DAY 3--BUDAPEST CITY TOUR AND CRUISE NORTH ON THE DANUBE

Our day began early with a city tour of both Buda and Pesh. Our bus took us past many of the major landmarks in Pesh before crossing the Danube to the Buda side. Each tour guide arranged for us narrates in English and is very knowledgeable about the local history, often extending back to Roman times. Our bus stopped at Hero's Square.

Heroes' Square was created in 1896 to honor the thousand-year anniversary of Hungary's founding and its greatest historical figures.

Paul is looking at the magnificent Museum of Fine Arts.

The Hungarian Tomb of the Unknown Soldier stood in the middle of this historic square..

After visiting Hero's Square we drove across the Danube to the Buda side of the city. Our bus dropped us off on Castle Hill, one of the highest points on the Buda side near what was once the site of the Hungarian Castle, now a museum.

We toured the Matthias Church which is over 700 years old.

There were many stained glass windows in the front of the Matthias Catholic Church. We were amazed as to the detail in this church.

After we left the church, we were able to look across the Danube to Pesh, which is behind Paul. The voicebox hanging around Paul's neck allows us to hear our guide clearly regardless of if we were directly in front of the guide or standing 50 feet away. A foggy day, so not the clearest pictures.

The Hungarian White House is located here on the hill. We were able to witness a changing of the guard right before noon. 

As the other soldiers marched away, the church bells began to ring. The church bells are rung at noon each day in remembrance of the Hungarian victory over Ottoman Turkey in 1456. We were not as impressed as the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace in London, but the ceremony was majestic in its own way.

After our morning tour, we boarded the ship and began cruising north and west along the Danube. The views of the small Hungarian villages and towns along the Danube were delightful. It seemed like the history books were passing before our eyes as our ship cruised slowly along the wide but gentle Danube.

Another picturesque village

and the first of many church steeples with an onion shaped dome.

Our dinner this evening was the "Captain's Welcome Dinner". We enjoyed a scrumptious 5-course meal including a lobster salad, scallop appetizer, and a nice white fish topped with shrimp. The very attentive wait staff always seems to refill the wine glasses before they are empty.

We relaxed after dinner and thought about our day. This vacation is becoming all that we hopped for. Interesting sites, informative tours, delicious food and excellent service by the ship's staff.