Climbing Buda

There are several different bridges that connect Buda and Pest, but one of the most famous bridges is the Chain Bridge. Before it got too hot we made our way out of our apartment in the Jewish quarter to the Chain Bridge (about 1/2 mile long). Once we got to Buda there was a option to take a tram/cable car up to Royal Palace. The girls have gotten so accustomed to walking/ climbing that they just started to walk up the path.

Walking along Chain Bridge

On top of the Hill we saw the President’s Residence, the National Library and St. Matthias Church from the 12th century with a very narrow staircase to the top (197 steps).

We felt our Wisconsin connection when we stopped by the House of Houdini, paying homage to Hungarian- born Magician Harry Houdini.

House of Houdini

What better way to indulge after a day of climbing and walking then to enjoy some more Hungarian classics: sour cherry strudel, Dobos torte and Lángos. Directly opposite St. Matthias church is a famous bakery from the 1800s, Ruszwurm Confectionery. We ordered a slice of sour cherry strudel and a piece of Dobos torte. M & O devoured the desserts; I was lucky to get a small bite of each.

Strudel and Dobos Torte at Ruszwurum in Buda

St. Matthias Church, Buda

Views from Fisherman's Bastion, Buda

Later in the day, once we had returned to Pest, I indulged in a savory treat, Lángos - much more my thing than a dessert. The most well-known place for Lángos is a stand outside Arany János metro station called Retro Lángos Büfé. Lángos is fried dough in the shape of a circle that is topped with homemade sour cream and then shredded cheese. This is the classic recipe but anything can be added including vegetables, meats etc. There is no way else to describe this but gluttonous deliciousness.

Langos!!

As if one day of climbing to Buda wasn’t enough, our third day we walked across the Green Bridge to climb the 656 ft high mountain to the Liberty Statue originally erected after 1945 as a tribute to the Soviet Union for liberating Hungary from Germany. After 1989 the plaque was replaced and changed to pay tribute and memory to all the Hungarians who helped give Hungary freedom, liberty and independence.

Liberty Statue on Gellert "Hill" We made the hike to the top

You may ask how I convinced M & O to climb this mountain - a straight climb with a mix of 350 stairs and winding paths. A third of the day way up the mountain is on the coolest playgrounds we have ever seen with slides built into the mountain and trampolines built into the ground. The girls jumped around and played for a good hour before we had them continue on to the steepest part of the climb. As you maybe have seen Europe is seeing record high heats and today was a scorcher with the temperature reading 36 degrees Celsius at the base of the mountain.

Even I jumped a few times!

Of course no trip to Budapest would be complete without stopping the Great Market Hall. We woke up early this morning to make the trek to the market where we indulged in a Hungarian breakfast of mini potato and cheese scones and some strudel. We of course bought the essential sweet and spicy paprika and some goulash spice.

If only we had more time in this amazing city!