Budapest Day 1

After a drive through the bowels of Budapest

with our Crazy Driver we arrived at the Sofitel Chain Bridge

Our 20 min. wait for the room was 45min.

When we finally got in, it had 2 single beds & stank of smoke....

A gentle complaint had us down the hall ( better view ) 

and a Queen size bed !!

Now this is a 5 * Hotel.

As we left for our walk this Gent was outside playing...

Beautiful !

I decided  not to "test the water"

This is one big River !

Behind me is the famous Chain Bridge.

Designed by William Tierney Clark 

and built by Adam Clark (not related) a Scottish Engineer 

and started in 1839 and finished in 1849.

It is based on an earlier bridge designed by William Clark

 over the Thames in Marlow, England.

Alison standing at the end of the chain...

Well I had to take it just then didn't I !

As we walked across "The Love Locks" started to appear.

As we got to the other main pier

they started to disappear.

These guys were cutting them off with a big pair of 

bolt cutters!!!! 

This beautiful crest of The Kingdom of Hungary

from 1880 at the bottom of the Buda Castle Palace.

We were told by the hotel concierge that the cable car was not working...

Guess what it was working, just as well!

The view from the top looking at The Sofitel

We're in the middle 2 floors from the top.

From the top of the cable car looking down stream.

Now that's an entrance !

The view improves as it gets dark.

The old and the new, with a modern walk way.

Some of the other bridges that joined the cities of 

Buda & Pest...

Yes it was cold but not frosty.

And it got darker 

And the lights got brighter

The Parliament Building looks great at night.

The Chain Bridge...just for something different.

The lights just got better

Then it was time for dinner..

but just up Zrynyl (St?) with it's bells a ringing

Saint Stephen's Basilica..

Back to the hotel..

not every hotel has one of these !

and it's just flying outside our door.