DAY 28 JUNE 12 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

BUDA
Today we toured the Buda side of the city (as in Budapest)..across the water and up on the hill.  Yes, as we have learned the water level gets high on the Danube and that is why they built the ol'castle up on the hill.   Budapest attracts over 4.3 million visitors per year, and we can see why.  It is the 6th most popular city in Europe.   There are 18 University's here and I am sure the students help keep the city young in spirit.  Spectacular on both sides of the Danube.  

The Bude side is called the Castle Hill and the Castle District- across the water-  it has 3 churches, 6 museums and a bunch of interesting buildings, streets and squares.  Quite the hodgepodge of medieval.  The former Royal Palace is one of the symbols of Hungary- and has been the scene of battles and wars ever since the 13th century.    The Commie's considered buildings like the Palace symbols of the former regime and in the 1950's the palace was gutted and the interiors were destroyed.  Today the Sandor Palace contains the offices and official residence of the President of Hungary.  Must have done a do over...nothing Bev Thompson couldn't handle.

Pleep so wanted an invite to step inside for a peek....

But wait a minute- what is that I see over there!!  the Pleepster yelped.  Yeah, my kind of fun...one, two, one, two....

changing of the guard is always worrisome for Pest, as the Pleepster has gotten in a jam at many of a changing....

Bringing new meaning to "Church Lady" Boca leads the way to St. Matthias.  The seven-hundred year-old Matthias Church is one of the jewels of Budapest- in neo-Gothic style.  It is decorated with colored shingles (new roof by the way) and elegant pinnacles.  When the Turks occupied Hungary they turned it into a mosque- years later after the church was returned the building was refurbished and regained much of its former splendor.  Yahoo!

Pleep was warned not to mess with the pulpit....as in stay off.

Bude-Bub loves loves this church and how it is decked out....all walls are hand designed/painted in sub-dued tones...not all the glitz that Pest-Boca loves.

Praying and praying...never ending praying...know that Pesti-Boca always prays for you.  Never mind the never ending asking for forgiveness....(her specialty).

Next to the Church is an equestrian statue of the first king of Hungary, King Saint Stephen and a few thousand others...popular spot on weekends for the locals.

We take the stairs up to the Fisherman's Bastion for a superb panoramic view of the the city and Danube. 

Lots of restoration going on....to go with lots of tourists.  Our pal Garrett, from South Africa, keeps an eye on all the on going construction.  Yep, even on Sunday.

Lunch at Fortuna Restaurant....and Hilly always has Pest in stitches.  And a good time was had by all...getting to be expert beer tasters.

Some of our passenger pals ended their trip in Budepest and newbies got on the MS Treasures.  Oh no said Bude-  Pleep will have to train the new group.  

Sail away...our most fabulous Captain Patrick does a drive by of the city so we can all uuuu and ahhhhh.  A perfect evening to take a sail in the hood...talk about a fairy tale look...

Yup, that's the ol' Parliament all lit up like Disney at night!

The chain link bridge was built in 1849 and tied the two cities together...

Magical...a definite must visit....we look forward to coming back for a longer visit....so much to see, do,  eat and drink!

DAY 27 JUNE 21 BUDAPEST

Hungary
One of Budapest's famous exports- the former Miss Hungary1936- Zsa Zsa Gabor.  She was "discovered" in Vienna and don't forget about her sisters, Magda and Eva.  Zsa Zsa has enjoyed 9 husbands and is still living in Beverly Hills- at 97!  This Hungarian once commented "I am a marvelous housekeeper.   Every time I leave a man, I keep a house."  No Hungarian Goulash for this Hot Hungarian!

Familiar with the Hapsburgs by now, in 1867, the dual Monarchy of Austria-Hungary was formed- only second in size in Europe- Russia being the first.  This era witnessed impressive economic development- that is if you were a noble...the old capital Buda was united with Pest, creating the new metropolis of  Budapest.

Hungary's current borders were established by the Treaty of Trianon after WWI (1920)- when the country lost 71% of it's territory and 58% of its population.  Then post WWII, Hungary came under the influence of the Soviet Union, which contributed to the establishment of a 4 decade long communist dictatorship (1947-1989).   Not to be forgotten is the 1956 uprising of the Hungarians against the soviets- after much loss of life they were defeated.  In time they became known as the happiest barrack within the Eastern bloc.  If they were the happiest, who was the saddest?   In 1989, Hungary again became a democratic parliamentary republic and love attracting over 10 million tourists a year.  So long Goulash Communism!

During this stint of our Tauck tour, Bubs has been renamed "Buda" and Boca has been aptly named "Pest".  Buda was here in the mid 70's when he worked for Henry Kissinger's detail.  Hey Buda- has it changed?  "Looks pretty much the same to me".  Nah, so while they have been "free" for 25 years they only joined the EU in 2004.  Good point...

BOEDAPEST....known to us as BUDAPEST
is the capital of Hungary with 1.7 million people living in this most glorious city.  It is incorporating more immigration into it the city than out migration.  The metro area is about 3.3 million.  The Danube divides Bude from Pest.  Budapest has architecturally noteworthy buildings in a wide range of styles and from distinct time periods- from ancient times -as Roman City of Aquincum in Obuda to the most modern Palace of Arts (kinda looked like a casino at night).  



We toured the Pest side of the town...one of the most important sights is Andrassy ut.  This Avenue is an elegant 2 mile long tree--lined street that covers the distance from Deak Ferenc ter to the Heroes Square.  By the way the commies changed the name of Andrassy to the "Peoples Republic Street" and thankfully restored back to Andrassy in 1990.  As usual a World Heritage Site- 2002.  

And here we are at Heroes Square....

Bubs is digging the macho Magyars...

This iconic statue complex- featuring seven chieftans of the Magyars also includes the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and host to many political events.   Hey Boca, I think I see some of your friends....

Hey Boca,   where have you been????  We haven't seen you since......

Boys will be boys...Pleep hops on for a  quickie good time.

Old and old made hip...not talking about Bubs- it's the building.

and some very modern.....

Bubs, time for our Parliament private tour.  Do you think they'll mind if the Pleepster tags along?  Let's get him off the beer wagon....

Yup, looks pretty parliamentty to me...

Located on the Danube the "Palace of the Parliament"  aka Hungarian Parliament Bldg is a notable landmark and popular tourist destination.  Tauck has arranged a private tour for us on Sunday morning.  Bubba reminds Pleep to mind his p's and q's...or heads will roll-commie style.

No problem Pops.  Did you know this is the largest and tallest building in Hungary?  It took 40 million bricks, 500,000 precious stones and over 88lbs of gold to put this crib together.  Today the gov uses only a small portion of the building....so what do they do with the rest???  This is the Assembly Hall of the House of Maggots.  No Mr. Pleep this is the House of MAGNATES!

And there are 10 interior courtyards, 29 staircases and 691 rooms.  And the guard reminded the Pleepster to stick to the tour and don't even think about messing with the Holy Crown and Jewels...

Well all I know is this, Boca, they took the Commie star from the top of the building in 1990.  Hooha!

And all this Parliamentarying around has made me hungry...let's get dropped off at the "NAGYCSARNOK" aka "Great Market Hall".  Wading through corridors packed with vibrant fruits and vegetables while the wide central aisle features meat.... 

...the scents and sounds are wash over a person and rattle your taste buds...

anybody for some lard??  fried or sautéed??   

The Pleepster convinced the butcher to dress up his pig for a little shenanigans, Pleep style...

Boca appreciates Hungarian delicacies, such as foie gras...

And Bubs enjoys the fraction of the price found back home- yes Bubs, 2 caviar, 2 foie and 2 and 2 and 2 of....they're practically giving it away Bubs!

Walking the streets and experiencing the stunning architecture, lively Gypsy music and amen to the civic progress ya gotta enjoy Budapest.  These folks have experienced repression from when the Magyars stormed across the land and most recently by the Soviets...over 70 years of under the thumb and the fall of the iron curtain opened up a whole new world to these Hungarians.

Tons of UNESCO World Heritage sites.  Magnificent buildings constructed during 15th- the 19th centuries.

After a rigorous and splendid time at the market let's stroll back to the boat...hey why are those shoes on the bank of the Danube??

SHOES ON THE DANUBE 

This moving memorial is to honor the 60 people who were rounded up in 1944 by the Ruling Arrow Cross Party and forced these Jews to strip naked and face the Danube.  They were shot by a firing squad so they fell into the river and washed away.  Yes history has been made in Budapest for numerous  positive and negative reasons.    This stunning memorial causes one to reflect.....

DAY 26 JUNE 20 BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA

WHAT'S A BRATISLAVA?  Oh joy, another tour.

Bratislava, Slovakia.  Remember when Czech was in front of Slovakia?  The old Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 and with the chaos of the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.  

Under Hitlers stint pre WWII, Jews were deported and taken to labor camps.  Then came the Soviets to liberate the "Checks" and as our tour guide noted...they forgot to leave.




A new President was sworn in a couple of days ago- Andre Kiska.  The leader to the 5 million Slovaks, worked for several years in the US and returned to Slovakia as an entrepreneur.  Started and sold 2 companies.  I am sure he will bring much to the table in this country of determined young people.

Throughout its torrid history, Bratislava has been home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians and Slovaks.  Prior to WWII it was a centuries home to a thriving Jewish community.

Just 10 years ago, visitors arriving on the luxury riverboats were required to present their passports to sullen post-Soviet agents at the Customs House.  










Once you were permitted to enter the city, you found streets badly in need of repair, beautiful Baroque facades buried under decades of grim and neglect and few of the famous pastry shops. 







 With the fall of the Soviets in 1989, a new world opened up to the "Czechoslovakians".  They gained independence but the Slovak people longed for their own state.  In what was known as the "Velvet Divorce" they broke into 2 distinctive countries- the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  In 2004 Slovakia joined the EU.




This little gem of a capital city was quite active.  This is one of Europe's most energetic and fasted growing capital cities.  60,000 students go to school here...I think we bumped into most of them. Pleep suggested this place looked like a good place to take a break...





 Many restaurants, cafes and bars spill out onto the pedestrian walk ways

The city's cultural scene is thriving.  Nice to see the kids enjoy their cultural heritage in this day and age of cell phones, Facebook and MTV....they also enjoyed teaching Pleep some of their moves...

While the city is still in need of a make-over and lots of paint Bratislava rocks with a lot of energy.

  With many of the young people wanting to stay after graduation from uni you can bet this will happen sooner than later.  Perhaps, this fella had one too many brewskies....  





Pleep thought the t-shirt offerings were unique.....

This place is attractive for foreign investments- low wages, low tax rate and well educated labor force. 







 Good luck new country!

Pleep says the hot babes add to the culture too...