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Budapest
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Arrival at train station in Budapest
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Unlike the stations in all the other countries, the Budapest station is not modern and needs some refurbishing. You can tell we have crossed into Eastern Europe
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At one time Buda on the left and Pest on the right were separate cities. Now one city though the Buda side is hilly with more trees and more residential while the Pest side is flat,more commercial, more businesses and industrial
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Three weeks gone. Seems like a lot longer
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Looking more at the Buda side. That is the Danube River. Can you hum the "Blue Danube Waltz" by Strauss?
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The former palace, now a museum
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Fisherman's Bastion was constructed in 1896 to commemorate the 1000 years of Hungary and its seven tribes
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Matthias Church named after King Matthias in the 19th Century, it was constructed in the 14th Century but underwent restoration, sustained damage in WWII and most recently was renovated 2006-13
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Nice view of the Pest side and the Parliament Building
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Heroes' Square. The statue complex features the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars(Hungarian) as well as the tomb of the Unknown Soldier
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Land side of the Parliament Building which is the third largest after number one Bucharest and number two Buenos Aires
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This is just the right side wing. There is a comparable wing on the other side which is the wing that is used. Hungary like Nebraska went to a unicameral years ago. Other than tours and special events the right side is not used.
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Interior shots follow
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Wow!
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Whew!
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No wonder it cost 1.5 billion in today's currency to build in 1897
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Seen enough?
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During the years of Soviet control this red star was on top of the dome
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Here is the left wing of the building, the one that is in use
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Matthias Church as seen from a Pest side city street
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Lunchtime and Hungarian goulash soup and of course, a beer
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St Stephens Basilica in downtown Budapest is named after Stephen, the first King of Hungary(975-1038). It is relatively new being completed in 1905
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Better view. It dominates the downtown area
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Interior
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More
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Big organ
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Have to be impressed
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Better view of the Budapest station, I'm off to Prague, Czech Republic