Saturday, December 29, 2007

AN DER SCHÖNEN BLAUEN DONAU

THE DANUBE WAS HIGH IN BUDAPEST - APRIL 2006

There are two places in Budapest I particularly love: the Parliament Building (Országház) and the Fishermen's Bastion (Halászbástya)! Here we have some pictures of either of them, and also photos from a very high Danube! In fact, in April 2006, BBC online was writing that «Hundreds of homes in Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania have been flooded as the Danube, swollen by heavy rain and snow melt, rises to record levels. A state of emergency has been declared in some areas as the authorities try to shore up defences and move out people threatened by the rising water». In Budapest the Danube was also quite high, but the city escaped major floods...

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DANUBE AND THE PARLIAMENT


"THROUGH THE ARCHES - The Parliament building seen from the Fishermen's Bastion. An impressive building constructed for the millennium celebrations of 1896 but completed only in 1902"



"THE PARLIAMENT, with its white neo-gothic turrets, stretches for 250 metres along the Danube. Here they look quite close; actually, it seems that the building is leaning towards the river"


"PEST AND THE GRESHAM PALACE - The white building at the centre was commissioned by the London based Gresham Insurance company in 1904 to Zsigmond Quittner and was completed in 1907 as an Art Nouveau palace. It houses now a beautiful Four Seasons Hotel"


"GOING UNDER - The day I took this pictures the waters had gone down 1.5 metres, and thus the barge was able to go under the Chain Bridge (Lánchid). It was the only one I saw during this stay in Budapest... But the bridge, built between 1842 and 1849 as the first permanent span across the Danube and reconstructed after WWII when the German Army destroyed the central span, was seen (and crossed) very often, as we were in Buda and came to Pest everyday..."

***

THE FISHERMEN'S BASTION


"ISTVAN - St. Stephen (c.975 – 1038) was the first King of Hungary. Shortly after his death, healing miracles were said to have occurred and Stephen was canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083. The king's right hand, known as "The Holy Right", is kept as a relic. As Stephen was also canonised by the Eastern Orthodox Church in 2000, he became the first saint recognised both by Orthodoxs and Catholics since the Great Schism. The statue was erected in 1906"






"FISHERMEN'S BASTION - According to Wikipedia, «the Halászbástya or Fisherman's Bastion is a terrace in neo-Gothic and neo-Romanesque style situated on the Buda bank of the Danube, on the Castle hill in Budapest, around Matthias Church. It was designed and built between 1895 and 1902 on the plans of Frigyes Schulek. Its seven towers represent the seven Magyar tribes that settled in the Carpathian Basin in 896». I adored this place since my first visit, as the views towards the Danube and Pest are absolutely stunning. No wonder the photos I've taken this time..."


"HILTON HOTEL - The Bela Pinter's building is famous for having incorporated a 13th century Dominican church and a wall from a 17th century Jesuit college; but from my point of view the best achievement is the reflection of Matthias Church as well as of the Fishermen's Bastion"




"MATTHIAS CHURCH - If you stroll on the Bastion you either see the Danube and Pest or the Hilton and the back of Matthias Church"




"FISHERMEN'S BASTION - Some more pictures"

37 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don’t know if you noticed, but Blogger gave the header back to Blogtrotter; the problem is that they seem to have swallowed the seventh moai on the right hand side of the picture, so Ahu Akivi is now missing a moai… ;((
For those who are interested, Blogtrotter Revival 90s is now once again in NewYork and The 70s & 80s is always fighting with the rain in Ireland.
Anyhow, for everybody arriving here and reading this I wish a very happy and healthy 2008, with all (or at least most of) your desires coming true...

alicesg said...

Hi trotter,

You can try changing the outer wrapper or side bar width. Go to template and edit html, please preview before saving template. Because once you save the template you cannot go back to the old template. You can read the tips from here http://tips-for-new-bloggers.blogspot.com/search?q=outer+wrapper+width

This is the place where I learn to blog. :)

alicesg said...

Thanking for sharing these nice photos. I love buildings with very nice architectural structures. The photo of the bridge that shows the barge is interesting. So I guess the barge has a time frame to go under the bridge.

NormanTheDoxie said...

I vacationed in Budapest in the 1970's , and can truly appreciate your beautiful photographs. We stayed at the Hilton as well as several guest apartments. The local cuisine was wonderful and the coffee was SUPER strong.

Lucky you.....wish I had the time to be a globetrotter!

Daniel Chérouvrier said...

Très bonne année à vous et à toutes et tous ceux que vous aimés.
Cordialement

S-V-H said...

Hi Gil,

I was smiling from the first picture to the last one because all memories came back from my many visits to Budapest in the 90's, after the opening from Hungary to the west. And I made some similar pictures too at the same spots where you were...:-))

I'm proud of the great capital of my home country!

alice said...

J'adore la vue entre les arches, quelle belle photo! Et toutes ces dentelles de pierre et les multiples clochetons...Superbe.
Bonne année à toi et toute ta famille, cher Gil. Merci de tes fidèles visites à ArradonDP et de tes commentaires toujours appréciés.
Bonne soirée!

Anonymous said...

To one of the most fascinating bloggers I know....Happy New Year Gil where ever you spend it. ~ Lynn

Thistlemoon said...

I have always wanted to go to Budapest, it looks like such an enchanting city!

Have a great New Year!

kuanyin333 said...

Mahalo for your sweet comment! :-) Happy New Year! Hey, when you have a moment's free time in your travels, write a post what it's like living in Portugal. I'm curious. My partner and I are considering a horseback riding adventure in Portugal through the Adventures on Horseback company.

Neva said...

AS always, your photos are breath taking...I wish you a very Happy New Year in 2008......hope you had a great Christmas.

joey said...

Great photos, Gil ... loved looking through the arch. And to you also, a most healthy and peaceful New Year. I so enjoy 'trotting' your log, especially since this past year my husband and I have been sole caretakers for my recently blind sister (recovering from meningitis and 2 horrific bouts of endocarditis PLUS). Difficult to even travel to our lake house UP NORTH so these photos are a 'feast for my eyes'.

Lilli & Nevada said...

Wow i love that architect amazing

Nikon said...

It is a beautiful city & I love your shots!
I hope that you have a fabulous New Year & a great 2008!
Thanks for your visits, I appreciate it :-)

Annie said...

Hello GMG, Buda and Pest are definitely on my to-see list and now I have some specific destinations in mind.

Happy New Year to you and your lady. Annie

Nick said...

A beautiful place, evidently. I've often meant to go there but have alwas ended up passing close by on my way to somewhere else. Next time I go in that direction (which looks likely to be soon) I must make time to visit.

SusuPetal said...

I've been in Budapest three times and I have about five photos from there -travelling lightly without a digital camera in the early 80's is the reason!
So it was nice to see these photos, and bring to mind that beautiful city.

A happy new year to you!

Lakshmi said...

Looks straight out of a fairy tale..love the pictures

Wish you a very happy new year and I hope this year , you will be able to visit India

Oman said...

Happy New Year Sir. This has gotta be one of my fave blogs of 2007. Keep posting sir and i'll do the same.

Again, have a propsperous and safe new year to you and your family.

Visit Asia. The view and scene here are very different.

Noushy Syah said...

The pic through the arches is so appealing to me, not to mention the rest are lovely..

Keep posting trotter and now am checking the other blog of yours...:)

I agree with the text/caption to your visuals..it makes more interesting to look and read,as not all the places we know,knowing and understanding the places make your travelogue a legend!!;)

Have a wonderful happy,joy and prosperous new year!

Joy said...

This is lovely! Definitely would love to visit Budapest. But I hear it's pretty expensive over there.

joy
Your Love Coach
The Goddess In You
Norwich Daily Photo

Chuckeroon said...

Tks for dropping in to R u T and for your kind wishes for the New Year.

So, Globe Trotter...I wonder if our pathes ever crossed on some plane? Seems highly likely.

These Buda & Pest ( ;-)) shots are familiar. I dare say we all have our Hilton and Bastei stories and of course the St. Matthew's Cellar Restaurant.

99 said...

Feliz ano novo para você e sua família também!

isa said...

Charming architecture! But some of the buildings are precariously close to the high Danube...Don't think I would be sleeping soundly ;-)

Happy New Year, Gil!

claude said...

Merci de votre passage sur mon blog (apétissant). Vos photos sont très belles. Beau voyage en Hongrie. BONNE ANNE 2008 à vous aussi !

Tawnya Shields said...

Hi GMG,

Stopping by to wish you a safe and Happy New Year.


Take care and I will see you next year. I want to be more frequent in viewing your lovely pics.

Best wishes for 2008,
Titania

Andrea said...

WOW, I have never seen anything that beautiful before in my life. I would love to visit there.

Wishing you a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Marcel said...

Hello Trotter

Sorry your visit to Sitka Alaska was during one of our many wet spells. I hope you come back when the sun is shinning. I cruised through your blogs and I have to say WOW. Thanks for your visit ti my daily photo blog and Happy New Year.

Janet said...

Well, the Gresham Palace caught my eye since I am married to a Gresham!
While they are from England, I have read where they originally were deGrasse of Normandy. Very nice photos.

Ash said...

Have a wonderful 2008. Happy new year to you and yours :)

Anonymous said...

lovely pics....Here's wishing u and ur dear ones also a wonderful year ahead...May the beauty of this festive season,fill your life with the laughter of loved ones, the warmth of good cheer and all the joy to light up your heart. And hope the dawn of the New Year marks the beginning of a prosperous future!

MedaM said...

What great series of photos! I would really love to visit there one day.
Happy New Year to you and to your family to be full of good health and happiness! :-))

Anonymous said...

Thanks everybody for your wishes! Happy New Year for you all!

Alice SG
Thanks for the tip; I tried, but it seems that they don’t have information this Tic-Tac blue template. Never mind… One day, Blogger is going to improve and make it possible for us to have decent pictures in our blogs… ;))
Usually barges, as well as boats, have no problem passing under the bridge at any time of the day, except when there are floods…

Citygirl15,
1978 was our first trip to Hungary (with some lousy pictures atBlogtrotter 70s&80s)
Don’t mention the food: goulash, perkölt… Yummy! About coffee, not being a coffee drinker, can’t comment; but I don’t remember seeing Guida, who is always complaining the weakness of coffee whenever it is written with two «ff» or two «ee», protesting… ;)

Deslilas,
Merci; à vous aussi!

Susanne,
You’ve many reasons to be proud! Budapest is a beautiful city!

Alice,
Merci! Jet e dis: le Bastion des Pécheurs est superbe et la vue… irréel…

Lynn,
Thanks! Have a great 2008! With all those beautiful recipes of yours…

Jenndz,
Put Budapest on your top list; it deserves! But make the trip through Lisbon; you’ll be surprised…

Kuanyin,
Haulloli Makahiki Hou! Does this make sense? Mele Kalikimaka was too easy…
One day, I’ll post on living here. I’m always ready to depart, but love to live here! Safe and with an unbeatable weather…

Neva,
Thanks!

Joey,
Wish you all the best for 2008!

Lilli & Nevada,
Paul (Nikon),
Thanks for your visit and comment!

Annie,
Good choice Buda and Pest, but if you make the trip through Lisbon, you won’t loose your time…

Nick,
You’ll make a good choice if you stop there…

Susupetal,
I know what you mean: I’ve no photos from my 1969 hitch-hiking two and a half months trip from Lisbon to Stockholm and return… ;((

Backpakker,
Thanks. I wish I could go to India, but I’m not sure I can make it this year; some friends are going to Goa in February, but I’m afraid I’ll continue to be stuck here…
Have a great 2008!

Lawstude,
Thanks! I’ve been some times in Asia; this blog has some labels showing it: China, Hong-Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, and Sumo… Also, if you have a look at the links to countries in revival blogs, you may find some of the above together with, for instance Thailand… But one day I’ll return to Philippines to see it as it should be seen… ;)

Noushy Syah,
Thanks. I began the blogs because I was not travelling as much as I used to and was starting to put memories on the table… Now it’s getting much more interesting with you all visiting and commenting!

Joy,
Expensive? I can’t believe that any European country may be considered expensive when you compare with London and the UK… ;))

Chuckeroon,
With four thousand hours in the air, it may have happened that our paths crossed in some plane…

99,
Obrigado. Para ti também!

Isabella,
The more I look at those pictures, the more I feel that the Danube was almost flooding Pest; incredible how those buildings seem to lean towards the water…
Have a picture dedicated to you at Revival 90s! ;))

Claude,
Merci! Maintenant je ne voyage pas, mais j’en ai envie… ;)

Titania starlight,
Thanks. Look forward to seeing you around…

Andrea,
Thanks. But there are also other places as beautiful as those… ;))

Marcel,
Thanks. Hope to find out when will the sun shine in Sitka (and the temperature will not be freezing…) ;))
There are news from Ireland (very wet), Florida and Budapest on my blogs…

Rambling round,
De Grasse of Normandy in England? No wonder; probably they went there with a certain Guillaume that crossed the Channel in 1066… ;))
According to the Office of Fair Trade, on 31 March 2005, CGU International Insurance plc acquired Gresham Insurance Company Limited (Gresham), a private limited company based in England. "It is the principal insurance underwriting company for household insurance associated with Barclays and The Woolwich (both part of the Barclays Group (Barclays)) in the United Kingdom (UK). In 2004, Gresham achieved turnover of approximately £146.4 million (reported gross written premiums) all in the UK." Did you have any shares?
The building, however, is now a Four Seasons Hotel!

Ash,
Kalyan,
Thank you very much!

Medam,
You’re quite close…

Kunterbunt said...

There are some especially wonderful photos, showing the beauty of those places and the view you have. Greetings to Lisboa.

Anonymous said...

April,
Thanks! Budapest has so lovely spots that there is no wonder to show its beauty...
Greetings to Köln!

Lalalalala said...

oh i have to add that Budapest's Chain Bridge Festival falls every year on the same day as my birthday!

I went there in 2006 and was pleasantly surprised by the fireworks... that they prepared for me :P

Anonymous said...

Clarence,
You're definitely a lucky guy! Even in Budapest they greet you with fireworks... ;))