First Official Day in Budapest

We have arrived in Budapest! While we arrived in Budapest on Friday, I don’t count that as our first day because we slept through most of it. So, Saturday, became our first official day here. We started our day by meeting two of Robert’s co-workers for lunch at a Pho restaurant just a few steps from our Airbnb place called the Oriental Soup House (OSHO). It is delicious and I recommend it to everyone (just make sure to make reservations during busy times).

After lunch we decided to head over the Margit híd (bridge) and walk around Margaret Island (Margit-sziget).

This is a popular place in Budapest and I can definitely see why. After getting to the island there is a large fountain that sometimes moves to music played from nearby speakers. Sculptures are a common site and are definitely unique. There are a few ruins as well.

Walking around the island, it is fall with its bright colors and falling leaves.

We also came across some oddities like a small animal enclosure and a closed for the season playground called “Hippie Island”

About a 1/3 way through the island we decided to head back and go downtown. There we saw the Parliament Building, St. Stephen’s Basilica, and the Shoes on the Danube.

At the Parliament Building the flags hung there had holes through the center of them. Obviously we had no idea why, so…research time!

In 1949, during the Communists rule, the current ruler, Mátyás Rákosi, placed a new coat of arms on the flag containing an emblem with a hammer, stalk of wheat and the communism red star. This would be known as the Rákosi coat of arms. During the 1956 revolution, revolutionists cut out the emblem leaving a hole in the center of the flag. On October 23, it is Republic Day and flags with the circle missing from the center are hung.

Of course it wouldn’t be a European city without a myriad of statues. (Robert joked that is you had a moustache you got a statue. But after seeing several statues, I don’t think he is that wrong).

Our next stop was the memorial, Shoes on the Danube Bank (or Promenade). A plaque is found that says “To the Memory of the Victims Shot Into the Danube by Arrow Cross Militiaman in 1994-45”. During World War II, 3,500 people were lined up on the banks of the Danube, told to take off their shoes, and then were shot so their bodies would fall into the river. There are a total 0f 60 pairs of iron shoes as part of the memorial and was erected in April 2005.

Afterwards, we were all getting a bit hot and tired, so we headed toward St. Stephen’s Basilica where we got delicious gelato, that they shape into a rose. You can get 2-4 flavors.

Finally, we decided to get some dinner and ended up at Bamba Marha Burger Bar. It was delicious!! (Although not sure where my picture went, but I had a cheeseburger and onion rings)

By the time we had gotten back to our place we had walked 12.6km (8.83miles). I was definitely stiff and sore the following day. But it was worth it ti see so much of the city on our first day. I have many more things I want to see in the city and luckily I have two years to see it all.i

It doesn’t feel like we have moved yet, but instead we are just on vacation. I know once we get our place to live and settle down it will feel more real. However, I can say that I love Budapest and most of my nervousness about living here has disappeared.

Here are a few extra random pictures, courtesy of Robert and his randomness.