European Tour - Budapest

After leaving the cruise we spent a couple of days exploring Budapest before heading back to Dubai for a to do some washing  and prepare for the next stage of our trip.

Our hotel was located in Vaci Street, a pedestrianised thoroughfare  in the heart of the shopping district and so very well located to explore both the Buda and the Pest sides of the Danube.

Budapest is certainly one of the most picturesque cities that I have visited. It was very badly damaged during the Second World War and was eventually liberated by the Soviet Union who subsequently spent substantial amounts of money rebuilding it to demonstrate to the Hungarians (and the rest of Europe) what a great place the communist Soviet bloc was to live.

Although parts of it are still in the process of being rebuilt, the main Palace and art galleries/Museums/Churches including St Mathias Church  and St Stephen’s (where it is possible to see the Saint’s arm - see picture below) and the Houses of Parliament (modelled on the UK Parliament) have been returned to their former glories including the removal of smog and soot stains that have accumulated over the years so that the place positively sparkled in the glorious Summer sunshine that framed our stay.

Pretty much anywhere you looked on either side of the river (and indeed on Margret island in the middle) you could see fabulous vistas and glorious architecture. On the second day, A and I managed a very comprehensive cycle tour that took us around  the major city landmarks which included the various memorials to the liberation of Hungary (although ostensibly an Axis power but treated by Russia as in effect a puppet state of Germany) as well as to the high number of Jewish people who were killed during the war. It was very much a city of contrasts and after its close relationship with Austria came to an end very much struggled to come to terms with its lose of influence and subsequent incorporation into the Soviet bloc in the second half of the 20th Century.

In addition to exploring the treasures of the National Museum and art gallery, E, V and I toured the Parliament and saw the Crown Jewels (with guards), and I also explored the Fisherman’s Bastion and the most elaborate thermal baths (more like a stately home) one is ever likely do encounter (absolutely huge and very much a gathering place for the locals - old and young alike).

Another interesting contrast to the gilded history and architecture of the City were the “ruin bars” - essentially pubs/restaurants established in old abandoned buildings, bombed out factories or run down warehouses - deliberately playing up to the dilapidated atmosphere of their location with graffiti, bric a brac features and mismatched and broken down furniture - despite (or may be because of) their down at heel air, the ruin bars we visited certainly had a unique buzz and provided a memorable finale to European part of our trip.