Hungary - Budapest

We sailed into Budapest on the final morning of the cruise, and docked under the historic Chain Bridge. We bid a fond adieu to our crew, and set off for a Viking tour of the city. We started with the hilly Buda side of the river, exploring the Castle District, Matthias Church, and Fisherman's Bastion.

Crossing back over the Danube to the Pest side, we visited Heroes' Square and drove some areas in southeast Pest, before arriving at the Central Market Hall. At this point we tipped our guide and kindly said our goodbyes, electing to find our own way to the hotel and further explore the city.

The Market did not disappoint, and we shopped and enjoyed some Hungarian favourites for lunch, washing them down with fresh local strawberries. We strolled the Vaci utca pedestrian area and found our way eventually to Elisabeth Square and Le Meridien hotel, our home for two nights. We were delighted to find our hotel was very nice with a view of the park, but also very central to just about everything.

Even better, right across the park was the MAV train station office, to firm up our future travel plans, and a "Prima" grocery store for snacks and beverages. Great place to spend some Hungarian forints.

We walked the well-known Andrassy Avenue and found ourselves dining at Porto di Pest on a quiet boulevard, sampling several Hungarian dishes including a rather good goulash soup.

The next day we spent entirely walking the city, across the Chain Bridge and back, up to the Margaret Bridge and across to Margaret Island, then back to Pest along the river bank. We visited the haunting Shoe Memorial, in memory of one of the final atrocities of the Second World War. With the Nazis retreating, Hungarian sympathizers (the Arrow Cross) lined up Jews on the riverbank and took their shoes (to sell), and then shot them into the river. As if it could be worse, apparently they would also tie people together to save bullets - killing one and drowning another with sadistic efficiency.

After a long day of exploring this great city on foot, shopping and dining, we enjoyed a final meal at Es Bistro just behind the hotel. We also enjoyed running into many new friends from the ship, as we were all staying at the same hotel and visiting many of the same sights.

Szechenyi Chain Bridge from the Aegir docked on Pest side

Crossing the Erzsebet (Elisabeth) Bridge from Pest to Buda

Tunnel to the Chain Bridge

Chain Bridge from Buda side

Matthias Church on Buda Hill

Busy day at the cathedral

Buda Castle District

Fisherman's Bastion

View to the right from Fisherman's Bastion

And the equally stunning view to the left

Hungarian Parliament

Heroes' Square

Mighty Magyar Chieftans

Central Market Hall - three floors of vendors

Enjoying some local strawberries across from the market

The view of the park from our room at Le Meridien

St. Stephen's Basilica

Opera House on Andrassy Avenue

Sights near the hotel

Walking the iconic Chain Bridge

Aegir docked under the Chain Bridge

Shoes on the Danube - a chilling monument

Back of Parliament

Vaci utca shopping street

Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube