Budapest 2018

This summer our family vacationed in Budapest, a city filled with history, public art, beautiful bathhouses and fun activities for kids.  It was overtaken with #WorldCupFever during our trip.	Sharon never in her life thought she would visit Budapest...our vacation here was one of the best we have ever taken.
This was our first time staying in an Air B&B..we stayed in a beautiful apartment in the heart of Budapest.	There was a loft in our Air B&B for Sharon and David..."I saw three ships come sailing in..."
Sharon LOVES traveling with her best travel buddies...Alexi, Mateo and Sharon have seen so much of Europe together.	David is always up for adventure...his favorite place to visit every summer is Spain, though he enjoys seeing new countries, experiencing different cultures and speaking new languages.
Our first night in Budapest we headed to Veganeria, which was close to our Air B&B.	Sharon loves salads and ordered one at Veganeria.
Veganeria has Alexi and Mateo's two favorite things...PIZZA...	...and WORLD CUP SOCCER!!!  We got to watch Croatia vs. Denmark while enjoying our first vegetarian dinner in Budapest.
This delicious and picturesque pasta dish is almost too beautiful to eat.	For apps we ordered bread with these delicious spreads to get a taste of Hungarian vegan cuisine.
Alexi is SOOOOO EXCITED to eat PIZZA for his first vegetarian dinner in Budapest.	Mateo is a total FOODIE...he ordered vegetarian pizza topped with corn.
The next morning our family headed to the world famous Gerbeaud Cafe.	Delectable pastries to rival any Manhattan bakery are on display.
David and Alexi ordered their favorite croissants for breakfast.	Mateo also ordered a croissant with butter and jam, while Sharon ordered a Napolean.
Alexi enjoyed dipping his biscuit in his hot chocolate.	Sharon and David enjoyed mint tea at Gerbeaud.
Our family continued our hobby of bridge-walking, in Budapest over the Szechenyi Chain Bridge.  When completed in 1849, it became the first bridge connecting Buda and Pest.	Sharon poses in her favorite jean jacket with the entire Szechenyi Chain Bridge in the background.
Alexi, Sharon and Mateo pose in front of the Szechenyi Chain Bridge...and Alexi and Mateo are wearing their cool new Budapest shirts.	From the Szechenyi Chain Bridge we were able to get this cool view of the Elisabeth Bridge.
We went on a boat tour to explore the landmarks and hidden secrets of Budapest.	Sharon and Mateo both tremendously enjoyed the boat tour of Budapest.
During our boat tour we saw this beautiful and colorful architecture and distinct building styles.	The Hungarian Parliament Building is an architectural marvel.
Beautiful public art was on display outdoors everywhere in Budapest, including this tall woman.	This statue of a newspaper boy is so realistic and lifelike; National Newspaper Carrier Day is celebrated in the United States every September 4th.
One highlight of our trip was the afternoon we spent on Margaret Island.  Our family (Manhattan island dwellers) enjoyed riding in this surrey to explore the island.	The Magical Music Fountain on Margaret Island was a feast for the eyes and ears...Mateo and Alexi enjoyed dipping their feet inside, and Sharon enjoyed the pop tunes playing.
Our family spotted the Margit-sziget Water Tower when we were riding the surrey, and were so excited when we found out you could climb to the top and check out the incredible view from above.	Mateo and Alexi made it to the very top!
Beautiful murals adorn the walls outside the Palatinus Strand Bathhouse.	This musical procession definitely caught our eyes.
Mateo enjoyed riding this whale sculpture in the indoor baths.	Mateo, Sharon and Alexi initially enjoyed the indoor baths of the Palatinus Strand Bathhouse.
What are Alexi and Mateo watching FROM AN OUTDOOR POOL????!!!????!!!	A WORLD CUP SOCCER GAME!!!
Brazil celebrates after scoring a goal...they ended up defeating Mexico 2-0.	Mateo and Alexi together celebrate Brazil's victory with hugs and high fives.
Sharon ABSOLUTELY LOVES outdoor pools and thermal spas abroad.	Who's the movie star behind the Foster Grants???!!!???!!!
A new day, with lots of touring ahead of us.	Early in the morning we rode the funicular to the top of Castle Hill.
Horses guard the Royal Palace, a World Heritage Site, located in the Castle District (though lacking a castle).	An incredible view of Szechenyi Chain Bridge that we just crossed.
We walked around the grounds of the Royal Palace as we awaited our tour.	Incredibly beautiful statue of the Mary holding the Baby Jesus, created by the sculptor Laszlo Matyassy.
Alexi stands right by the tour guide to make sure he hears all the history and learns about the landmarks here at the Royal Palace...Alexi is also confident enough to speak his mind and add in his own knowledge to the info given by the tour guide(!)	We pause a moment for a family photo inside this gazebo.
Matthias Church, also known as the Church of Our Lady, is at the top of Castle Hill.	Alexi lights a candle in remembrance of those in heaven.
Our kids had an absolute blast at Csodak Palotaja.	Alexi and Mateo LOVE playing futbolin...whether they are in NYC, Spain or Hungary.
At Csodak, a science-themed museum, there were huge cutouts of famous scientists.  Here, Mateo poses with Leonardo da Vinci (a scientist and artist like Mateo).	Alexi pauses from playing to pose with Tesla.
Our family discovered the most fun game EVER at Csodak....SOCCER BILLIARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	Mateo lines up the perfect shot in this fantastically fun SOCCER BILLIARDS game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After walking by the Budapest Eye for several days, we finally decided to give it a whirl on July 4th.	Mateo is hanging loose on the Budapest Eye (where did he even learn that???!!!).
Mateo and Alexi show off their red, white and blue on this July 4th day on the fun ferris wheel.	David and Sharon enjoy the ride and view from the Budapest Eye.
World Cup Fever was evident EVERYWHERE we went in Budapest!	These two avid soccer fans LOVED watching World Cup Games on television, while swimming in thermal baths, and in restaurants.
Sharon can usually be found wearing brown on our travels, to match her "beautiful curly hair" (as David once told a NY Times reporter).	And Alexi can usually be found eating chocolate, in this case a heavenly chocolate kebob.
Monument Park was recommended by David's friend, and it turned out to be one of our favorite places we visited in Hungary.  These boots belonged to a massive statue of Stalin that was town down during the October 1956 Uprising.	When communism fell in Hungary, the decision was made to preserve the art, sculptures and statues as part of history.  A park (some call it a cemetery) outside of Budapest is dedicated to these works of art during the Communist Era.  This is the Workers' Movement Memorial, symbolizing the progress of workers under the communist regime.
The park was designed by Akos Eleod, and according to him this park is about dictatorship and at the same time, democracy.	This dynamic sculpture is the Monument to the Hungarian Socialist Republic.
On our itinerary was the Szechenyi Baths, the most famous bathhouse in Budapest.	The Szechenyi Baths are very picturesque and popular, though we preferred the public baths on Margaret Island.
Our family had so much fun swimming in the outdoor pools of Szechenyi.	Sharon and David have a moment alone as a couple...rare when you have two young children.
Mateo is having SO MUCH FUN in the Szechenyi Baths in Budapest.	Alexi holds Mateo while he attempts to execute what he has learned in swim class.
Alexi and Mateo really enjoyed watching veteran chess players play chess in the baths of Szechenyi.	Sharon poses in her favorite floral lavender bikini in the Szechenyi Baths.
David is absolutely the most handsome guy in the Szechenyi Baths...and looking so cool in those shades.	Alexi is still young enough to hang out with his Mami in the pools...and smile for a picture.
One of the best things about our Air B&B?  It is right across the street from a Mexican food stand that claims to have authentic West Coast Mexican food.  Mexican dinner IS THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	Alexi and Mateo enjoy some chips and salsa outside the Mexican food stand across from our Air B&B.
The neo-Gothic Parliament building, inspired by England's Palace of Westminster, looks exquisite illuminated at night.	Exploring Budapest illuminated at night is like entering a whole different world.
Szechenyi Chain Bridge illuminated at night.	The Szechenyi Chain Bridge looks majestic illuminated.
The incredibly moving Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial commemorates the Jews who were killed by the fascist Arrow Cross militiamen during World War II.	Ronald Reagan is a surprising sight in Budapest...Alexi and Mateo paused to shake his hand.
Alexi and David light candles in St. Stephen's Basilica in memory of the family & friends we have lost...Elizabeth, Helen, Sharon, Kate and Lisa.	St. Stephen's Basilica, known by its nickname Bazilika, has a Neo-Baroque interior that contrasts greatly with its Neo-Classical exterior.
We climbed this beautiful spiral staircase in St. Stephen's Basilica to check out the breathtaking view from above.	Check out Alexi and the incredible view of Budapest behind him!
On our travels we enjoy ascending to high places...here for a view of Budapest from above...	A bird's eye view of the Budapest Eye...
#helloHungary!!!	Our family loves traveling and embraces adventure.
On our final day in Budapest, we visited the Miniversum.  It very much reminded us of Gulliver's Gate in Manhattan which we visited on New Years Day.	A depiction (in miniature) of Heroes' Square in Budapest.
Budapest is pictured in miniature at Miniversum.	Alexi and Mateo's favorite part of the Miniversum was the playroom where they got to build and create their own city.
These brothers are BEST FRIENDS FOREVER.	Love is always the answer, and these are words to live by.