Celts and Romans once populated the city.
The church was built in 1220, destroyed in 1241 during the Mongolian invasion, rebuilt, and destroyed a final time in 1763 by an earthquake.
Today it is one of Hungary's largest architectural ruins. Interestingly it is still holy and sanctified so you can marry on the church grounds!
2. Wine Festival: PÁTY, Hungary (Pahte)
On our way through the countryside (to the festival surrounding several private wine cellars in the hills in Paty), all 15 of us were invited into the small, open-air home of the most hospitable man I've ever met. He literally would not take no for an answer to anything and gave us all heaping portions of forest soup, meat and potatoes, homemade red wine, white wine -who wants more wine? you must have more wine!- even though his family was joined by several other Hungarian families already. We sat at his table and accepted his hospitality. It was so neat. I love the countryside and I love Hungarians. Then we went into the wine cellar of a friend of a friend----------->
3. Aquincum - Ruins of the Roman City
Aquincum was the capital of the Roman province of Pannonia. It's in the north of Buda and was excavated in the 19th century. Many streets and foundations remain so it was very neat to explore!
4. Pálvölgyi and Szemlöhegyi Caves
We took a trip to two caves in the Buda Hills, which turned out to be an excellent plan B on a rainy Sunday (even though both tours were in Hungarian.)
Interestingly after 20 years lacking in cave experiences, I had 3 cave experiences in 7 days!
5. TÁNCHÁZ at Kobuci Kert
What could be better than minced sausage sandwiches with Soproni beer, live Hungarian folk music, and traditional circle and line dances?
I planned this event and was so worried it was going to be lame, but everyone really, really enjoyed it! The dances were so fun, it was packed, and the energy behind the music was something else. So fun!
6. MUZEUMOK (Night of Museums!)
One night a year in Budapest you can pay the entrance fee of one museum and go to nearly all of them for free between 6pm and 2:30am!
It was so fun! Some stalls surrounding different museums sell Hungarian spiral cakes, cherry beer, crafts; there are stage performances (like flame throwers); and the streets are packed with something like 400,000 people visiting museums and the festival parts.
We went to: the Hungarian National Museum; a concert at the Liszt Memorial Museum; the House of Terror; up in the tower of Varosliget Castle; around the stalls at the Agricultural Museum; and to the Hungarian House of Photography. :) :)
7. Gellért Hotel Baths
Built in 1918, they are the best known and most luxurious baths in Budapest (and there are a lot of thermal baths).
Think mosaics, fountains, marble sculptures - plus warm, sweet-smelling water, a gorgeous patio, a nice outdoor pool with artificial waves on the hour... we stayed there for over 3 :)
Well that about does it for notable events from the past two weeks! I am finally caught up. A nice short blog on my job or thoughts about Hungary will be coming soon hopefully; however I have to move hostels (this one will be renovated during July) so that means even less time to write in the next few days. Hope everyone is doing well at home!!!
Sziasztok! Puszi!
Em
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