Budapest - Day Two

Spent another enjoyable day in Budapest, this time on the Pest side. We opted to ride our bikes around today. I was a bit wary before, big city and all, but there are many, many bikers here, and we have a fancy-schmancy lock and cable. Biking around was definitely easier and faster. In fact, we found ourselves with more time than we knew what to do with. And we're getting to know the streets of Budapest. At least, the ones somewhat around our hostel.

We visited the Parliament building first today. There are some picture of it on the previous post. We went all out and took the guided tour. As it's a government building, we had to go through security and everything. Well, we had a knife in our bag for our lunch later, and when the security guard saw it, alarms sounded, officers swept down on us and we were detained for three hours. Just kidding. We gave them the knife, they gave us a receipt, and we picked it up on the way out. For some reason I think it would have been different at the US Capitol.

The Parliament was impressive. So many intricacies. And it's newer than many DC buildings. But ours seem so boring in comparison. Ah well. Greener grass.

Stopping for a picture in Szabadsag Square, on our way from the Parliament to the Basilica

Inside the Basilica there is a Chapel of the Holy Right Hand. The owner of the hand died in 1031. It's an old hand! The picture of the actual hand was all fuzzy, so you'll have to settle for the sign.

Again we braved the stairs to check out the view from the Basilica dome, this time St. Stephen's Basilica. I think this Basilica was actually smaller than the one in Esztergom, and the view maybe even less impressive because in Esztergom it was atop a huge hill. But the view was nice all the same. We got to check out all the places we walked to yesterday.

Here we have the Szechenyi Bath. As our train doesn't leave until 8:25, and we've seen most of the sights we want to see, we thought we'd beat the heat with a dip in the medicinal waters. And maybe even partake of a massage for a thousand forints or so.

We may post again tomorrow, or not. Regardless, next stop Slovenia and the town of Skofja Loka. Day rides there. Szia!