This is Matthias Church from the opposite site of the Danube River
The city of Budapest enjoys a rich a rich history, an unequalled architectural heritage, and a surprising number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. Budapest contains one large interconnected World Heritage site that consists of 3 areas all tied together and all close to the Danube River. We spent 3 days here, but sadly, they were marred by Christiane’s severe cold, or some form of respiratory illness, or whatever it was she had and which I may have given to her. Almost everyone on the boat got it.
The World Heritage site includes the Danube River Banks area which I explored relentlessly on foot. I took long walks, abandoning my wife to the hotel room and the cold. My bad, but I think she wanted me to go. I was not helping here.
The first is the Danube River Banks which I explored relentlessly, to see the Parliament on one side of the river and the historic Buda Castle on the other. A simple stroll down the river included stunning views of the river, the Parliament Building, and bridges like the Chain Bridge. Budapest is famous for its bridges. I remember in 2004 my friend Bill had been determined to travel high up the hills to get a photograph of the city with the river snaking through it laced with fantastic bridges.
The second area, The Buda Castle Quarter, included the historic district with Buda Castle, Matthias Church, and Fishermen’s Bastion.
The third area, not far away is the grand Andrássy Avenue with the Millennium Underground Railway and fantastic architecture leading to Heroes’ Square where we started our tour during our first morning. Frankly, with my limited time I spent most of my time in this area.
These elements were added to the list in stages (Buda Castle & Danube in 1987, Andrássy Ave in 2002), but are recognized as a unified cultural landscape.
Together these and other treasures attract approximately 4.5 million tourists a year, including this year, us, as it had in 2004. The city also boasts 220 museums, including the National Museum which contains valuable artifacts of Hungarian history that date back to Ancient Rome.
The city is also famous for its medicinal baths and open-air pools and a closely aligned network of baths and spas many of which were built during the Ottoman occupation. The 150-year-old Lukacs Thermal Bath is known to treat joint problems and in effect turn old men into bounding young colts again. Well maybe, not much.
My first task was to see the Parliament on one side of the river and the historic Buda Castle on the other. A simple stroll down the river included stunning views of the river, the Parliament Building, and bridges like the Chain Bridge. Budapest is famous for its bridges. I remember in 2004 my friend Bill had been determined to travel high up the hills to get a photograph of the city with the river snaking through it laced with fantastic bridges. Maybe I should have done that too.
The third area, not far away is the grand Andrássy Avenue with the Millennium Underground Railway and fantastic architecture leading to Heroes’ Square where we started our tour during our first morning. Frankly, with my limited time I spent most of my time in these 3 areas.
These elements were added to the list in stages (Buda Castle & Danube in 1987, Andrássy Ave in 2002), but are recognized as a unified cultural landscape.
I remember our tour guide in Budapest in 2004 telling us how under communism people were not free to invest in the stock market, but after communism fell, they were free to lose as much money on the stock market as they wanted.
Our guide in 2004 had uncharitably pointed out that during the period of communism, the Danube River was treated with so little respect that it was now only blue if one wore blue shades. Now it is a World Heritage Site. Is it a monument to pollution? To me the water did not look bad, but I did not look too closely. Maybe that was for the best. Maybe it was cleaned up
In 2004 Christiane and I took a night time cruise on the Danube through the city with friend from Australia Bill and Jennie. The cruise offered stunning views of the Danube and the fantastic buildings at night. I was jealous of Bill who had a digital camera. I had never used one yet, but by the end of the trip I was convinced I would have to get one. Fortuitously, my camera broke down near the end of that trip and when I got home I bought a digital camera. But I hatedcit at the time because I came back home with blank slides for about a third of the trip. Now I have the same thing.
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