June 7 - 26,754 steps....

Well we must have needed it..slept in until 8:30... can't remember the last time I did that. 

Feeling almost 100% now,  the flights to get here a distant memory...I guess that's why people continue to do this kinda thing.

We try to take a different street everytime we come and go. There is something new and unique around every corner. 

There is a real mix of places that are original and ones with extensive restoration while still honoring the architecture and surroundings. The old and new blend seamlessly.

We started out on foot thinking we would get on the "Hop-on-hop-off" bus but decided a day on foot was more to our liking.

Parliament Building was our first stop. We have been admiring this from the Buda said and it is just as impressive from the Pest side. The city was once in 3 sections, Obuda, Buda and Pest.

We thought of doing the paid tour of the inside but considering many factors, we decided to enjoy it from the outside. We did find this non-descript entrance to an underground chamber showing the construction phases of the buildings. Very impressive. Started building in 1896.

This is showing the building 9 years after it was started...like Lego pieces on the ground waiting to be assembled.

Another area leading to an underground "Memorial of National Unity"...tried to find Barta or George's moms name of Rosajedi (not correct spelling, )...but so many names...

There is lots of restoration happening but first time we have seen them "pretty up" construction  netting.

And then we walked past this Gelato place...I could not resist... they were beautiful!! So many unique flavours to try, it was hard to decide!

Then on to the Basilica of St. Stephen.  

And this is St. Stepen's hand....yikes..he died in 1083...

Then window shopping on the way to our next destination ... just a little over $83,330.00.00 Canadian...

And this mini dog station... how smart!

Then to the most significant part of Budapest .. and we did not even really know it was going to be this. We do not know exactly where near Budapest George was born, and I was sad we did not...but that information no longer seems as significant as this....

We stopped at the House of Terror,  a Museum, which was witness to the two shameful and tragic periods in Hungarian 20th century history. Documenting the gruesome domination of the Hungarian Arrow Cross Party, the Hungarian Nazi,  took up residence  in the exact spot between 1945-1956 (known as  AVO and AVH)

With headsets in place we spent 2 hours and 20 minutes listening to the stories...but it was not until a certain spot and in the rooms where the years of significance in George's life had shaped his existence...and had it not been the actions of his father and mother that could have been the swift end to his existence. 

So in late October early November 1956, as a boy of 4 held by the hand of his sister Eve and his brother Joe being carried by his mother ....being led by their father through the dark of night... they left their lives and their homeland behind. His father feared that his involvement in the Resistance would surely result in the death of himself and his young family.... and standing in this spot watching silent footage of families crossing the frozen homeland..carrying no more than what they could carry on their backs...we stared in awe at the pictures imagining we would see his parents faces....watching this now...I have very different feelings of the people who were by husband's parents.... and I wish they were alive to talk about what we just saw....those questions are now lost in time....

Found a place to rest and eat in a really cool area lined with trees. There are so many restaurants and bars and little pub/snack places! The goal is to try to sample as many Hungarian dishes as we can!....oh and of course Hungarian beer!

Went to see the Shoes on the Danube which represent all the Hungarian Jews lives that were lost in 1944 and 1945 by the Arrow Cross Party. They were forced to remove their shoes as they were valuable then they were shot in the back of the head and thrown into the Danube...

The things you get to see when you walk.

This is a very large Pop-up park in the middle of the city. While areas are being re-done, in the meantime they make them useful!

We came across many shopping areas all mixed in with outdoor eating and drinking areas and green spaces with parks, playgrounds and dog areas.

Check out these shoes! Only $420.00!

Maybe another stop for a giant beer

Then we decided to walk even more and came across the craziest thing. Every Friday and Saturday night in June they close off the Green Bridge downtown over the Danube River, bring in music and let people do their thing! It was so busy with people chilling, partying, dancing and drinking. You bring your own stuff like a beach party!

Liberty Bridge Party

Budapest you amaze me and I ❤️ you!