Budapest, A City Undivided

March 19, 2026

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest may be divided physically by the Danube, but the citizenry demonstrate a united population, accepting of differences, and looking forward to the future.

Fun Facts

Hungary

• Hungary has such a rich history that one National Day simply won’t suffice to commemorate it all. The first Hungarian National Day takes place on March 15th in memory of the 1849 Revolution and War of Independence. Next, on August 20th, Hungarians commemorate the country’s founding as well as the founder, King Saint Stephen. Finally, on October 23rd, the most recent Revolution and War of Independence of 1956 is honored.

• Hungary is considered one of the best birdwatching countries in Europe! With over 400 species of birds residing here, you’re sure to capture an incredible bird photograph or two. You can even see and snap the mythical national bird, the Turul – or, rather, statues depicting it.

• Hungary brought the world some of its most notable inventions, such as the Volkswagen Beetle, as well as the ballpoint pen.

• Billionaire philanthropist George Soros is from Hungary, as was Harry Houdini.

• Hungary has produced 15 Nobel prize winners.

• Hungarian names are regulated by law.  Parents must choose from a government-approved list of names, or apply for exceptions or variations.

Budapest (pronounced Budapesht)

• You can't clink glasses with beer in Budapest due to a historical tradition stemming from the 1848 Hungarian Revolution, where Austrian generals celebrated crushing the revolt by clinking beer mugs while Hungarian revolutionaries were executed.  Clinking glasses with wine, pálinka (a Hungarian fruit brandy), or other drinks is perfectly acceptable. 

• At the Saint Stephen Basilica in Budapest you will find something rather unexpected preserved in the chapel. The mummified right hand of King Stephen, the country’s first monarch, is displayed in an orna96te glass case and considered a sacred relic.

• It is the thermal bath capital of the world, where you can find both spas and nighttime swim parties

• The Rubik’s Cube was invented in Budapest

• Budapest has a reputation for being one of Europe's most haunted cities, with many folklore tales of vampires, ghosts, and spirits adding to its mystique.

Last night we sailed away from Bratislava and headed toward Budapest on the Danube. Soon after setting sail we encountered our first lock. Almost all the locks on the Danube (and other rivers in Europe) are narrow. So narrow that you could reach out from your room balcony and touch the side. (Not that I have ever done that of course!). But this lock was really wide. Two ships could have easily fit in it side-by-side.

Today we took a combination bus ride/walking tour around Budapest. Like many cities in this area, the history of this city involves many changes over the centuries. From 1300 - 1873 Buda (on the high cliffs on west side of the Danube) was the capital of the Kingdom of Hungary. During that time, Pest was a small provincial town on the flatlands (east) side of the Danube. In the Revolutions of 1848 in the Habsberg areas, the people rose up and fought for their indepaendence. From 1867 -1873, the two cities continued under a dual monarchy, but in 1873 the cities merged and formed Budapest.

The city of Budapest is a multicultural city, with eclectic architecture styles throughout. But since salary and wages are about 1/2 of those in nearby Austria, it is hard to get people to move into Budapest.

The pictures and descriptions below are separated into those on the Pest side, and those on the Buda side. Hopefully this will help paint a picture of the different sides of the city.

The Buda side

The Castle of the Habsburg Empire:

Interesting connection between these two buildings (in the pictures below) that are across a wide street from each other. Around 1945, a group of Jewish people lived in the white house. The Gestapo arrived to arrest them, but when they broke down the door to enter the house, no one was there. The group had escaped through a series of underground tunnels that existed in the limestone rock. The group ran underground and across the street and into the yellow house. The yellow house was the embassy of the Catholic Church and the Holy See. When the Gestapo officers realized what had happened they backed away and did not violate international laws and norms which declared religious buildings as sacred places not to be entered for purposes of arresting people. (Do you see any connections between this story and things going on in the USA today?)

The inside of the Matthias Church. This catholic church was taken over in the 1700's and converted to a mosque. In the early 1800's, it was returned and the reconstructed to revert it to a catholic church again. That process was completed around the end of that century.

This is Budapest's statue of liberty. It was erected in 1947 in celebration of the Soviet liberation of Hungary. Although the people soon grew tired of soviet rule, and gained independence in the Velvet Revolution, they have kept the statue with the belief that the people of future generations need to remember what happened in the past to avoid repeating it, while looking forward to a better future.

This Golden Eagle was on display in the area near the Matthias Church in the Buda section of Budapest. Its handler allowed people to hold it for a price.

Connecting the Buda and Pest sides with the Chain Bridge. It was the first bridge built to connect the two sides of Budapest. It is a stone suspension bridge and opened in 1849. The name comes from the metal chains that help hold the bridge together. Interesting fact:

The four lions that guard the bridge do not have tongues. The artist forgot to add them in.

The Pest Side

This is the Jewish Synagogue on the Pest side of the Danube. It is the center of a thriving Jewish community and is the second largest Synagogue in the world that can hold 3,000 people. (The largest synagogue is in New York)

Below is Elizabeth Park, named after, and dedicated to, the Empress Elizabeth of the Habsburgs.

The iconic Parliament House on the Pest side of the Danube, by day and at night:

In front of the Parliament House is a tribute to the Jewish people who were taken from the city during the holocaust. The shoes made of iron are a simple, yet very moving display.

The Dogs of Budapest. Note that one of the dogs really liked Karen and rolled over onto Karen's feet so she had to keep petting the dog.

And finally, we leave you with a funny sign. In case you can't read it - "I only drink on days starting with a T - Tuesday, Thursday, today, tomorrow, Thaturday and Thunday."

Our brother Tom and sister-in-law Katie told us that Budapest is in their top 10 cities around the world in which they have visited. And, they have traveled a lot (as of Hungary, they have now visited 86 countries)! So, that says a lot about Budapest in regards to its beauty, history, architecture, and urban plan. And, we will continue our exploration tomorrow.

We think we will be going to a nearby island that is known for bird-watching, while Tom and Katie will be visiting an underground hospital that was originally built as an emergency surgical hospital during WWII. It was later used during the 1956 Revolution and expanded into a top-secret nuclear bunker during the Cold War. Hmmmm.....birding or raditation....which would you choose? All that to say, we may or may not be sending a blog on Friday. It's up to the birds!

Jó éjszakát (yoh ey-sa-kat) Good night!