First Full Day on the Danube

Arrived into Budapest approximately 530 PM and boarded the Ama Verde just in time to share a glass of champagne with my fellow cruisers. Dinner did not disappoint! I only wish I took pictures of the amazing braised ribs, the plating was beautiful and they were delicious.

After a good nights sleep I was ready for my first full day. I choose the more active morning excursion walking 4.5 miles. We ventured up to the Castle Hill district on the Buda side. It contains some of Budapest’s most important medieval monuments and museums and is a Unesco World Heritage Site. Below it is a 28km-long network of caves formed by thermal springs.

We went inside the beautiful Matthias Church, Fisherman's Bastion and viewed the Parliament building. Something I will never forget is seeing The Shoes of Jews on the banks of the Danube. They are a memorial and a monument to the Hungarian Jews who, in the winter of 1944-1945, were shot on the banks of the Danube River by the members of the Arrow Cross Party.

After a quick rest back at the ship and a light lunch I headed out for my second excursion of the day, now to visit the Pest side of the city. Here we saw Heroe's Square, the major squares in Budapest, Hungary, noted for its iconic Millennium Monument with statues featuring the Seven chieftains of the Magyars and other important Hungarian national leaders, as well as the Memorial Stone of Heroes, often erroneously referred as the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

We say goodbye to Budapest this evening starting our journey down the Danube enjoying magnificent views of the illuminated city.Read more