Budapest, Hungary

Bob was up early and went up to get coffee and check the weather.  We were stopped and he thought we were there.  But we stopped to let Brenda Wilson, the widow of the man who died, off.  This was closer to the airport where she was flying home.  I found this a little strange as her husband's body is in Vienna and she is going home.

We went to breakfast and Bud joined us.  Carolyn is not feeling well this morning.  Then Jim and Joan joined us, the same ones from last night.  I made the mistake of saying he was in the Air Force when it was the Navy.  Sorry Jim.

We went up on deck to watch us sail into Budapest.  It is a pretty sail in.  Monica gave an explanation of which building were which.  Then we got ready to tour.

This is the Liberation Monument.  It sits at the top of Gerard Hill.  It was built in 1947 by Zsigmond Kisfaludi Strobl.  It symbolizes freedom with a palm of victory and peace in her hands.

This is a statue of Saint Gerard.  It was erected in 1904 about the spot of his martyrdom.  He was a missionary bishop.

Our tour this morning was a bus tour.  First stop was across the river to the Matthias Church and the Fisherman's Bastion.   We were not able to enter the Church.

Matthias Church was originally built as the main church of the Castle District.  It first became a coronation church and was then transformed into a mosque during the Turkish occupation.  It was rebuilt in neo-Gothic style between 1874 and 1896.

A close up of the spire.

This is Fishermen's Bastion.  It was built in neo-Romanesque style between 1899 and 1905.  It was part of the ancient castle wall behind Matthias Church.

A real close up of the tiles of the roof of Matthias Church.  Matthias was not a saint, he was a King.

This shows the bullet holes that remain on this building which occured during the invasion of WWII.

 This is a view of the city from the Fishermen's Bastion.

This is the House of Parliament.  It was built between 1885 and 1904.  It was designed to house both legislative chambers.  The white limestone statues and decorations have been badly damaged by air pollution.  Restoration has been underway for years to replace the limestone with a more resistant stone.

This is St. Stephen's Basilica.  We are hoping to visit it tomorrow.  It is Budapest's largest church and construction was started in 1851 and finished in 1905.

Next stop was Hero's Square.  The largest park in Budapest is City Park.  It used to be a swamp until it was drained and trees planted.

This is Heroes' Square.  The Millenary Monument was devoted to the history of Hungary.  In the colonnades are statues of both Kings of Hungary and Princes of Transylvania.  The monument was erected for the Millenary Celebrations of the Hungarian State.

Just another view without the high pillar.

Bob listening to our guide talk.

And here we have Hello Kitty balloons.  She is everywhere.

We the returned to the boat for lunch.  Sat with Peter and Debbie.  Back to the cabin for our nap.

Worked on the blog and now getting ready for dinner.

Will post this now and then  update with Bob's pictures.