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In our travel planning, we thought we were going to the thermal baths of Szechenyi, Budapest.
But in the end, not all of us would like to have spas there and we ended up just visiting the place.
The architecture was marvelous.
I particularly like the interior of the dome structure. There was a lot of symmetry in the design.
Even from the outside, the buildings did look great.
Must be an engineering feat at the time it was built.
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Going to church on Sunday?
The St. Stephen Basilica in Budapest, Hungary is one of the most beautiful basilicas that I have visited.
Here is a collection of my photos taken at the basilica.
The text (in italics) below is lifted from – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The church is named after Saint Stephen I of Hungary, the first King of Hungary (c. 975–1038), whose incorruptible right hand is housed in the reliquary.
This is the most important church building in Hungary, one of the most significant tourist attractions and the third highest building in Hungary.
Equal with the Hungarian Parliament Building, it is one of the two tallest buildings in Budapest at 96 metres (315 ft) – this equation symbolises that worldly and spiritual thinking have the same importance. According to current regulations there cannot be taller building in Budapest than 96 metres (315 ft). 
It has a width of 55 metres (180 ft), and length of 87.4 metres (287 ft).
It was completed in 1905 after 54 years of construction, according to the plans of Miklos Ybl, and was completed by József Kauser. 
Much of this delay can be attributed to the collapse of the dome in 1868 which required complete demolition of the completed works and rebuilding from the ground up.
The architectural style is Neo-Classical; it has a Greek Cross ground plan.
The facade is anchored by two large bell towers. In the southern tower is Hungary’s biggest bell, weighing over 9 tonnes (8.9 long tons; 9.9 short tons). Its predecessor had a weight of almost 8 tonnes (7.9 long tons; 8.8 short tons), but it was used for military purposes during World War II.
Visitors may access the dome by elevators or by climbing 364 stairs for a 360° view overlooking Budapest.
At first, the building was supposed to be named after Saint Leopold, the patron saint of Austria, but the plan was changed in the very last minute, so it became St. Stephen’s Basilica.
These shoes on the Danube Bank remind me of people who are gone but not forgotten.
Here is an introduction from the Wikipedia on the shoes:
The composition entitled ‘Shoes on the Danube Bank’ gives remembrance to the people shot into the Danube during the time of the Arrow Cross terror. The sculptor created sixty pairs of period-appropriate shoes out of iron. The shoes are attached to the stone embankment, and behind them lies a 40 meter long, 70 cm high stone bench. At three points are cast iron signs, with the following text in Hungarian, English, and Hebrew: “To the memory of the victims shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen in 1944–45. Erected 16 April 2005.” (Source: MTI, Saturday, April 16, 2005.)
They also remind me of the people who were shot dead in Nanjing in WWII and their bodies were thrown into the river.
Szentendre along the Danube is a place I will never be tired of strolling.
I like the colored walls of their buildings, especially the yellow walls.
We have been basking in the sun, sitting leisurely in roadside cafes.
This is a photo I like, people sipping their cafes blissfully – what a life!
The buildings on the side s just converge.
This week’s WPC challenge is Contrast.
I have always asked myself what photography is about.
It helps to preserve memories and some precious moments, it is something about our lives.
It is about composition, light, creativity, texture and, of course, contrast.
This photo is taken inside a church in Budapest – this is my first example of contrast.
I have always taken a liking to stained glass, but many times in my photography, I have failed to photograph the colors.
Hope this one is of sufficient contrast.
Budapest is, of course, not as busy as New York City or Hong Kong where I am based; but nevertheless, the city center can be quite busy with everything – people, private cars, boats, trams always seem to be on the move.
The Danube flowing across the city center can be quite busy too.
Here is a view of the Parliament viewing from a boat, this shows the more tranquil side as I was trying to remove any visual distraction from passing boats.
While waiting for boats to pass, I also noticed an amphibian tour bus, moving along in front of the parliament. You can also see people walking on the riverside footpath.
The river can be quite busy with boats / ships moving up and down the river.
We took the tram in the city. It was one of those yellow color trains running on electricity. The color reminds me of the tram I rode in Lisbon, squeezing tightly between buildings in the old city.
Squeezing between the tram line and the river Danube are roads which could be jam packed with private cars.
You can see trams at a higher level and private cars running or stalled in the lower level road.
We did not miss the opportunity of riding on the bus. The public bus is not a rigid long vehicle but allow rotation in the middle as the long vehicle negotiate through winding roads.
I suppose these are the means which keep the city moving!
We were walking back to our hotel after dinner.
It was dark. There were tourists like us walking on the main street which was on one side of the Danube river bank.
Once you turned into a side street, there is not much traffic or people at all.
There was basically no life outside the main tourist area. Maybe, all you see were cars parked on the both sides of deserted street.
We pondered for a while – should we just return to the hotel or abandon the side streets, just got back to the river bank and have one last look of the Buda side of the city?
The night view of Budapest was just amazing!
The view of suspension bridge crossing the Danube at night and the Buda side were just unforgettable.
We were glad that we turned back and have one last look!
