Pisa & Budapest

Saturday found Hannah and I lounging around the Leaning Tower of Pisa as we awaited our flight to Budapest. Said tower, we realized, is really Pisa's only point of interest. You need at most 20 minutes to experience this city.

What was interesting was that the scene in front of the leaning tower was probably better than the tower itself. Here's a game, how many people can you spot taking a picture with the tower in this photo?

Hannah and I in front of the Leaning Tower of Pisa:

A few hours later...

We've made it to Budapest!!

Our first night's sights and tastes...

Hero's Square
Hero's Square

Sirloin with sweet bread/potato dumplings and the most delicious strawberry jam.

The next morning, bright and early, we ventured into the warm, mineral baths with the rest of the Hungarian families, couples, and old men playing chess.

Szechenyi baths

Followed by a breakfast of langos, a delicious delicious pastry similar to a funnel cake, but better, and with whatever toppings you would ever want...

The rest of the day was spent walking ALL over the city, and seeing such sights as these:

Castle across the pond from the baths.

The second largest synagogue in Europe.

The inside - this synagogue used to be part of the ghetto, and out back there was a memorial to the thousands of Hungarian Jews who died in WWII.

St. Stephen's Basilica

Inside, with so much gold. We also saw St. Stephen's hand.

Parliament, on the bank of the Danube.

View of Buda across the river from Pest.

Matthias Church, on top of Castle Hill at Fisherman's Bastion.

Another view of the church.

Me, Hannah and Ari on Castle Hill with a view of Pest behind us.

Fisherman's Bastion

Fisherman's Bastion

Parliament and Chain Bridge at night.

Buda Castle

Pancake with chicken paprikash, aka a Hungarian enchilada.