Jordan, here we come!

We are going on a 10 day trip to Jordan this Wednesday.

Budapest Ferihegy 2 International Airport

After visiting the Great Synagogue, we went back to the hotel to collect our luggage and took a taxi to the airport.

Spending the last of our Hungarian currency before leaving

Taking the metro in Budapest

This one-day ticket entitles you to unlimited use of the metro, trams and buses in Budapest for a day.

3rd October 2008

A modern advertising screen

The Great Synagogue

This is the largest synagogue in Europe. It was built in a Byzantine-Moorish style in 1854.

The Holocaust Memorial

This sculpture of a weeping willow was unveiled in 1991 in memory of the 600,000 Hungarian Jews killed by the Nazis in world War II

Public toilet in Budapest

Lunch at Muzeum Etterem

This restaurant is next to the  National Museum. It retains the historic atmosphere of  the Austro-Hungarian Empire of the 1900s.

Foie Gras cooked with apples

Hungarian National Museum

The Hungarian Museum is the country's riches source of art and artifacts relating to its turbulent past.

Monument to poet Janos Arany in front of the Neo -Classical facade

It was from these steps that, in1848, the poet Sandor Petofi first read his National Song, which sparked the uprising against Habsburg rule

Greetings from Budapest

St Stephen's Basilica

Dedicated to St Stephen or Istvan, the first Hungarian Christian king. This church was built in 1851.

The Cupola

This painting shows King Istvan, left without an heir, dedicating Hungary to Virgin Mary

Main Altar: Statue of St Istvan

St Teresa

The main portal

Carvings of the heads of the 12 Apostles

Nagyvarad Station

This station is named after the square nearby which in turn was named after the Hungarian  city of Nagyvarad

Going back to our hotel at the end of our second day in Budapest

 

Dinner at Vaci Utca

This pedestrianized street was formed in the 18th century and is now Budapest's most popular street.

Statue of St Gellert

This monument marks the spot where Bishop Gellert was supposedly murdered in the 11th century. According to the legend, he was thrown into the Danube in a barrel by a mob opposed to the adoption of Christianity.

Kneeling at his feet is a Hungarian converted to Christianity

Overlooking the Elizabeth Bridge

The Castle District

Walking to the St Gellert Statue

We decided to go back to Gellert Hill to see the statue of St Gellert. We were told that it is very near  the Cave Church and that we should walk there. So we walked. And walked. And walked  until we finally reached the foot of the hill.

The waterfall at the foot of the hill

The Royal Palace

The building of the Royal Palace was King Bela IV in the 13th century. The Holy Roman Emperor Sigismund built a Gothic palace here. In the 18th century, the Habsbergs also built their palace here. It is now a museum.

This bronze mythical Turul bird guards the palace

Danube and the Chain Bridge

A statue Prince Eugene of Savoy commemorates the Battle of Zenta in 1697 during the Turkish war

Matyas Fountain

Depicts King Matyas on a hunting expedition where he met Ilonka, a  peasant 

The Lion Gate