Budapest, Hungary

Day 2: BUDAPEST| Two Cities in One Budapest, including the Banks of the Danube, the Buda Castle Quarter and Andrassy Avenue are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. 8am. Breakfast at the KOLLÁZS brasserie In the hotel We walked down into the original Subway station located outside of the State Opera House. It is a beautiful subway with ornate wooden trim throughout and is shockingly clean and tidy. 9am  Private tour of the State Opera House which was built in the late 19th century and painstakingly restored after damages received during WW II. Rain started again as we were leaving the State Opera house. We continued on a walking tour of the Grand Parliament Building, the American Embassy, and on to a panoramic tour of Pest, Heroes’ Square and St. Stephen’s Basilica, whose south tower houses the largest bell in all of Hungary.  The Pest side of the City is the major business district where the Grand Parliament building dominates the Danube.   Drove by the Shoe Exhibit along the Danube–60 pair of shoes lined up on a wall along the Danube representing the Jews who were shot into the Danube river Private lecture in the Great Synagogue (the largest in Europe) Lunch at Gundel restaurant, the city’s most famous restaurant. We then visited the Castle district, Matthias Church, the 13th-century coronation cathedral of Hungarian kings, and Fisherman’s Bastion, offering spectacular views of the city below. A terrace built in neo-Gothic and neo- Romanesque styles, the bastion takes its name from the guild of fishermen who defended this part of the city during the Middle Ages. We departed Castle hill via the Furnicular arriving near the Chain Bridge. At the end of the day, we visited the Central Market Hall to view a vast array of food and crafts on sale.  Several booths were selling Hungarian paprika. Of course, I bought some! Back to the hotel to relax in the pool and hot tub while Christian worked out in the fitness center. Jim, Christian and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner at KOLLÁZS brasserie In the hotel before embarking on a private Danube cruise to view the passing lights of Budapest from the water. Sadly, it has rained all day.   Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest | Meals: B L THE STATE OPERA HOUSE The opera house in Budapest stands as one of the most beautiful Neo-Renaissance buildings in Europe. It took nearly a decade to complete, with construction beginning in 1875 and finishing in 1884. It boasts a limestone facade with Baroque interior decorating. Emperor Franz Joseph commissioned the project. Construction included the use of marble and frescos by some of the best artisans of that era. It is considered to be one of the best opera houses in the world in terms of acoustics much of this credited to the original wooden seats. While the main foyer’s marble columns and black-and-white floor mosaic astound, the many ceiling and wall murals depicting mythological figures such as Apollo and Dionysus are what deserve the most attention. The highlight of the tour is the auditorium’s circular ceiling mural “The Apotheosis of Music” by Kárloy Lotz. It is set on Mount Olympus, where Apollo is giving a lute concert on a golden-pink cloud under a blue sky. Dionysus is present, and his followers carry tambourines and cymbals. Eros is flying, a putto holds a mirror for Aphrodite, Zeus is perched on his throne, winged Niké bellows out a song, Hades is abducting Persephone, and snakes sliver around the Furies. The side foyers, the Royal Reception Room, the grand staircase and other places will also leave you gaping in awe. Many important artists performed here, including Gustav Mahler, who was also the director for three seasons. The first floor box to the immediate left of the stage is the Sissi Box. According to legend, Empress/Queen Elisabeth watched performances from this box. From here, she could see everything while simultaneously remaining hidden from the probing eyes of the public The statue of Ferenc Erkel, composer of the Hungarian national anthem, stands in front of the Opera House. The other statue in front of the Budapest Opera is of Ferenc Liszt, the well-known Hungarian composer. BUDA CASTLE HILL Today, Castle Hill is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has many must-see attractions–Gothic arches, eighteenth-century Baroque houses and cobblestone streets. A surprising number of the buildings are still private homes, as Castle Hill is also a residential area. Cars have been banned – only people who live and work here are allowed to drive; however, public transportation is available. The first citizens arrived to Castle Hill in the 13th century after the Mongolian invasion, seeking protection in the hills of Buda. The first royal castle was built around this time. The golden age of Castle Hill was in the 15th century, following the marriage of King Matthias Corvinus and Beatrix of Naples in 1476. During World War II, Buda was bombed to the ground and had to be rebuilt again. Buda Castle Hill is also home to a large interconnected cellar system that consists of natural caves created by thermal waters and man-made passageways. Inhabitants have used the caverns for centuries for storage and shelter. The earliest traces of human life found here are 500,000 years old. Part of the cellar system can be toured at the Buda Castle Labyrinth and at the Hospital in the Rock Museum. HEREOS’ SQUARE Heroes’ Square (Hősök tere), located at the end of Andrássy Avenue and next to City Park is the largest and most impressive square of the city. The Millennium Monument in the middle of the square was erected to commemorate the 1000-year-old history of the Magyars. Archangel Gabriel stands on top of the center pillar, holding the holy crown and the double cross of Christianity. The seven chieftains who led the Magyar tribes to Hungary can be seen on the stand below. Statues of kings and other important historical figures stand on top of the colonnades on either side of the center pillar.