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June 12, 2009, Sunny, leaving Budapest
"Now I am on my way leaving Budapest. Somehow I feel happy for
leaving because I
cannot imagine myself with my heart living in this place. Hungary used to be a big empire. It has rich history and its own distinct
language that is not too associated with English or Deutsche. People
here are rough looking. Party scene is not prominent, but the
group beer culture is spotlighted on the main street. Somehow I can't
associate myself to this city. So I guess I had
enough of it... Having said these, Budapest is beautiful!"
During this 7 hour train ride, I must have too much time to observe and
reflect about life. Come and go, I had 5 other passengers in my cabin.
Each with distinct characteristics like business man, traveller, stylish
hottie, village boy, etc. We all with distinctive characteristics didn't
talk for hours on train. Isn't it life? =) Also during the ride there
were sun shines, rain, knighting and storm. But while I am sheltered
through out the journey, my state of mind is whatever I label it. Since I am
in holiday mood, my mind is always sun shine and rainbow despite
whatever. =)
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First construction in the 13th century, the Buda Castle has
gone histories of battles, conques, demolitions, rebuilds, and everything,
but now still stands still up on the Buda Hill. |
Up on the Buda Castel looking down the |
Danube River and Pest. |
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Overlooking Buda Hill from Pest. Up on the hill is the Matthias Church
built in the 11th century. |
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How to get up the Buda Hill? Either you walk on the passage beside this
coat of arm painting, |
or go by tram going up in just 5 minutes. |
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Szechenyi Chain Bridge, the city's first bridge connecting Buda and
Pest. |
Monument of Prince Eugene Savoy, in front of the Buda Castle, overseeing
the Budapest! |
The Nazi built a military center beside the Buda Castle, but bombed it
to the ground when retreated. |
Interior of famous Opera House. |
Hungary National History Museum. In the past the warriors did dress like
this! |
Matyas Well (Matthias Fountain) at the Buda Castle. |
Although a small country, Hungary has the second largest parliament
after London. When this parliament was built, Hungary governed area
three times larger than the present size. |
This neo-gothic masterpiece looks more like fairy-tail princesses land
than the Parliament. |
but it resembles Hungarians themselves as romantic, little excessive, bit
fragile, but always survivors. |
St. Istvan Basilica, raised 96m, exactly the same height as the
Parliament, signifying the |
importance of two pillars: government and religion. |
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Inside the Basilica stored the right hand of King Stephen, who died in
1038. The hand had adventured from Bihar, to Dubrovnik, to Vienna, to
Buda, to the West then returned back to Hungary in 1945. |
The dome of St. Istvan Basilica. |
The Archangel Gabriel holds the holy crown and a crucifix. |
Millennium Monument at Heroes' Square. It marks the 1000 anniversary of
Hungarian State! According to legend, the Pope dreamt that an
archangel telling him to give the first Hungarian King, Istvan, a holy crown
to mark the acceptance of the new state of Hungary into Christian Europe. |
Dome inside Szechenyi Baths. I spent 4 hours there! |
Quite relax after days of walking and traveling. |