While living in Europe, Chris and I are planning on traveling–a lot. This past weekend we flew to Budapest, Hungary to visit some friends of ours. We met Rob, Ginny and their kids in the mid 90s while living in Monterey, California and have been friends ever since. They are close to the end of a 4-year tour and we've been wanting to visit them from the moment they moved there! We figured since we were now living on the same continent, now was the time to do it–so off we went.
I fondly call their home "Castle Duggleby" because that is what they are living in–a small castle on Castle Hill on the Buda side of the Danube. The views of the city from their balcony and rooftop were beautiful!
We arrived in Budapest on Thursday night. Friday morning we put on our walking shoes, ready to see the city with our personal tour guides. They both were very patient with me as I stopped every few minutes to take pictures!
The photo below was taken from the top of Gellért Hill. It was quite the hike up the hill, but the view was worth it!
I love a good fruit & vegetable market and Budapest has one of the best I've ever been to! It was an indoor market and bustled with activity. Everything was so colorful and fresh. Paprika is an everyday staple there and every stand seemed to have plenty of it to sell. So of course I bought some to take home.
After hours of walking, it was time to visit to the Sczéchenyi Baths and "take in the waters." Going to the baths is part of the Hungarian culture. The Széchenyi Baths have the largest thermal baths in Budapest. Its thermal springs were discovered in 1879–they are the deepest and warmest thermal wells in Budapest, coming from over 3,000 feet below the surface! It is a vast complex of indoor and outdoor pools, saunas and steam rooms. The baths are therapeutic and help to cure all sorts of joint disorders, orthopedic issues, etc. We would rotate from pool, to sauna to steam room, back to the pool, stop and have a beverage (beer) and start the process all over again. It was so relaxing. You feel like a limp noodle afterwards! So relaxing.
Below is the entrance of the Sczéchenyi Baths. We arrived at the baths mid-afternoon. From looking at the other photos, you can tell that we stayed until the sun was going down! I couldn't take any photos of the inside of the baths–it was just too humid for my camera to work!
The following morning Chris and I took off on our own to explore the city. But before we started on our walk, I had to get a pic of Chris with the Parliament in the background and some other shots as well!
It wad such a pretty morning. Rob & Ginny suggested we walk along the Pest side of the Danube towards Parliament to see the "Shoes on the Danube." It is a memorial along the Danube to honor the Jews who fell victim to fascist Arrow Cross Militiamen in Budapest and depicts their shoes left behind on the bank when they fell into the river after having been shot during World War II.
Child's shoes (above).
We continued our walk up the Danube towards Parliament. I couldn't stop taking pictures. It is such a beautiful building! You just don't see anything like this in the States!
The above photo is the other side of the Parliament building that doesn't face the Danube.
On our final day we took about an hour drive outside of Budapest to Esztergom where country's largest church is located (below). The church is set near the bend in the Danube and is massive. You really feel like a dwarf inside of it!
The photo above was actually taken from Slovakia. We briefly crossed over a bridge between the two countries to view the church from the of the Danube (below).
We also visited ruins of a fortress in Visegrád, Hungary. Again, thanks to Rob & Ginny for being patient with all of my picture taking (and for taking some great shots of me & Chris!)
Chris had to put me in time out in the fortress.
Our hosts Rob & Ginny. We are so blessed to call them friends. It was a wonderful weekend. We can't wait to have them visit Riga!
