Prague and Budapest

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Prague Castle all lit up

It’s been about five years since I’ve been to Prague and Budapest (for my 25th wedding anniversary), but I know that things move somewhat slowly there and it looks much the same now as it did back then, so thought I’d share some pics of these beautiful, historical cities.  (camera phones are so much better now…these aren’t the greatest, but you get the idea!)…

PRAGUE

Prague is one of the few cities that wasn’t bombed during WWII and it truly feels like they took little pieces of Disneyland and set them down on the banks of the Vltava River.  Enjoy this pictorial journey…

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The view from the apartment I rented on VRBO
(I’d highly recommend renting..I’ve done it all over the world.)

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Pivovarsky Klub…they boast “the largest beer menu in the country”
We had nettles beer, which was green and very interesting.

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The Prague Astronomical Clock…The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world and the oldest one still working.
Little figures come out every hour called “The Walk of the Apostles.”

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Prague’s musical history is legendary! Mozart called it home for awhile and
Vivaldi and Beethoven both performed in Prague.

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I wish I had a better picture to capture the magnificence of the Basilica of St. George and the amazing concert we saw there, featuring Pachelbel’s Canon in D and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.  The acoustics were amazing and intimate! (Darla you have to go to this if you can!…click here for ticket website)

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 Cute little spiral staircase in a park below Prague Castle.

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“The Dancing House” was designed by Croatian-Czech architect Vlado Milunic
with some collaboration from Frank Gehry.

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Stopped by a local rowing club to buy a t-shirt…they didn’t have any,
but I got to see these two master’s women rowing…one was in the Olympics back in the day according to the director of the club.

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Just a beautiful, serene scene.CIMG7114

Visiting the The John Lennon Wall was of particular importance to us.
Our daughter had just been in Prague a few months before us with her college Jewish studies class and had written her name and taken a picture of her “graffiti.”  We found the exact spot, but it had been painted over.  It was just cool to be at the same place
she was just a few months prior to our visit!CIMG7113

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BUDAPEST

 We planned our trip to Budapest to visit my then husband’s paternal ancestral homeland.  We visited the apartment where his grandma and father lived before coming to America to escape the Nazi invasion.  I loved seeing and feeling the history…and having some sense of connection…to this beautiful city.CIMG7199The iconic Chain Bridge…this was the view from our hotel room.

CIMG7215Walk to the hilly Buda side, take a walk through Gellert Hill and then saunter over to Castle hill with beautiful views of the flat Pest side and the Parliament Building.

shoes on the danubeShoes on the Danube…a very moving memorial of bronze shoes honoring the
Jews that were killed here.  They were ordered to take off their shoes, and were shot at the edge of the water so that their bodies fell into the river and were carried away.
It was an astonishing, haunting site.

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The House of Terror museum is located on Adrassy Ut and commemorates the occupation of Hungary by fascist and communist regimes, as well as memorializing it’s victims.

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Take the hour train ride from Budapest to Szentendre and have some wood fired pizza at beocafe…yummy and cute little place!!

CIMG7241Colorful door in Szentendre


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hidden cobble-stoned streets in Szentendre
CIMG7179I loved this sign for an architectural firm in Budapest….so creative!

We took the train from Prague to Budapest, but I’ve heard from friends that the barge cruise down the Danube is pretty spectacular.  The history is rich and the architecture just stunning!  European vacations never disappoint!

You cannot direct the wind, but you can adjust the sails! 

3 Comments

  1. I want to go traveling with you! All your trips look so fun – and a good mix of touristy must-sees and off the beaten path places! How cool you got to see David’s grandma’s apartment!

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