Hungary – Kubitz Family Photo Journal

Budapest was our first look at a former eastern block country that is still slowly overcoming its war torn past. We enjoyed the history along with the blue collar atmosphere; it’s long history of oppression from the Nazis only to be lied to and taken advantage of directly afterward by the Soviet Union. You can feel the uneasiness when you speak with them but capture the elation and friendliness that lies underneath. We had an incredible experience at their parks, old school circus (which respects animals and only had a dog act), their wonderful market, and then finished it off at the most incredible message spa and mineral baths in the world.

A view of Budapest straddling the Danube River. The original cities of Buda on the left and Pest on the right.

Buda Castle Hill

Near our apartment, the map listed the Buda Castle. We found out that the castle that used to stand there was mostly gone from being destroyed over the centuries. Though there are a few remnants, the newer palace, church, Fisherman’s Bastion, and other buildings all remain on what is now referred to as Buda Castle Hill — overlooking the city.

One of the many interesting statues in the city

Old buildings up the street from the palace in Buda Castle Hill.

A statue built into the side of one of the buildings.

Fisherman’s Bastion. According to the internet, its seven high-pitched stone towers symbolize the seven chieftains of the Hungarians who founded Hungary in 895.

Matthias Church stands opposite Fisherman’s Bastion. Much like in other old places throughout Europe, they feature small little doors.

Part of the really cool church roof design.

Labyrinth on Castle Hill

We read about an underground labyrinth located on Castle Hill and decided to check it out. According to it’s website, “Today’s underground maze of the Castle Hill of Budapest was in use in the Middle Ages as a shelter, a prison and even as Turkish harem in the 16th century. The underground tunnel system also served as a hospital during the WWII.” Today it’s a tourist attraction filled with various statues, props, and music to make for a creepy, interesting experience. We literally got lost in the dark, played sound tricks on each other and by the end were ready to run out of it. You see, the Dracula cell or cage was open and he had escaped. As you could imagine, Bill had Paxton running around with his head cut off since he knows how to embellish the story quite a bit.

A map of the labyrinth which takes you around a circular path (with a few dead end detours).

This is what most of the labyrinth walkways look like.

Within the labyrinth, they have various “rooms” with mannequins dressed up as opera characters, resembling an old masquerade party with operatic arias playing overhead.

While still others have strange things like blue aliens…

There’s one area that purports to be where they held Vlad Tepes (Count Dracula) as a prisoner in this cage; only for him to mysteriously vanish one day.

Near the area of the “Maze of Darkness” they have cool blue lights that keep things feeling creepy.

Within the Maze of Darkness, it is pitch black and you have to feel your way along the wet/damp walls. Only occasionally do you see these small blue lights that don’t particularly help you figure out where the heck you are (or are going). Bill did his best to freak out Paxton while we were going through this section (and was pretty successful at it).

City views from Buda Castle Hill

This is the view from our apartment window, which is half way up the hill. The parliament building is in the distance on the left.

The parliament building from our apartment at night. Spectacular!

The cave church

Turned into a church in the 1920’s by monks, the cave that it’s in is also referred to as “Saint Ivan’s Cave”, regarding a hermit who lived there who used the natural thermal water of a muddy lake next to the cave to heal the sick. The same thermal water is used for the thermal baths/spa across the street. The soviet’s walled up the church in the 1950s, but it reopened in 1989.

The statue just outside the church entrance.

Intricate wood carvings fill the newer areas of the church…

…including this spectacular confessional.

An outside look at the newer part of the “cave church”.

Budapest Thermal Spas

Budapest is known for it’s thermal spas and has many of them. On our last day, we went to one of them and had a wonderful, relaxing time. The two spas we saw were beautifully decorated inside and out.