June 22, 2006
Puzta, Hungary
Our days switched again and we found ourselves traveling to a traditional Hungarian horse ranch. OK, being from Oregon, I have seen cutting and horse tricks in an arena. Besides the arena was all sandy and dusty. It was a beautiful place however with a lovely outdoor eating area.
We had a delicious lunch with goulash soup, potatoes and meat. Definitely hot weather here.
There was a display of lovely needlework and several of us purchased tablecloths. I didn't know it at the time, but they were less costly here than in a little shop in Budapest that we stopped in later.
Our afternoon and evening were free in Budapest so we all got tickets to the underground and went down to the waterfront for a boat ride up the Danube. This was absolutely a glorious decision on the part of some of us. Traveling the Danube at sunset -- oh! how romantic. We could see the beautiful architecture of Budapest -- flat on one side and a big hill on the other side. I think we went under at least four bridges -- reminded me of Portland, OR.
The parliament building and the churches were especially outstanding. On the top of the hill were numerous statues overlooking and guarding the city. I'll see if I can find some pictures. I would say this trip hit fourth place as a favorite behind the Infant of Prague Auschwitz/Wadowice and Krakow/Neopokalanow.
The Chain Bridge
"Hungary is not dead ; she will live again!"-this is how, in the first part of the nineteenth century, Count István Széchenyi, one of the greatest figures of the Reform Period, whom Lajos Kossuth called "the greatest Hungarian", encouraged the nation, groaning under foreign oppression. He himself whole-heatedly urged and sponsored the building of factories, mills, roads and bridges. It was in his initiative, and according to his ideas, that the Chain Bridge was built from 1839 to 1849 to the plans of the English engineer William Tierney Clark by Adam Clark, a Scot. 
The bridge, 380 meters (420 yds.) long and 15.7 meters (17.5 yds.) wide, is supported by pillars shaped like antique triumphal arches. It was the first bridge over the Danube and it not only linked Buda with Pest but also the western with the eastern parts of the country. In January 1945 Hitler's troops blew it up, but in 1948-49 it was rebuilt in its original form.
More photos: http://www.fsz.bme.hu/hungary/budapest/kepek/szines.htm
Budapest sights: http://www.budapest.com/tours/