Budapest’s Castle District and filling my tummy at Vapiano’s

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Travel Spirit

A visit to Budapest isn’t complete unless you explore the Castle District, so that’s what we did on our final day. The following day ten of the twelve travelers would be taking flights back home to Cincinnati, Ohio and my friend Richard and I would be taking a train to Munich to continue our European trip. The Castle District is a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site and consists of two parts: the Royal Palace itself and the Castle District. Most of this area is a reconstructed medieval city, but the original castle was destroyed in World War II and replaced with the current Royal Palace.

You can see the beautiful Parliament Building from the Castle District…

Here’s another view of it…but I thought Black and White would look nice…

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Highlights of Budapest

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Travel Spirit

I mentioned in a previous post, that one of the highlights of my month-long trip in Europe was bicycle riding along the Danube and stopping at wineries along the way. The Szechenyi Baths was also a highlight for me and some of my fellow travelers. The Szechenyi Baths were so beautiful and the thermal mineral water so relaxing, after all of the walking, lugging of suitcases, and mental challenges encountered on the trip. In fact, some of my group went back later for round two!

With fifteen indoor baths of varying temperature and three outdoor, you’re sure to melt away that tension!

After soaking for a while, we went back to the hotel to shower and prepare for our day’s activities. We began with a tour of the imperial Parliament Building. It’s the third largest Parliament Building in Europe.

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Walking Tour along Andrassy Blvd. to Varosliget Park in Budapest

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Travel Spirit

It was Saturday, May 24, 2014 and my group of 11 travelers and I had arrived at the train station in Budapest, after a three hour trip from Bratislava, Slovakia. With almost three full days to explore, our first stop was the ATM for some local currency. I also bought a 72 hr. transport card for each of us to use for the metro, trams, and buses.

I found the Metro line that would take us within walking distance of our hotel, the Eurostars Budapest Center, and after checking into our hotel, we walked the 2 1/2 mile walking route I had developed with Google maps. During the month I was in Europe, I easily walked 150 miles! Our walking tour began with a stop at the New York Palace Hotel. The lobby was quite lavish! Two of my fellow travelers came back one evening and had dinner at their restaurant and said it was delicious!