September 16 - in Budapest HU

In the morning we went up to the Gellert Hill to have another view of Budapest. Gellert Hill, rising about 430 feet (140 meters) above sea level, is named for Bishop Gellert (Gerald), known for his mission to spread Christianity throughout Hungary.

Atop Gellert Hill sits the Citadel, a structure built by the Austrian Habsburgs between 1850 and 1854 in order to better control the city after the suppression of the Hungarian War of Independence.

When the Habsburgs left Budapest in 1897, ownership of the fortress reverted to the city. They tore down part of the walls as a symbol of victory against the Austrians. However, the Citadel was to be used again to house Hungarian soldiers. The Citadel also played a role in World War II. Historians point out that it was from the Citadel that Germans held the city at bay. Today, the old barracks have been converted to a tourist hotel and the structure mostly serves as a place from which guests can enjoy views of the city and the pretty Danube River below.

Then we saw the Liberation Monument that erected atop the hill in 1947, the Liberation Monument pays homage to the Soviet soldiers that freed the city from the Nazis during World War II. A palm-bearing statue of a female stands about 40 meters (130 feet) in the air. Visitors will also find a statue of a Soviet soldier here as well as the names of the Soviets that died in battle at Budapest.

We had a traditional Hungarian horse show at Uj Tanyacsarda (Tok).  It is a village with flowers decorating rural houses and horse farm.  We had a wagon ride and a nice lunch with a live band playing the type of music we can even get up to dance a little.  There were other tour groups having lunch in the same dinning area.  We showed them how wild we can be.  A couple of us brought horsewhip for souvenirs.

In the afternoon, we went back to Budapest.  Most of us went to shopping and the results were great and we did helped Budapest’s economy.  Some of us ventured out to try the famous Gellert Bath.   Gellert Bath was opened in 1918 and is one of the most popular baths for tourists coming to Budapest. The medicinal spring here was already famed in the 13th century. The spa is decorated with wealth of original Art Nouveau furnishings, artistic mosaics, stained glass windows and sculptures.  We did enjoy the art decoration and the facility, however, we still felt easier to enjoy the spa in the hotel’s private facility.