Budapest Hungary

Yep....I can read and ride a train at the same time.

My train buddy Luis (Serbian), bought me a beer for watching his bags and then helped me exchange money and find my way to the hostel (which was more than out of his way). Great guy!

Budapest train station.

The human pack-mule.

Looking across the Danube from the Pest side to the Buda side.

This flag was flying in front of the Parliament building. The story behind the hole in the flag is on 23 October 1956, approximately 20,000 civilians gathered to protest the communist rule. Someone in the crowd cut out the communist coat of arms from the Hungarian flag, leaving a distinctive hole and others quickly followed suit. Afterwards, most of the crowd crossed the Danube to join demonstrators outside the Parliament Building. The crowd had grown to more than 200,000 people. The demonstration was peaceful until the communists police opened fire on the crowd, killing over a hundred protesters.

The Chain Bridge and Royal Palace in the distance.

St. Stephens Basilica

The Christmas spirit starting to emerge.

The House of Terror.

Used by the fascist and communist regimes as a place for interrogations, torture and murder. Now it has been turned into a museum and memorial for the victims.

The victims names and pictures along the outside of the building.

On a lighter note, I guess witch brooms can also be used to sweep leaves.

Hero's Square

Halloween Costume ideas.

I just don't see this really happening....A naked guy with a sling blade picking up chicks???

This guy is whipping his horses with a huge snake....hats off to him.

Find what's missing.

This guy was trying to impress the ladies.

And this is why it pays to always have your camera ready....not once......

Not twice.........

But three times. I was starting to think the guy had a wooden leg and didn't notice.

I went for a very relaxing four hour soak in this huge Hungarian bathhouse called Széchenyi Bath in the City Park. The pools are heated by natural thermal springs.

Tile work on the ceiling.

One of the many indoor baths.

The outdoor pools.

Taking a dip.

Shaved ice to cool down after the sauna.

Leaving 4 hours later completely relaxed.

Hero's Square at dusk.

These are the kind of beds I have been sleeping on for the past month.

Looking out my hostel window.

Metro station.

Over the Danube with the Parliament building on the left.

Parliament

Looking from the Royal Palace towards the Chain Bridge and Pest.

Noon guard rotation in front of the palace.

Chain Bridge: The support cables are actually solid links like a bicycle chain.

St. Stephens Basilica in the daytime.

Heading to the train station.

On my way to Vienna for Thanksgiving with EMILY!!!

"What is this horrible face?" you ask....I call it the half and half. Simple cover up one side of me and you'll get happy or sad. Now you try. Ha ha! It was a long train ride.