So first, I found a nice sidewalk cafe where I could eat breakfast and plan my day.
After dropping a box off at the post office (all of that shopping with Cynthia in Russia was weighing me down :-), I headed back to the Central Market. I didn't feel like I got enough time there the other day, plus it looked like it was the best place to pick up a few little mementoes (after all, I had just emptied my suitcase). I had planned to have lunch there as it was touted in every guide book, and by my walking tour guide, as the place for lunch....unfortunately since everyone reads the guide books, everyone was there...It was too crowded with tourists, so I decided to pass on that experience. And uh oh, I now needed to head back to my hotel to lighten my backpack.
So I opted for lunch on the Danube promenade, which gave me a good last look at the Royal Palace on the Buda side of the river..
This palace was originally built in the 1300's by then King Bela IV to protect the city from invading armies. It was rebuilt in the mid1400's by King Matyas, but it experienced extensive damage and deterioration during the Turkish siege of the country in the 16th century. It eventually became the Hungarian palace of the Habsburgs, who ruled over Austria-Hungary for about 100 years, starting with Maria Teresa in the mid1700's. Then it was totally gutted by the Germans during WWII. So there is really nothing to see inside, although there are a couple of museums there, including the history museum which I would have liked to have seen...but not enough time here.
After lunch, it was time for a visit to one of the baths. Budapest has 120+ natural springs. When the Turkish ruled, they excavated these springs and built several Turkish baths in the city. Because I didn't have enough time to venture too far away, I went to the Gellert baths...
...which were close by, and are supposed to be the prettiest. After checking in, I proceeded to walk through the labyrinth of hallways....down and up and through long hallways....
...it is literally a labyrinth as there are caves running everywhere under the city. I was starting to freak out, as there were no signs, no other people, and I was starting to feel lost. I finally walked into a room that looked like a locker room....but wasn't sure if it was for men or women....then was relieved when I saw a couple of women. But I was still clueless about how it all worked. The two women, who were from Sweden, said they had the same problem when they arrived, and proceeded to "show me the ropes" -- how to use the lockers, where the thermal baths were, where the swimming pool was. (Later, when I was leaving, there were two other women who were experiencing the same confusion, so I was able to return the favor and help them out). I heard this same complaint from others, so I recommend trying one of the other bath houses, such as Szechinyi which is at the end of Andrassy Street. I recommended going there to the Portuguese couple, and they loved it...said the people were very friendly and helpful, unlike those at the Gellert.
But, the Gellert lived up to it's reputation of being beautiful...
The outdoor pool has one of the first wave machines to have been installed...
It would have been a great place to hang out all day or for at least a full afternoon, especially on such a beautiful day....I only hung out for about an hour.
I had planned to go to the Parliament building, as the walking tour guide had said it was worth the tour. But when I walked out of the baths, it was such a beautiful day, so I didn't want to be inside. I noticed a walkway that led up the hill, so I thought I would check it out. It was a long walk, and I was alone most of the way, except for the occasional lovers sitting on benches placed at lookouts along the way....but the views along the way were spectacular...
...until I reached the citadel, where this statue is placed at the top of the hill...Hungarians consider this their "lady of liberty."
The citadel itself was built to intimidate the Hungarian revolutionaries; it now honors all of those who lost their lives during WWII. I didn't go inside as there were buses and buses of people.
I stopped and asked a photographer if there was a way back down the hill on the other side. He was shocked that I had walked up...he didn't even know you could get there, except by bus. He was from London, and we got into a discussion about my trip, of which he was quite intrigued (as are most people I run into :-). So he provided a little fun and respite, before I proceeded to walk back down on the other side of the hill, to even more great views...
I wasn't sure what thus big red brick building was, but had to be something important...
This looked like an expensive residential comdo-type development tucked up on the hill...someone was pulling into their garage when I went by...
This monument anchors the other end of the citadel...
That ended up being a wonderful spontaneous walk, but now I have to hop back on the #2 tram...
(which runs along the Pest side of the river with great views of Buda, and which I used often to get around). I had to get back and cleaned up for my dinner reservation, back at my favorite place, Tigris, for my last evening in Budapest!
Tomorrow, off to Vienna!
