buda

On the way back from Memento Park, we took a walk through the hills of Buda to Halászbástya, the Fisherman's Bastion. Climbing up the winding streets of cobblestone toward the bastion, we passed old colourful houses with wrought iron ornamentation and beautifully painted details. I felt like I was transported to a medieval town— that is, until we ran into construction and a gaggle of French tourists.

View of Parliament in Pest from the Fisherman's Bastion


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As the sun was beginning to set, we found ourselves at seven hundred year old Budai Vár— the castle once home to the Hungarian kings in Budapest. The castle was enormous, grand, exactly what you'd expect of a castle or palace. Hard to imagine anyone living in it. What on earth do you do with all that space? Buda Castle now houses the Hungarian National Gallery, the Budapest History Museum, and the National Széchényi Library.

Heading back to Pest, the city was enveloped in a deep blue. By the time we got to the stunning Széchenyi lánchíd, Chain Bridge, the whole city lit up in oranges and yellows. Below is a picture of the spectacular Budai Vár as seen from the bridge.