Day 4
DATE: WEDNESDAY, MAY 30
START TIME: MORNING
DURATION: 4 HOURS
Take in one of Europe’s great cultural capitals. Over the last few decades, Budapest has reemerged as one of the continent’s iconic cities, divided by the lilting Danube and connected by the graceful Chain Bridge. Meet your guide at your ship for a panoramic tour, beginning in modern Pest. Along the elegant Andrássy Avenue, the Champs-Élysées of Budapest, admire the Hungarian State Opera House. Stop at Heroes’ Square, a wide-open plaza of monuments and statues commemorating the Magyar state. Across the river, explore the more traditional Buda side of the city. Here you will visit the Castle District with its massive hilltop castle complex, the turreted Fishermen’s Bastion and Matthias Church, named for the country’s most popular medieval king. From the heights of Buda Hill, enjoy fantastic views of the famous Chain Bridge, the first span to ever connect the two halves of the city when it opened in 1849.
We began the day with another amazing breakfast, I had porridge , lots of fresh fruit, French toast ans coffee. But most amazing of all I had champagne with my breakfast. We shared a table with a couple from Mass. Jim and Jennie I think. Anyway they have traveled extensively throughout Canada. The did not do the pre cruise but they do have the post cruise booked.
Just as we walked into the dining room there small news paper summaries. We picked up the one for Canada and the United States.
It was nice to read local news.
We came back to our room and we got ready for our excursion. As usual it was a wonderful new bus. Our guide was absolutely amazing. She was a history major and it certainly showed. Even though the places visited were places we had seen before we learned so much from Wanda.
We got back to the ship just after noon. We were too late for the dining room so we had lunch on the Aquavit terrace. They had a wonderful buffet. One major new item was a carrot and ginger soup. I just have to find that recipe.
After lunch we napped for an hour and then we headed out. We wanted to get some better pictures of the iron shoes. There is a monument which is 60 pair of iron shoes. During the Nazi rule 60 thousand Jews were shot there on the shores of the Danube. They were simply shot and their bodies fell into the river. Each pair of shoes represents a thousand of those unfortunate victims. The presentation is so moving.
Then we walked further and explored the grounds of the parliament buildings. We saw the changing of the guard..I took dozens of pictures. I have no idea what I will do with all of those photos. They will not fit in the photo book.
We walked back slowly. It was so hot and shade was hard to find along the way. Every day has been sunny and hot.
Soon it was time to get ready for dinner. Tonight is the captains welcoming address. We went fairly early so we could choose our seat. They served champagne and I got 2 glasses.
As was and is and will be expected that dinner was great. We sat with Anne and Mike again and we were joined by Linda and Richard from Mississippi.
Currently we are on our way to Vienna. We are expected to arrive there around 5 tomorrow afternoon.
We began the day with another amazing breakfast, I had porridge , lots of fresh fruit, French toast ans coffee. But most amazing of all I had champagne with my breakfast. We shared a table with a couple from Mass. Jim and Jennie I think. Anyway they have traveled extensively throughout Canada. The did not do the pre cruise but they do have the post cruise booked.
Just as we walked into the dining room there small news paper summaries. We picked up the one for Canada and the United States.
It was nice to read local news.
We came back to our room and we got ready for our excursion. As usual it was a wonderful new bus. Our guide was absolutely amazing. She was a history major and it certainly showed. Even though the places visited were places we had seen before we learned so much from Wanda.
We got back to the ship just after noon. We were too late for the dining room so we had lunch on the Aquavit terrace. They had a wonderful buffet. One major new item was a carrot and ginger soup. I just have to find that recipe.
After lunch we napped for an hour and then we headed out. We wanted to get some better pictures of the iron shoes. There is a monument which is 60 pair of iron shoes. During the Nazi rule 60 thousand Jews were shot there on the shores of the Danube. They were simply shot and their bodies fell into the river. Each pair of shoes represents a thousand of those unfortunate victims. The presentation is so moving.
Then we walked further and explored the grounds of the parliament buildings. We saw the changing of the guard..I took dozens of pictures. I have no idea what I will do with all of those photos. They will not fit in the photo book.
We walked back slowly. It was so hot and shade was hard to find along the way. Every day has been sunny and hot.
Soon it was time to get ready for dinner. Tonight is the captains welcoming address. We went fairly early so we could choose our seat. They served champagne and I got 2 glasses.
As was and is and will be expected that dinner was great. We sat with Anne and Mike again and we were joined by Linda and Richard from Mississippi.
Currently we are on our way to Vienna. We are expected to arrive there around 5 tomorrow afternoon.
1 comment:
Looks Fantastic! So many familiar sights! I think we also had Wanda as our guide in Budapest!
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