More on Budapest

Budapest's Parliament Building

There is no denying that Budapest is one stunningly beautiful city. I was trying to describe for my friend, Caroline, why I thought Budapest was prettier than Vienna, but it wasn't easy to articulate the reasons. Of course, Vienna is a beautiful place, as well, but there is something about the topography of Budapest, with the castle, Fisherman's Bastion, and the cathedral perched high above the Danube on one hill, and the Citadel on yet another hill. The Danube is wide and grand as it runs through Budapest, and is spanned by some of the most historic and beautiful bridges in the world. That conversation, though, made me think about how beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, and made me wonder why some people like certain cities better than others. I absolutely fell in love with Istanbul, for instance, but it is very, very different from Budapest in terms of its appearance, culture, etc. and I would imagine that Istanbul wouldn't appeal to some people at all.

In any event, Caroline and I had a fabulous time exploring Budapest last weekend. Highlights of the trip included a late-afternoon walk around Fisherman's Bastion and the Castle District. Finding and hanging out in a traditional Hungarian "wine bar," (disabuse yourself of every notion you might have ever had about what constitutes a "wine bar" -- see photos below), walking over the Chain Bridge at night, riding the Hop On Hop Off bus on Friday and ending up at the Citadel where we enjoyed the amazing view and a few beers, experiencing the Hungarian baths in the City Park, hanging out with Eli's friend who is a federal judge at Eastern Europe's premiere (and possibly only) Mexican restaurant, and finding treasures at the Christmas market (which gets revived every year, apparently, for two weeks in the spring). Compliments of Caroline, we also stayed in the Marriot by the Chain Bridge, which was very luxurious and quite a treat! Needless to say, it was a much-needed and truly wonderful couple of days, and I'm grateful to everyone here in the Richardson household who pitched in to make it possible for me to get away.

View of the Castle on the Buda side from the pedestrian walkway on

the Pest side of the Danube

A craft stall at the revived Christmas market

The owner and his friends at the "wine bar"

Caroline and me in the back room of the "wine bar"

Standing in front of the Citadel with the sweeping view of Budapest behind us

Beautiful fruit and veggies at Central Market Hall

One of the lions that guards the Chain Bridge

A paprika stand at Central Market Hall