Budapest Day Three

After freezing the day before, we bagged our original plans for Thursday and spent the morning at a thermal bath and the afternoon at a Michelin One Star restaurant--the perfect day.

Budapest sits on a thin crust covering a vast reservoir of hot water.  The word "pest" actually comes from the word oven.  The thermal baths, located throughout the city, are basically swimming pools with jet streams and 100 degree water.  We decide to take the subway - the oldest subway in Europe - to the Szechenyi Baths.

I couldn't take pictures while we swam outside in 25 degree weather, but the big yellow building looked beautiful in the morning sun.

We headed back to the apartment completely relaxed.

For lunch, we took the kids to their first Michelin restaurant. With an affordable price and just one more lunch reservation available, how could we resist? Dave and I enjoyed four courses while the kids tried an appetizer, incredible bread, and of course dessert.  The restaurant "WineKitchen" provided a different view of traditional Hungarian food and regional wine.

After a long lunch, the kids and Dave crashed in the apartment while I explored the Great Synagogue, the biggest one in Europe and second biggest in the world.

We we ended the day watching the next Marvel movie and crunching on Hungarian popcorn.

Budapest Day Two

Following Rick Steve's advice, we hired a tour guide for a four hour historical view of Budapest.  I originally requested we walk, but the tour organizer adamantly insisted we rent a van due to the distance between the main sites. I am so glad we did as the van offered relief from the freezing temperatures.

We started a Hero's Square, the Who's Who of Hungarian history built to celebrate the country's 1000th birthday in 1896.

We walked through City Park to view Vajdahunyad Castle - a four part complex each representing a high point in Hungarian architectural style.

After 30 minutes, we hopped in the van to Castle Hill in Buda.

We checked out Lady Liberty,

viewed cannon holes left from various wars,

and tried to understand the damage from the WWII bombings.

We took pictures of the beautiful St. Mathis Church, but elected to avoid the lines to enter it.

After a brief rest in our apartment, we headed to the Great Market Hall - a three level marketplace selling produce, meats, and other foods.

We tried langos, the famous fried dough with cheese or sweets, though we were not big fans.

After a full day, we headed back to our apartment to warm up with the Avenger movies.

Budapest Day One

January first we drove east about three hours to visit our first former Eastern Bloc country, Hungary. Frankly, I lacked the energy for a big plane and Budapest offered history, culture and a big indoor waterpark. We learned about Communism the dictator version and about communism the economic system from YouTube videos over winter break to prepare for the walking tour and museum visits.

We drove straight to Szoborpark - Momento Park home to Stalin, Lenin and other Soviet Era statues that once glared at Budapest's citizens. Rick Steve's book in hand, we shivered our way through the six loops dedicated to showing the Soviet's major weapon - propaganda.

The first section included a re-creation of the giant grandstand that once stood along a major boulevard where Hungarian and Soviet leaders would watch military and civilian processions. During the 1956 Uprising, protestors cut Stalin off at the knees, leaving only the boots.

Budapesters of the time said this was a thermal bath attendant running after a customer who forgot her towel.

I loved this car.

After freezing for an hour we checked into the hotel and found immediate comfort food - kind of.  Hungary's version of Tex Mex and hamburgers.

We walked around the last day of Christmas markets and tried a Kürtőskalács - chimney cake - a sweet spiral pull-apart bread that is baked rotisserie-style outdoors over charcoal before returning to our apartment to watch "Iron Man."