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