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Vajdahunyad Castle:

Heroes' Square:

Thermal Bathing:

The best known and most luxurious thermal baths in Budapest are located at the Hotel Gellert:

Below is the side street entrance to the baths:

The main pool has balconies, columns, stained glass windows and an opening roof. There are a number of different temperature thermal baths, a mint scented steam room, an ice-cold plunge pool, outdoor pools and an artificial wave pool. An enjoyable and relaxing experience...don't forget your togs!

Dinner:

After a hard day's sightseeing we treated ourselves to dinner at Arany Pince Etterem:

Where we indulged in steak and grilled vegetables:

And peach stuffed duck breast with potato croquettes:

A fitting end to the day.

Masked wonders...

We were surprised to find this in Fishermen's Bastion:

For some forint, the falcon will sit on your red leather encased arm:

We politely declined the honour.

Rolled up goodness:

Step 1 - Roll dough into long worms:

Step 2 - Roll worms around wooden post:

Step 3 - Cook in Sweet Dream oven:

Step 4 - Roll in desired topping:

I had cinnamon sugar...and it was divine!

Fishermen's Bastion:

Postcards or Chillis?

Inside Matyas Church:

The central nave:

The altar:

Jesus:

Stained glass:

Detail of the pulpit:

Matyas Church:

Matyas Church has been part of Budapest since the 12th century and has been rebuilt and restored several times:

It has witnessed the marriage of King Matyas and the coronations of Franz Jozsef I and Charles IV. It was turned into a mosque by the Turks in 1541:

Through most of the Middle Ages, Hungarians were not permitted to worship here - only Germans could:

The multicoloured tiled roof was added between 1950-70 after the original plain brown roof was destroyed during Soviet shelling in 1944-45:

Dangling:

An interesting toilet in the Hungarian National Gallery:

Rain:

While visiting the Hungarian National Gallery the skies opened up:

Fortunately, it didn't last for long.

Views and Vistas...

The Royal Palace funicular is the fun way to get to the top of Castle Hill:

View of Chain Bridge and St Stephen's Basilica from the funicular:

Falcon on guard at the Royal Palace:

Chain Bridge:

Although the lions appear tongueless - they aren't:

Szechenyi lanchid - Chain Bridge was the first permanent crossing over the Danube and linked Buda and Pest:

The bridge was named after Istvan Szechenyi:

Still can't see the tongue!

Some of the chains from which the bridge takes its English name:

Transportation Options:

A yellow tram:

Or a horse and cart:

Or a wedding car: