well the day has arrived, it is time to go home. I worked out that I will be spending nearly 36 hours travelling before I arrived home. This is going to take a lot out of me. Spent my final morning in Budapest eating breakfast, shopping for supplies and chilling out making sure my gadgets were fully charged.

At around 12pm it was time to go. The sun was shining and I was expecting no problems travelling today. I made my way to the coach station. Once there I thought I better make sure that the coaches to Vienna were running today. To my horror they had all been cancelled and if I wanted to travel then I would have to make my way to the railway station. When I asked about where I could find the railway station the reply was they did not know. I stunned at the apparent lack of help towards my situation. Next, I asked at the information desk. Again, they appeared reluctant to help. Eventually they produced a metro map with the stop for the railway station marked out. I only hope that I had enough money for a ticket otherwise I would be stuck.

Getting to the railway station was easy enough I just had to find the ticket office. I was relieved to find out that I could purchase a ticket. Must remember not to judge other countries railways by the UK’s. A train was about to leave the station. I managed to board it and as I was storing my rucksack the train pulled out of Budapest. At last I was on the road and would be in Vienna with time to spare.

I arrived into Vienna Westbanhof Station later in the afternoon. The best thing for me was to make my way to the coach station and check to see if the coach to London was running. After initially scaring me the staff confirmed that my coach was running. I explained the situation with the coaches to Vienna and the kindly refunded half my coach fare. As I had plenty of time to spare before I left Vienna I caught the U-bahn to St. Stephen’s Cathedral for one last look. Took the time to enjoy a Bratwurst and take one last photo.

Final photo of St Stephen's Cathedral — Final photo of St Stephen’s Cathedral

Finally the time to leave Vienna had arrived and the coach pulled out of the station. My heart felt heavy and sad. To comfort myself I listened to some comedy on the i-pod and started to read up on the places I would be visiting in September. Always have something to look forward to.

The coach journey itself was unspectacular and I slept through a lot of it. I did arrive back into London almost an hour earlier than expected. Took the opportunity to have something hot to eat before boarding the coach back to Birmingham. I had forgotten that today was St. Patrick’s Day. As soon as I arrived back in Birmingham I was confronted with the sight of drunken people who were looking for a fight. During my trip I had not witnessed any anti-social behaviour. Was I glad to be home?

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve