Budapest is the capital of Hungary. Once there was Buda on the western bank and Pest on the eastern bank of the Danube River and they were joined in 1873.
On the Pest side it is the medieval centre or inner city and is still encircled by the wall built for defence against invaders. It houses the commercial, financial and governmental centres. On the hilly side is Buda built after the Mongol invasions in 1241.
Budapest suffered much in WWII with over 80% of the city damaged, today it is a health resort with thermal springs, many cafes and gypsy violinists etc.
These are apartment blocks built for communist housing and eventually sold to the occupants when the state found they could not found them for approximately 1,000E each.
The Parliament Building is an imposing neo gothic structure overlooking the Danube and is the first thing you see as you sail towards Budapest.
This is the Buda side of the city.
Budavari Palota – Budapest Palace
This is the Pest side of the city.
Mucsarnok
Hero's Square
Road side of the Parliament Building
The Chain Bridge
Anyone for cake it is the first word on the sign, can you believe it.
St Matthias Church and Fisherman’s Bastion
Copy of the crown jewels in the church.
We exchanged money to get some Hungarian Floret’s and were able to buy tickets for the annual craft fair held in the palace grounds. It was amazing to see potters, blacksmiths, lace makers, leather workers, bakers, weavers etc all at work amongst the stalls.
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