Budapest, Bratislava and Prague

March 2015

  • Buda Castle on Castle Hill, on the Buda side of the Danube River
    Buda Castle on Castle Hill, on the Buda side of the Danube River
  • The funicular, my favorite way to get up the hill to my hotel after having been on the Pest side of the river. Budapest
    The funicular, my favorite way to get up the hill to my hotel after having been on the Pest side of the river. Budapest
  • Fishermen's Bastion, right behind my hotel.
    Fishermen’s Bastion, right behind my hotel.
  • Fishermen's Bastion. Budapest
    Fishermen’s Bastion. Budapest
  • Fishermen's Bastion. Budapest
    Fishermen’s Bastion. Budapest
  • Hungarian Parliament Building, from Castle Hill. Budapest
    Hungarian Parliament Building, from Castle Hill. Budapest
  • St. Mattyas Church, on Castle Hill. Budapest
    St. Mattyas Church, on Castle Hill. Budapest
  • Ferdinand's Gate to Buda Castle. Budapest
    Ferdinand’s Gate to Buda Castle. Budapest
  • Ferdinand's Gate to Buda Castle. Budapest
    Ferdinand’s Gate to Buda Castle. Budapest
  • Hungarian National Gallery, which is in some of the wings of Buda Castle. Budapest
    Hungarian National Gallery, which is in some of the wings of Buda Castle. Budapest
  • Hungarian Parliament Building, second largest in Europe. Budapest
    Hungarian Parliament Building, second largest in Europe. Budapest
  • Grand staircase of the Hungarian Parliament Building. Budapest
    Grand staircase of the Hungarian Parliament Building. Budapest
  • Cigar holder for representatives and lords, Hungarian Parliament Building. Budapest
    Cigar holder for representatives and lords, Hungarian Parliament Building. Budapest
  • St. Stephen's Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary. Budapest
    St. Stephen’s Basilica, named after the first king of Hungary. Budapest
  • New York Cafe in Budapest. Recommended by Rick Steves, and he was right! Go there!
    New York Cafe in Budapest. Recommended by Rick Steves, and he was right! Go there!
  • Magyar Kave (Hungarian Coffee) at the New York Cafe. Budapest
    Magyar Kave (Hungarian Coffee) at the New York Cafe. Budapest
  • Heroes Square, Budapest.
    Heroes Square, Budapest.
  • Three of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, Heroes Square, Budapest.
    Three of the Seven Chieftains of the Magyars, Heroes Square, Budapest.
  • A particularly Hungarian looking fellow, Heroes Square, Budapest
    A particularly Hungarian looking fellow, Heroes Square, Budapest
  • Buda Castle at night. Budapest
    Buda Castle at night. Budapest
  • Chain Bridge, my favorite bridge in the world. Budapest
    Chain Bridge, my favorite bridge in the world. Budapest
  • Some big building in Budapest
    Some big building in Budapest
  • Looking across the Chain Bridge to the Pest side of Budapest, from Castle Hill
    Looking across the Chain Bridge to the Pest side of Budapest, from Castle Hill
  • Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest
    Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest
  • Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia
    Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia
    Old Town Bratislava, Slovakia
  • Slovak National Theater, Bratislava
    Slovak National Theater, Bratislava
  • Giant pedestrian mall outside the Slovak National Theater. I sat out here in the sun knitting for a while. But there I was, a dumpy frumpy old lady dressed in black, knitting, and so people kept coming up to me assuming I was a local and asking for directions in Slovakian.
    Giant pedestrian mall outside the Slovak National Theater. I sat out here in the sun knitting for a while. But there I was, a dumpy frumpy old lady dressed in black, knitting, and so people kept coming up to me assuming I was a local and asking for directions in Slovakian.
  • Beautiful, huge pedestrian mall. Bratislava
    Beautiful, huge pedestrian mall. Bratislava
  • I got bored, went looking for a place to go on Google Maps.
    I got bored, went looking for a place to go on Google Maps.
  • Run down, empty, ugly, my tour guide says because political corruption is still rampant, so lots of money gets "lost."
    Run down, empty, ugly, my tour guide says because political corruption is still rampant, so lots of money gets “lost.”
  • "Park" in Bratislava
    “Park” in Bratislava
  • Slovakian "White House." The Eastern European countries I visited all called the home of their President "The White House" because they thought it was funny. Those crazy Slovaks.
    Slovakian “White House.” The Eastern European countries I visited all called the home of their President “The White House” because they thought it was funny. Those crazy Slovaks.
  • One of several "whimsical" statues erected in Bratislava by the government, hoping to make the place seem a little more fun.
    One of several “whimsical” statues erected in Bratislava by the government, hoping to make the place seem a little more fun.
  • More whimsy. Trucks kept decapitating this guy, so they installed the sign. He seems more like a pervert than a whimsical fellow to me. Bratislava
    More whimsy. Trucks kept decapitating this guy, so they installed the sign. He seems more like a pervert than a whimsical fellow to me. Bratislava
  • Bratislava
    Bratislava
  • UFO Bridge, which they advertise as "just like the Space Needle in Seattle!" Bratislava
    UFO Bridge, which they advertise as “just like the Space Needle in Seattle!” Bratislava
  • View of Old Town Bratislava from UFO tower.
    View of Old Town Bratislava from UFO tower.
  • View of wind farm in smoggy air, from UFO tower in Bratislava. I finally stopped coughing once I got about 2 hours away from Bratislava.
    View of wind farm in smoggy air, from UFO tower in Bratislava. I finally stopped coughing once I got about 2 hours away from Bratislava.
  • View of smog source from UFO tower, Bratislava.
    View of smog source from UFO tower, Bratislava.
  • Under the UFO Bridge, Bratislava
    Under the UFO Bridge, Bratislava
  • Danube River, in Bratislava
    Danube River, in Bratislava
  • Slovakian pottery maker.
    Slovakian pottery maker.
  • Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava
    Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava
  • Well at Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava. Wells are very important when you're on top of a hill.
    Well at Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava. Wells are very important when you’re on top of a hill.
  • Stairway with low steps made for riding horses down. Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava
    Stairway with low steps made for riding horses down. Red Stone Castle (Červený Kameň) outside Bratislava
  • UFO Bridge, Bratislava
    UFO Bridge, Bratislava
  • These guys were playing in the Prague restaurant where I had my first Czech meal. They were very good! There was music all over Prague, and all of it was good.
    These guys were playing in the Prague restaurant where I had my first Czech meal. They were very good! There was music all over Prague, and all of it was good.
  • Municipal House Historic Theater, Prague.
    Municipal House Historic Theater, Prague.
  • Municipal House Historic Theater, Prague
    Municipal House Historic Theater, Prague
  • Old Town Prague
    Old Town Prague
  • Old Town Prague. I regret to inform you that there is a Starbucks in the ground floor of the blue building. I spent a lot of money in the crystal shop to the right of the blue building.
    Old Town Prague. I regret to inform you that there is a Starbucks in the ground floor of the blue building. I spent a lot of money in the crystal shop to the right of the blue building.
  • Old Town Prague
    Old Town Prague
  • Astronomical Clock on Old Town Hall in Prague.
    Astronomical Clock on Old Town Hall in Prague.
  • Astronomical Clock, Old Town Prague. On the hour, there is a "show," where the twelve apostles go by the little windows. I can't tell you how many times I missed that show by 30 seconds before FiNALLY getting to see it.
    Astronomical Clock, Old Town Prague. On the hour, there is a “show,” where the twelve apostles go by the little windows. I can’t tell you how many times I missed that show by 30 seconds before FiNALLY getting to see it.
  • Procession of the Apostles, Chiming the Hour. Astronomical Clock, Prague
    Procession of the Apostles, Chiming the Hour. Astronomical Clock, Prague
  • There is an entry for each day of the year around the border. Prague
    There is an entry for each day of the year around the border. Prague
  • Looking down toward Old Town from Prague Castle, up on a hill
    Looking down toward Old Town from Prague Castle, up on a hill
  • My tour guide thought this sculpture was hysterically funny, partly because of the penises, but even more because this kind of art would NEVER have been allowed under Communist rule, where the men are peeing on the map of the Czech Republic. How subversive!
    My tour guide thought this sculpture was hysterically funny, partly because of the penises, but even more because this kind of art would NEVER have been allowed under Communist rule, where the men are peeing on the map of the Czech Republic. How subversive!
  • St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
    St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague
  • Resting place of St. Vitus inside the cathedral. St. Wenceslas is in the cathedral some place, too. Prague
    Resting place of St. Vitus inside the cathedral. St. Wenceslas is in the cathedral some place, too. Prague
  • Charles Bridge, Prague
    Charles Bridge, Prague
  • Charles Bridge, Prague
    Charles Bridge, Prague
  • Charles Bridge, Prague. There was good music everywhere in Prague.
    Charles Bridge, Prague. There was good music everywhere in Prague.
  • Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Prague
    Church of Our Lady of the Snows, Prague
  • Beautiful apartment buildings in the Jewish Quarter, Prague. This area was where the Nazis lived in WWII, so it is one of the very few Jewish Quarters that was not decimated in the war. The Nazis stole and hid a lot of valuable art here, so that, too, was spared.
    Beautiful apartment buildings in the Jewish Quarter, Prague. This area was where the Nazis lived in WWII, so it is one of the very few Jewish Quarters that was not decimated in the war. The Nazis stole and hid a lot of valuable art here, so that, too, was spared.
  • Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague. They were not allowed to expand the cemetery into new area, so they expanded vertically - many people of one family are buried one on top of the other under their family tombstone. Over 12,000 tombstones here.
    Old Jewish Cemetery, Prague. They were not allowed to expand the cemetery into new area, so they expanded vertically – many people of one family are buried one on top of the other under their family tombstone. Over 12,000 tombstones here.
  • The Lennon Wall, Prague. It was supposed to be the Lenin Wall, but after Communism fell, young people started painting graffiti on it, and I think (maybe?) John Lennon visited it, so they began calling it the Lennon Wall instead. Graffiti continually refreshed.
    The Lennon Wall, Prague. It was supposed to be the Lenin Wall, but after Communism fell, young people started painting graffiti on it, and I think (maybe?) John Lennon visited it, so they began calling it the Lennon Wall instead. Graffiti continually refreshed.
  • During Communist rule, Sherlock Holmes novels were some of the few books of fiction allowed, so Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's books are very popular. Prague.
    During Communist rule, Sherlock Holmes novels were some of the few books of fiction allowed, so Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s books are very popular. Prague.
  • Another sculpture that my tour guide found hilarious because of its subversive nature. She pointed out that it is in a public building, so the government can't order it to be removed. Prague
    Another sculpture that my tour guide found hilarious because of its subversive nature. She pointed out that it is in a public building, so the government can’t order it to be removed. Prague
  • Prague
    Prague
  • Got metronome? Prague
    Got metronome? Prague
  • Prague
    Prague
  • Franz Kafka once said he wished he could see the world from outside himself, so they built this sculpture to let him do it. Prague
    Franz Kafka once said he wished he could see the world from outside himself, so they built this sculpture to let him do it. Prague
  • Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
    Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
  • Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
    Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
  • Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
    Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
  • Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
    Sedlec Ossuary, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic.
  • St Barbara's Cathedral, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Barbara is the patron saint of miners. Barbara converted to Christianity while still a girl. Her father did not approve, demanded that she renounce. Even though he tortured her, you know, as all good fathers do, she refused to renounce her faith, so he had her beheaded. On the way back home from the beheading, dearest father was struck by lightning and killed. So let that be a lesson to you.
    St Barbara’s Cathedral, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic. Barbara is the patron saint of miners. Barbara converted to Christianity while still a girl. Her father did not approve, demanded that she renounce. Even though he tortured her, you know, as all good fathers do, she refused to renounce her faith, so he had her beheaded. On the way back home from the beheading, dearest father was struck by lightning and killed. So let that be a lesson to you.
  • St. Barbara's Cathedral, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
    St. Barbara’s Cathedral, Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
  • Vyšehrad Cemetery, where famous artists and musicians are buried. Surprisingly, it was a joyful place to visit because the tombstones all celebrated the art the person had accomplished. Prague
    Vyšehrad Cemetery, where famous artists and musicians are buried. Surprisingly, it was a joyful place to visit because the tombstones all celebrated the art the person had accomplished. Prague
  • Smetana's grave. Vyšehrad Cemetery, Prague
    Smetana’s grave. Vyšehrad Cemetery, Prague
  • Dvorak's grave, Vyšehrad Cemetery, Prague
    Dvorak’s grave, Vyšehrad Cemetery, Prague
  • Powder Tower, Prague
    Powder Tower, Prague
  • Church of Our Lady before Týn, Prague, Czech Republic
    Church of Our Lady before Týn, Prague, Czech Republic
  • My last night in Prague, I was very sad to leave. So beautiful, so much history, art, and music.
    My last night in Prague, I was very sad to leave. So beautiful, so much history, art, and music.