Budapest

We got up early to go on the sundeck and watch the city of Budapest come into view at 7:30, passing under bridges and then seeing Castle Hill on the right side (starboard for sailors) which was the city of Buda, and then seeing the parliament building on the left side (port for sailors) which is a beautiful gothic-spire building from 1896 (Hungary’s 1,000 anniversary) in the city of Pest. A large iron bridge with stone towers and steel link design was built in about 1850, uniting the two cities to become Budapest. Prior to the bridge being built there was no easy way to get between the two cities; there were ferries, but the current of the river is very strong in this section and the two cities had separate governments. This reminds me of the trouble that we have to ever reach across the gap that separates people from God. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ is the only bridge, the only connection between God and man, and that only by believing in him with trusting faith can we come into the presence of God and know God. God had to build the bridge to us because it is impossible for us to build our own bridge to reach God. First Timothy, 2:5 “For there is one God and one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”

 

Buda side of Budapest 

 

Parliament building on Pest side

Chain bridge connecting Buda and Pest

Beautiful church on Buda side- Matthias above

Matthias church with painted walls and ceiling 

Looking across the Danube River 

 

Market building in Budapest with food stalls

Lions guarding the chain bridge

They were repairing the bridge last year and it just opened a week ago, so we could walk across it and see the city of Budapest from the bridge. We had a bus tour of Budapest and then walked in the old city on top of Castle Hill, and went into a very beautiful church, the Matthias church, and looked across the Danube River to the parliament building and the other buildings of Budapest. After lunch, we visited the old city market that is in a building with two stories of shops under a huge roof. I had a pastry called a chimney cake, made from a strip of dough that is wrapped in a cylinder, and covered with cinnamon or other flavorings, and you peel off the strip as you eat it, like peeling an apple.

On Saturday, we left the ship and took a taxi to our motel, which was near the parliament building and near the chain bridge. Along the river is a monument of shoes- where the Nazis tied Jews together with shoelaces and then shot some of them and threw them all in the river- what a terrible thing. We took a walk to the parliament building, but did not take a tour because they were sold out for the day. But we saw some displays about constructing the building and an exhibit of one of the uprising‘s during the communist rule. The people of Hungary have always wanted to be free, but they have been under many different rulers from other countries, most recently under the Russian rule that ended in about 1990 when the “iron curtain” was lifted. We had lunch at a very fun strudel restaurant, where they stretch the wheat dough into very thin sheets that are then rolled around fruit or around meat, and we had a meat strudel and an apple strudel for our lunch along with Hungarian goulash, which is a beef and vegetable soup.

 

Shoe memorial for Jews killed by Nazis 

Strudel restaurant sidewalk lunch 

Counter where they prepare and bake strudel  

History museum where we couldn’t take pictures 

Hungarian folk dancers and violin band

In the afternoon Judy and I, along with Jake, went to the history museum but were not allowed to take pictures, which spoils some of the fun of seeing beautiful things and “taking” them with you; but after we had toured the museum we found that we could have paid three euros for a photo ticket and been allowed to take pictures. We had never heard of a “photo ticket.” Saturday night we went and saw a Hungarian dance and string band, with violins and a hammered dulcimer. The music was very good and very Hungarian. You can borrow my CD to listen and dance to the music. On Sunday we all went to a large synagogue that was the center of life in the Jewish quarter of Budapest. Then Judy and I went to a museum with some Hungarian furniture and crafts. We all met at one of the thermal springs that has been a bath spa for many years; even the Romans lived here and had bath houses. We ended our days in Budapest with a classical concert in Saint Michael’s Basilica.

 

Great synagogue in Budapest  

Memorial tree for Jews killed in the holocaust  

Hungarian embroidery- very colorful  

Hungarian folk furniture  

Public bath and spa

 

We each had a changing booth 

Saint Michael’s (early king) Basilica 

Concert in the church was a great finale 

Budapest was the last city on our river cruise and the last time we used a "voice box" with an earphone to listen to the tour guide. This reminds me of how God promises to be our guide in life. He is always with us and he is ready for us to call out to ask for his help. Or if we have questions or want to know what we should do or how we should feel, his ear is open, and his voice is ready to answer. Many times he speaks directly from the Bible which is his written word. But at other times he answers by giving us a thought or an inclination to do something or help someone- this is his Spirit speaking in us. Here is a Bible verse with this idea: “Your ears will hear a word behind you, 'This is the way, walk in it,’ whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah‬ ‭30‬:‭21‬). Another verse tells us: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬). We should not try to travel life alone- by our own wisdom and strength. Tune your heart to hear God’s words and his Spirit’s guidance as you travel your road of life.