| Over the 2,000 years of its history,
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| | cannon balls and ransacked. Each time,
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| Budapest has been ruled at various times
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| | new rulers rebuilt. Visiting Buda Castle
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| by the Romans, Turks, Goths, Germans and
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| | is like stepping back into the heights of
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| until recently the Soviets. They have
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| | the renaissance. The Castle is adorned
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| all left their influences and the
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| | with red marble stairways, gothic
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| combination has given Budapest an
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| | facades, bastions and epic statutes
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| ambience all its own. It's a large city
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| | overlooking the Danube. The fountains
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| that was once considered three cities.
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| | around the Castle are simply fantastic
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| Pest, Obuda and Buda were divided by the
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| | for variety and beauty.Holy Trinity
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| Danube, which forks in the middle of the
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| | Square - Just to the south of Buda Castle
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| city. The three cities were combined in
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| | lies Holy Trinity Square. The Church of
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| 1873 and Budapest was adopted as the new
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| | the Holy Lady, which is also known as
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| name.During a stay in Budapest there are
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| | Matthias Church, dominates the square.
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| a few must see attractions.Spas -
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| | The church has served as the location
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| Budapest sits on a tectonic plate fault
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| | where Hungarian Kings undertook their
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| line in Eastern Europe. While
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| | rule and many famous figures are interred
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| earthquakes might seem inevitable, one
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| | on the grounds.Fishermen's Bastion - This
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| advantage to the location is the
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| | Roman bastion has the appearance of a
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| proliferation of mineral water spas in
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| | mini-castle at Disneyland. The views
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| the city. Perhaps the best known is The
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| | from the parapets are amazing as you take
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| Gellert Spa Hotel located in the center
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| | in the Danube River as it cuts its way
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| of Budapest on the eastern shore of the
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| | through Budapest.Just outside of Bastion,
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| Danube River. From the front, the hotel
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| | however, you have to keep your eye out
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| looks like a classic renaissance building
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| | for something amazing. Hungarians
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| you would find in Paris or Vienna. The
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| | historically have been some of the best
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| entrance to the hotel opens onto an
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| | horsemen in the world. As part of the
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| indoor pool that looks like something out
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| | tradition, the horseman carry bullwhips
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| of ancient Rome. The square pool is
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| | instead of ropes. Big bullwhips. And
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| surrounded by baroque columns and covered
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| | they like to crack them just outside of
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| by a glass roof two stories above the
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| | the bastion. If you aren't paying
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| water. Palms, plants and relaxing
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| | attention when this occurs, the world's
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| Hungarians are everywhere. It is
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| | loudest snap will send you diving for
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| staggeringly impressive.For roughly ten
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| | cover. The only thing I can equate it to
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| dollars, you can have the full Gellert
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| | is the sound of rolling thunder, but
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| experience. There is one mixed sex
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| | without the rolling. When it happens
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| indoor pool and two sections reserved for
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| | tourists' drinks, food and cameras go
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| just men and women. In these reserved
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| | flying!Margaret Island - In the middle of
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| sections, you can get massage services,
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| | the city chaos lays an oasis of
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| but keep in mind these are vigorous
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| | tranquility, Margaret Island, which is
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| Turkish style massages. Put another way,
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| | one of the unique elements of Budapest.
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| you will be getting slapped around a bit
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| | The island is located in the middle of
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| instead of nearly falling asleep.At the
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| | the Danube River in central Budapest and
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| rear of the Gellert, there is an outdoor
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| | is a little more than 1 mile long and 500
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| area that rivals any Las Vegas hotel.
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| | yards wide. With the exception of a
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| Unlike Vegas hotels with themes, this
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| | hotel at the south end, the island is
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| pool area is truly historic. The area
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| | free of cars and buildings. In the
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| comes with marble steps, ceramic tile
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| | past, Margaret Island served as a private
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| mosaics and lush landscape. One tends to
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| | park for Hungarian royalty and you can
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| feel a bit like you are taking a bath in
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| | see why. The island consists mostly of
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| the Vatican.There are spas all over the
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| | paths flanked by old growth trees, rose
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| place in Budapest but another that you
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| | gardens and tailored lawn areas.
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| might try is the Kiraly Baths. Kiraly
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| | Peacocks walk freely around the island
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| was apparently built during Turkish rule
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| | and wild ducks nest throughout the
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| and the spa experience is entirely
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| | island. At the south end of the island,
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| Turkish, including the massages.Castle
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| | you can visit hot thermal springs, walk
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| District - Situated in the Buda section
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| | on paths through peaceful ponds or relax
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| of Budapest, the Castle District sits on
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| | in front of tiered water cascades.
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| the eastern side of the Danube.
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| | During part of the year, plays are
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| Positioned a couple hundred feet above
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| | undertaken at an outdoor theatre. Only
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| the Danube, the entire city of Budapest
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| | in Budapest can you be in the middle of
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| can be seen from the numerous vantage
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| | an active city, walk 200 feet across a
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| points. The view is so amazing, the
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| | bridge and be in a peaceful, forested
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| Italians coined a saying, "Europe has
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| | area.When visiting Hungary, it is easy to
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| three gems - Venice on the water,
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| | fall in love with Budapest. Don't let
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| Florence in the plains and Buda in the
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| | the language frighten you away, there are
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| hills". The Italians definitely got it
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| | getting to be more people - particularly
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| right. Some travelers will tell you it's
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| | students - who can speak a little English
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| a reason in itself to visit Budapest.Buda
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| | and they're all eager to practice on you.
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| Castle - Sitting on top of a hill and
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| | Hungarians are a proud people. While
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| towering over the Danube, the Buda Castle
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| | most are polite and some helpful beyond
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| is stunning. Started under the guidance
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| | belief, they are reserved, perhaps the
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| of King Bela IV in the 14th century it
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| | most reserved people in Europe you'll
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| was expanded upon by later rulers.
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| | meet south of Scandinavia. Make a friend
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| Medieval times, however, saw the castle
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| | though and you'll have a friend for life.
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| burned, looted, demolished, bombed with
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| | Welcome to Budapest!
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