Note: Please excuse the wiki link for a few of these attractions as I couldn't find better websites for further info, but meh. It's enough to get your research started :)
This morning was less of a surprise as we expected the same schedule as yesterday's, probably with a little more time too as the meeting point was in Buda. Guess again! Despite the fact that we were already staying in Buda, it didn't mean the meeting point was any closer. Suppose we had to take two trams and walk a bit. Oh, how I wish it were that simple. Before we even reached the tram stop, things were already a mess: I realize I had left my Budapest Card on the table, and we were as of then running slightly behind. So, with what was left of my athletic training from years ago, I bolted back to the house, calmly unlocked all the gates and doors one by one, ran to the coffee table to grab the root of all this exercise first thing in the morning- le card, swiftly locked everything, and practically rolled down the hill to meet up with Ivy. Now thinking back, that was an operation well done! I don't even know how I managed all those doors, but I guess when the time calls for it, somehow, we are all very capable of accomplishing miraculous things.
(Random breakfast to finish all the stock we have left: mushroom with peppers & egg accompanied by chicken steak and toast- yummm :P)
(Matthias Church: Finally, we found civilization after doing all that trekking in the mini forest...as if I needed more exercise?!)
(this was the model that had distracted me for a split second from searching for our tour group: it required perfect-timing to avoid unwanted bodies in my photo)
The tour took us all around Buda's Castle Hill, taking a closer look at the Matthias Church, the Fisherman's Bastion, the Castle Theater, and of course, the Buda Castle. Stories after stories, it's almost impossible for me to remember them all, but if I had to try expressing a certain feeling about Hungary, it's that this place felt depressing. You could almost compare that feeling with the one I felt in Berlin- almost chilly to the bone. Suppose every side the Hungary allied with during wars, the said side lost. Can you imagine? That's just about the worst luck ever. What was once one of the strongest nations in Europe now existing simply. Though, maybe, that isn't such a bad thing either. The tour ended in an art gallery where most people bid their farewells. It also promoted this hidden coffee shop just across the street, so of course we had to go there for a cup of mocha. It wasn't that the tour was any tiring, but who wouldn't want to grab a seat and have a cup of delicious refreshment in this nice and breezy weather? So, mocha well enjoyed while we quickly scribbled a few more postcards. (There is a big post office near the entrance to the Festival of Folk Arts- don't ask me where that is because even though we did visit the festival later on, I still don't know how we got there, but suppose that's also where you can get into the Hungary National Art Galley).
(this was me trying my best to not have so many humans walking around in front of my beautiful overview shot of the Fisherman's Bastion, but what an impossible wish as it was tourist season!!)
(not sure why, but I felt the need to take a picture from this exactly view...a nice shot of the guards & the shore-front side of the Fisherman's Bastion)
(the day view of the Parliament Building- actually, just as grand as the night scene)
(a grand statue of the King turned Saint- King Stephen I of Hungary)
(if only I could remember the name of this adorable coffee shop that comfortably nestled in the archway entrance of a courtyard...)
A super short visit of the Labyrinth was enough to give me some goosebumps, but odd enough, I'm not usually a chicken when it comes to these kinds of things. It could be the darkness, I suppose. A cheery, sunshine person like me *no shame* NEEDS the sunlight, so as soon as Ivy as done exploring, we got the heck out of there. With the day free to do as we like, we decided to check out this Festival of Folk Arts at the Buda Castle. Trouble one: we were out of HUF money, and there was no ATM around. No matter, we were able to use credit to purchase the entry tickets. Mind you, not many places take credit cards, so always make sure you have enough cash on you. What happened next is exactly WHY you must always have cash on you...
(it looks quite big, but it really isn't...except we still managed to get lost!)
(so begins the display of real handcraft...)
(this one is eye-boggling with all the different strings!)
(she insisted on trying a poppy seed cake...which she did try. one bite)
(we finally found the entrance! now, where to purchase tickets with a visa card?)
(there's a story behind this eagle, something to do with freedom...? honestly, I'd need to take notes in order to remember all the stories!!)
(so here's where the happening is happening! except, many shops do end up selling the same things...all the way down the entire hill)
So we waltzed into the party, filled with traditional stalls of food and craft. I must have been hungry because the first thing that caught my eye was the chicken steak. After confirming that 100g was decently priced, we had asked for a serving. As it turned out, each serving was about 600g, so of course, they asked for the payment of 600g. Except, we didn't have enough cash for that as we had only ordered 200g- because we only had enough cash for that much. (Yes, this was one of those moments where you SERIOUSLY regret not visiting an ATM, knowing you have the money but you can't access it ATM, "at the moment". Almost in flames because we can neither refund the order or pay with a credit card, they decided to "accept" Euros instead. With an overcharge of 3 Euros "exchange fee", it was a pity neither of us could truly enjoy the steak.
(this SUPER expensive piece of chicken steak- luckily, it tasted good, or else, I'll go Taiwanese on them for sure...)
No worries, though. The Sung sisters always manage to pick up the fun somewhere somehow. The rest of the afternoon was spent wandering around the stalls, and somehow, we unknowingly reached the bottom of the hill. The moment we did, we panicked. Did we manage to miss the Buda Castle?! How come we didn't see anything castle-ly?! How could we have missed one of the must-sees of Budapest?! But, it was too late anyway. By the time we realized, it was past the last entry. Never mind, we will just have to leave that for next time...whenever that is.
(how could you bring yourself to bite off it's cute head?! then again, I wouldn't buy if it I ain't gonna eat it :P)
(this looks like something I would have in my backyard, imagining it crackling away on a snowy day...)
(such a simple, yet quite entertaining game, eh? kids, easily bought~)
(this Slovakian grandpa should be awarded with something! anything! "The Grandpa with EGG-cellent skills"- literally)
(if I could guarantee its safety on the way back home...but I couldn't, so no souvenir for me)
Where to go next? Seeing how we didn't have much of a preference, we referred back to the Budapest Card book and chose the Gerbeaud Brasserie for an early snack. It was really a nice area to chillax and people-watch, but knowing it was our last evening in Budapest, we must make use of our time as much as possible. With that in mind, we made our way to catch a glimpse of the largest synagogue in Europe, 5th in the world, the Dohány Street Synagogue. As it was closed by the time we swung by, we could only make a short walk around the building, noting the Holocaust Memorial within the gated gardens. In a way, of course it would remind me of our trip in Berlin. It's written in the history of these people, the dark and gloomy days of the past, never to be forgotten. Yes, the mentality to move forward with life is there, but the past will always be there, too. On the bright side, we can all learn from it as we set foot to create a "better world"- whatever that means for different groups, though ultimately, we hope that means the same for all.
(no joke, this was one of the best ice-cream sundaes ever- but also pricey! oh wells, you're a tourist!)
(a pano shot of the Synagogue...quite the view, eh?)
The night ended as we hopped on the last tram ride home with a steaming roll of Chimney Cake on my lap. The view from our window seat was almost fairy tale-like, a scene from a movie, and could very well have been. That's what I like about Europe. As if tales were hiding around every corner, and very possibly so. To think this was where the Brothers Grimm collected the now iconic stories of Disney and much more- of course, the stories are no longer as they were first told. Those are the ones that intrigue me the most, the real ones. So mysteriously magical, I hope to visit Europe again some time, and I have a feeling it won't be long until then.
Next stop: Paris...for Skydive!!!