Day 3 started with a sightseeing tour of Budapest. This is the entry to the Parliament building
complex, looking back to our hotel on the other side. This picture is on the Pest side, looking
back to the Buda side. "There are two types of people in Budapest: those that live in Buda, and
those that want to live in Buda."
It was a little cooler today, with a chance of rain. Here is a status in front of the Parliament
building, with the snake attacking the lion on top of the statue.
The back side of the Parliament building.
Inside, the back staircase where we went up, with the adorned ceiling.
Kimberly looking up.
It is very nicely adorned, with a view out the back toward the supreme court building.
This is the grand staircase that is used for official events.
Our state guide (center right in suit) is straight out of Transylvania, with the crazy deep voice,
and pregnant pauses just before the punchline.
The actual meeting room for parliament.
In the foyer, the cigar holders for all the meetings.
An architectural model of the building. In the background, you can vaguely see the borders before
and after the first world war, when Hungary lost about 2/3 of its territory.
Driving by Heroes' Square; we'll get there in a minute.
Front view of Heroes's Square.
On to Buda Castle.
The architecture is very well preserved and restored.
The castle is actually a small town on top of the hill.
The main church of the castle complex; you can have your wedding here for a fee.
The courtyard in front of the church. The spire in the background is part of the Fisherman's Bastion,
a lookout area.
Us on the Fisherman's Bastion looking out on the Danube.
A view south on the Danube...
...and a view to the north.
Everywhere we go, more steps.
More driving around: the federal building offices.
Back on the Pest side, some bullet holes in the buildings from one of the revolutions.
Right across from the Parliament building, these iron dots mark bullet holes where soldiers fired
from the Parliament building onto protestors.
protestors
Walking around. This bridge and statue commemorate Imre Nagy, Prime Minister of Hungary on two
separate occasions.
Kimberly with the statue of Ronald Reagan, walking toward the American Embassy.
This statue commemorates the Russians that lost their lives "liberating" Hungary from the Nazis.
This fountain symbolize emprisonment, but the "wall" of water disappears as you approach a section.
Walking the streets toward St. Stephen's Basilica...
...and the courtyard in front.
The Soviet style of achitecture on this apartment building.
Our walking tour included a stop at this famous bakery and a dessert for each of us.
We could have easily split one; this is Wade's peanut butter cake on the right, and Kimberly's
Sacher Torte on the right. The peanut butter one was good, but the Sacher Torte was amazing.
Going down in the second oldest subway line in Europe that is still active; completed in 1896.
On the platform waiting.
Here comes our ride.
A sculpture representing part of the iron curtain.
Our tour completed at the House of Terror. This building was the headquarters of the Nazi secret police,
and later of the Soviet secret police, and is now a museum to these times.
