Falling in love with Budapest

Budapest grows on you. Our first impression was a little scary... a run down but once impressive train station, crazy Hungarian cab drivers, strange money - the Forint, and a sketchy main avenue that appeared menacing especially in the rain. But on Saturday the sun came out, we enjoyed our breakfast, and we met Tita, our Hungarian tour guide who opened our eyes to the beauty of this historic city. Our walking tour began with a subway ride to the city center.

We enjoyed some local color in a public park.

We walked through the downtown area on our way to St. Stephen's Catholic Church, the largest in Hungary.

We were so impressed by this beautiful square surrounded by caves and local boys playing soccer. And our elevator ride to the top of St. Stephan's steeple provided the most stunning view of the city.

After walking down 300+ steps from the observation deck, we entered one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen.

Next stop on the tour, an opulent Baroque Opera House.

We couldn't take any pictures within the Opera House because we were too cheap to pay 2 Euros for the privilege. Following a very informative tour, we enjoyed coffee and dessert at a local coffee house.

We were so inspired by out tour that we bought tickets for the six of us to go to the Opera. (And we could take pictures without paying the 2 Euros.)  We saw the final performance of the season prior to their holiday break, and we saw a modern interpretation of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Hippolytus es Aricia. 

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Heavenly Hungary (buffet)

Nothing makes the Dolan/Given/Beachum family happier than an all you can eat breakfast buffet!

 

After filling our bellies we went for a walk down the main avenue, and walked by a group preparing for a graduation ceremony. Great regalia including white gloves!

 

We checked out a local grocery store.

And watched some creative pigeons take a sidewalk bird bath.

 

We also stopped by the beautiful New York Cafe.

 

 

Time for our guided walking tour...more later.

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Munchen our way to Hungary

Our group shared another outstanding breakfast at McDonalds (and multiple stories not to be repeated about travel-associated bowel problems), and we planned to check out of our hotel and catch two taxis at 8:15 AM. The fleet of taxis in Munich is incredible...Mercedes sedans, Jaguars, Audis....spotless and comfortable. Our departure was delayed by Margy's impromptu shopping trip for emergency leggings. Apparently she didn't realize that we had to catch the high speed train to Budapest departing at 9:27 from downtown Munich. We caught the train with 2 minutes to spare (yes the trains run like clockwork in Germany) and we nearly killed poor Shirley as she hustled to the farthest platform in the station to board the farthest car on the train. Fortunately she had 8 hours to recover as we traveled through the Bavarian Alps, Vienna, Linz and arrived in Budapest.

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Dachau Concentration Camp - a moving experience

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Today's journey began at McDonald's for breakfast followed by our Mercedes van service with driver Michael to the Dachau Memorial in Bavaria. Our guide did an excellent job explaining the history of the detention camp during the 2.5 hour tour. The overcast day provided the perfect backdrop to such a moving memorial to those who suffered and died in this camp.

The gate to the camp mislead prisoners by telling them that "work will set them free." While Dachau was a munitions work camp to support the German war effort and not truly a death camp, many prisoners lost their life due to harsh environmental and living conditions and SS cruelty.

Of course, even the sadness and solemnity of the Dachau tour did not keep us from enjoying a hearty Bavarian lunch.

Our shopping and touring concluded around 6:30 PM local time. The rain started and jet lag seemed to hit us all at once - Shirley had a stomach ache and Mom suffered from sharp back pains - nothing that some Aleve and a good night's sleep can't fix.