Another Year Over...

Only 30 more sleeps until Christmas. That also means it's been 11 months since the last one. Where did the year go?

Hungarian Christmas

It was such a wonderfully refreshing vacation last year: so peaceful, and such fun times with new friends. Just looking at the photos and thinking back, brings out the good feelings again.

Christmas Shopping in Budapest

There is a long layover in Frankfurt on the way home. Time enough to hit one last Christmas market. From the airport, it's a quick ride on the S-Bahn to the Hauptbahnhof downtown. Compared to Budapest, Prague, and certainly Bratislava, the commercial centre of Frankfurt has a more sophisticated feel, but not as much to see.

European Central Bank

Even the advertising is higher-tech than back home. In some of the tunnels, there is a video display or projection system, which matches the speed of the train, such that large advertisements remain visible in the train windows. For the most part, it works rather well, and is a testament to the power of the advertising Euro in driving the development of high-speed electronics. One simpler, but no less innovative practice is how the large and complex transit system maps are placed on the ceilings of the train.

Deutschherrenkirche

The Main river is a major commercial waterway. In the Second World War, much of the historical city was destroyed. The result is modern re-construction, but still charming.

Frankfurter Weihnachtsmarkt

One last snack on the go: a seasonal bread, with raisins.

Nikolaus

Then it's back on the U-Bahn, to the airport, and home.

Relics

In Europe, they take their saints seriously. The basilica of the aforementioned Saint Stephen, first of King of Hungary, is no exception.

St. Stephen's Basilica

The Latin inscription above the main entrance says: "Ego sum via veritas et vita" - I am the way, the truth, and the life.

Dome

Among the relics which are safeguarded within is his Holy Right (hand).

Altar

Goulash

At one of the finest restaurants in Budapest, team members were made to eat more spicy soup than most could handle. That meal, plus the Fisherman's Bastion, made Budapest a must-see destination on this trip.



Unfortunately, we can't afford to eat at a fancy restaurant. However, along with a plate of Chicken Paprikash (paprikás in the local language), goulash (gulyás) makes a hearty Hungarian homestyle lunch.

Bastion

The Fisherman's Bastion was the sixth pitstop, in a race around the world...

Fisherman's Bastion

Named in honour of the mediaeval fishermen charged with the defence of this area, it was constructed fairly recently, again in the imperial heyday.

Terrace

In the courtyard, where cannon were once rolled up the ramp, there is the Matthias Church (being renovated), and a statue of King (Saint) Stephen I.

Matthias Church

Today, one can have a photo taken there with with a falconer in costume, complete with falcon.

St. Stephen I

There are excellent views of Pest from the seven towers and parapets.

Towers

One of the more noteworthy sights, which did not get seen up close on this trip, is the Hungarian Parliament.

Hungarian Parliament

Labyrinth

In the hill beneath Buda Castle, there is an extensive Labyrinth.

Lower Entrance

The upper entrance looks normal enough. Just another archway in a row of houses. One of the restaurants there uses part of the Labyrinth as its wine cellar.

Ominous Passage

During the Second World War, much of the historical labyrinth was blocked off or destroyed.

Ominous Gate

It has been re-done for the tourist set, and for the most part, it has a sufficiently creepy atmosphere (in the near-dark lighting). Very fitting that it made a brief appearance during the Amazing Race 6.

Labyrinth Cross

Other sections come out a bit odd, trying too hard to be thought-provoking or profound.

Guardian

Bridges

The Danube divides Buda on the west from Pest on the east. Although Pest came first, it was destroyed by Mongol hordes. Protected by the river, today's Buda was left as the older part of town.

Buda Castle

The first and nicest looking bridge to cross the Danube was the Chain Bridge. Clark Ádám tér (like in East Asia, Hungarian surnames precede the given name) at the Buda end is named after the builder.

Chain Bridge and Parliament

The Margaret Bridge (far background) and Elizabeth Bridge (foreground) are two more of the many other bridges.

Pest

However, the most internationally-known bridge in Budapest is probably the
Megyeri Bridge due to open next year.

Heroes

It's been said that with each passing year, knowledge and awareness of history in Canada fades to dangerous levels. Distant battlefields are more difficult to imagine. This year, however, it seems that Remembrance Day is properly front and foremost in the public consciousness.

Heroes' Square

Budapest is no stranger to history, or conflict. On Gellért Hill, several fierce battles have been waged. The many World War II bullet holes in the citadel walls are only the most recent and grim reminders.

Citadella

Afterwards, the Soviet forces erected many monuments here, commemorating their liberation of Budapest. More recently, they now are treated as general monuments to freedom and sacrifice.

Freedom Monument

Your papers are not in order...

The Hungarian language belongs to an entirely different family than the other languages of Central and Eastern Europe. That fact, combined with a misunderstanding at the hotel shop (about transfers) leads to a run-in with the Budapest Metro transit police.

Analogue!

They travel in ominous packs wearing Eastern Bloc leather jackets. Then they flash their credentials. Right out of those 1980's movies and TV shows. The ticket inspectors on the Berlin U-Bahn are less imposing, but more insidious, disguised as young students or elderly passengers.

A trip to the gulag is averted by paying a "fine" of 5000 HUF (about $25 CAD) to purchase a three day tourist pass (face value 2500 HUF).

On Ice

Maccas

In Des Plaines, IL, there is a re-constructed replica of the first McDonald's franchise, used as a museum.

McDonald's Museum

In Australia, McDonald's is informally known as "Maccas". To varying degrees, countries around the world have embraced and resisted the Golden Arches.

In Sweden for example, the similarly named Max Hamburgers has earned a strong and loyal following, based on national pride.

Slovakian Menu

The offerings are mostly the same, everywhere. Sometimes, the same product is known by different names in different countries. Like the Big N' Tasty burger, which is called the Big Xtra in Canada.

In other cases, local delicacies have been created. Like the McLobster/McHomard in the Maritime provinces, or the McPepper in Hong Kong.

However, there is nothing distinctly Slovakian. Only pseudo-international offerings like the Olympia Bacon, McLouisiana, or McCordon Bleu sandwiches.

International Menu

Thankfully, we choose to forgo the Maccas, and have lunch at a local restaurant with only three tables. Our meal was chosen from the Slovak menu, without 100% comprehension of what we were ordering. While we were careful not to be too adventurous, it was very pleasant, and certainly more healthy. Including a small tip, we also managed to use up exactly our every last Slovak koruna.