Day 6 was PACKED! We started the day by walking through the neighborhood outside of our hotel, past The Budapest Eye at Erzsebet Square, to the tram that would take us to the Buda side. After a short bus ride up the hill, we arrived at Matthias Church. This striking church greeted us with beautiful paintings, glass, sculptures and music. As we mentioned before, we were visting Budapest during the summer solstice and a heat wave that peaked around 100 degrees (Fahrenheit), thankfully, once we were inside Matthias Church we found a spot where we were able to cool down. A note-if you are a woman with bare shoulders, you will be given paper covers to wear while inside.
After a brief cool down, we stepped back outside and walked around Fisherman's Bastion to take in the breathtaking views of the Danube River and the Pest side. We then walked through Buda's beautiful streets, which lead us to the Buda Castle and The Sándor Palace, where the President of Hungary lives. Note-the President of Hungary at the time of our visit was Katalin Éva Veresné Novák, who was the youngest and first female president in Hungarian history. She resigned from office in Feb. 2024.
To get back down the hill, we took The Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló). Which was a fun way to meander down the hill, while giving our legs a rest. Once down, we reached the Zero Kilometre Stone at Széchenyi Chain Bridge. We once again hopped on the tram to our next destination...lunch!
To get back down the hill, we took The Buda Castle Funicular (Budavári Sikló). Which was a fun way to meander down the hill, while giving our legs a rest. Once down, we reached the Zero Kilometre Stone at Széchenyi Chain Bridge. We once again hopped on the tram to our next destination...lunch!
One of the things we were most intrigued and excited for was the cooking class that was in our itinerary, and it did NOT disappoint! We were put into small groups, and given the tasks to create parts of a traditional Hungarian meal. Thankfully, we were guided by some wonderful people who were proud of their heritage and the food that accompanied it. It was casual, fun, and DELICIOUS! After eating, we received complimentary cookbooks that we now use at home to make Hungarian dishes.
We "walked-off" lunch by strolling to Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) which reminded Tina of Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. This amazing market showcased hundreds of stalls selling beautiful Hungarian wares, foods, spices, and gifts. After picking up a few gifts for our friends and families, we went back to our hotel to get ready for our fun night on the Danube River Cruise. Before leaving, we stopped for a quick local treat, Langos! This Hungarian delight is fried bread, traditionally topped with sour cream (more like a light Mexican crema than the heavier American version), garlic, and cheese. This was one of those foods that we went back for a few times, and still think of today!
We "walked-off" lunch by strolling to Great Market Hall (Nagyvásárcsarnok) which reminded Tina of Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. This amazing market showcased hundreds of stalls selling beautiful Hungarian wares, foods, spices, and gifts. After picking up a few gifts for our friends and families, we went back to our hotel to get ready for our fun night on the Danube River Cruise. Before leaving, we stopped for a quick local treat, Langos! This Hungarian delight is fried bread, traditionally topped with sour cream (more like a light Mexican crema than the heavier American version), garlic, and cheese. This was one of those foods that we went back for a few times, and still think of today!
Being back on the Pest side allowed us take in the sights of the places we had been earlier in the day. We then boarded the boat and off we went. It was a leisurely trip on the Danube at sunset, which gave it that extra WOW! However, about half-way through the cruise it was clear that a forecasted storm was coming sooner than expected. As previously mentioned, Jessica is a photographer, and any true photographer knows that catching spontaneous lightning is harder than threading a needle while riding a galloping horse! So, we (along with a few tour mates who had become friends) sat in the rain and caught the storm!