The three capital cities on the shores of Danube: number three, Budapest
final act of our week, Budapest ... .. a long-awaited return after 17 years! Obviously I can not remember much, but almost nothing ... but after four days spent, I must admit that is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe ... you will not wait 17 more years to go back! We arrived by train from Bratislava (15 €), 3 hours of travel that fast flowing between the Slovak and Hungarian countryside and arrive in East Pest Keleti station, change money on the fly (1 € = 265 HUF approx) away center on foot (we do not like public transport just eheh .. otherwise if you do not want to take a walk else is the subway, which is inexpensive and is the second oldest in the world!) to settle into our apartment just in front Hungarian National Museum ... what a view!
11/03/10
waking up with the snow ... it was expected and we expected, but it's always a pleasure to see, especially if you're used to never see her! Our tour begins near the covered market, the most famous of Budapest, very big and full of stands selling everything at ridiculous prices ... a great way to shop and enjoy the Hungarian dishes. Given the heavy snow we decided to do something more feature that you can do that .. go to the spa for riscarldarci .... outdoor swimming pools! We head towards Heroes' Square, on the other side of Pest, and after a nice walk destion here we are, the square is very beautiful, made even more snow and the few people who else, if we take in the park behind it ( City Park) to reach the Szechenyi baths (input fiorini/12 about € 3100), probably the most famous of the capital, with many indoor and outdoor giant 3, where you can swim or relax at a temperature of 36-38 degrees while it is snowing outside and we are -5 degrees ... spectacular! After 3 Oretta the warmth and rest and we go out we go in the castle Vajdahunyad adjacent to the spa to take some pictures and went back to the apartment, not before he had seen the Great Synagogue, even the second largest in the world! Tour and dinner in Vaci utca, the most famous pedestrian street of Budapest, packed with shops, restaurants, cafes, bars .... and people who try to lure all the way for their club! Evening spent in Morrison's club, a disco full of kids with entry and drinks at ridiculous prices, and great ease in getting to know ....
12/03/10
Visit the Buda Hills, the west side of town ... after crossing the famous Chain Bridge and the huge Danube, take the funicular (this time there is to walk up!) And we begin with the visit of the castle and the Royal Palace ... it will snow, but it's freezing cold, you feel that you are at altitude, there's a cold wind! Then we go (I would say of course) at the Fishermen's Bastion and Matthias Church, both beautiful, too bad only for the work at the church, making the view a little less exceptional than usual .. but the view from the Fishermen's Bastion is spectacular, you see the whole city and especially the Parliament, in my opinion a masterpiece of architecture, very similar to that of London. The descent of the hill takes us to see the quiet resort which is located between the streets and houses of Buda, a city other than the more chaotic Pest, and great view of Parliament can be seen in the square Batthyany (homonymous metro station ) perfect for taking photos with the visit of the Parliament. Margaret Cross the bridge, where you can see and down the homonymous island, we head to the Basilica of St. Stephen, fantastic church located in the heart of Pest, near the Chain Bridge and the nearby Opera House, another fine building to see, here it is very fashionable to go to the theater ... and it is easy to see them everywhere with great presence of the public events. Dinner and usually ride in Ucta Vaci (in a very good Italian restaurant, La Cucina) before returning to Morrison's for the evening, given the success of the evening before.
13/03/10
Last full day to visit after a good sleep ... I go to see the Citadel, reached by crossing the Liberty Bridge, the southernmost of the four central bridges (Margaret, Chain Bridge, Elizabeth Bridge of freedom from ... north to south) ... here the climb seems endless, and a light rain late does not help the company eheh! But it is well rewarded .. being the most southern point of the center, you can enjoy a full view of both Buda and Pest that the chance to see what remains of the citadel, and the monument of liberty that rises to just in front it. The afternoon is spent in the streets of the city for a stroll ... buying some souvenirs and walking through the Jewish quarter, and turns a few tenths of a fever pitch the evening at home.
14/03/10
We arrived when the final ... but having available the morning I decide to make a quick trip to see the monument to the fallen of World War II (on board River, a little before the Parliament) and to visit the House of Terror (1800 entry Fl = 7 € about subway stop Vorosmarty Utca), a museum on the victims of war .... unfortunately not much else to say except to visit to find out a bit more about the events that succeeded sixty years ago ....
Budapest we liked both very much ... definitely a city with lots to see and it deserves at least 3 days total for the visit of its attractions, certainly cheaper than many other European capitals, safe (despite the presence of many vagrants and beggars, especially in subway stations) restaurants with many Italians, who misses home and is well connected by subway, bus and metro often take you anywhere you want .... go there!