Hungary

We spent two days in Hungary, but I could easily spend two months. The country offers an incredible mix of awe inspiring architecture, distinctive cuisine, warm people, haunting music, and plenty of activities. 

We started in Pecs, a university town that also has a nice walking area downtown. We visited the well preserved frescoes of early Christian tombs and then headed to Pecs cathedral for a brief demonstration of the excellent acoustics of the building that hosts many local musical events. 

After Pecs, we continued upriver to Budapest where we bid farewell to the Amaserena and toured independently. Budapest is an incredibly walkable city and we were able to access many of the highlights in a single day.

We started with a climb to the top of St. Stephen's Basilica to gather our bearings and take in breathtaking views of the city.

From there, we walked to central Pest for some delicious (and crazily well priced lunch) and a chance to buy souvenirs for family at home. We found gorgeous crystal glasses for a fraction of the cost they would be at home and even took in some of the less traditional 'sites' such as the local Icebar. As the name suggests, the bar is completely made of ice and fortunately they provide parkas and gloves to wear when you enter.

After the Icebar, we continued on to Buda Castle and Chain Bridge. Then we circled back around to a barge on the Danube where we ate another incredibly affordable, delicious meal on the deck while watching the sun set over the castle.

Finally we finished the day at the Budapest Eye for a final glimpse of this beautiful city.