We are staying in the Castle Buda area of the city. Our room overlooks the Fisherman Bastion which was the fish market during the Middle Ages. It frames the Castle and St. Matthias church. It is also known as the Church of the Virgin Mary. It was built during the 13th-15th centuries, with a very gothic style in architecture. During the Turkish period it had been converted into a Mosque. This beautiful church was where I attended Easter Mass. The service was a celebration. There was a string ensemble, full choir, all sung in Latin, incense, and close to 2 hours. I have to say I loved the pageantry, and it was a great end to Lent.

Monday was the big guys birthday. We had scheduled a wine tour/tasting for later on in the day. Julianna was our tour guide, and took us to Etyek, a small village with a population of only 5,000 people. We were to experience 3 small family owned wineries in this white wine region. During WW1 more than half of the vineyards were destroyed, and during WW2 even more. When the Russians took over, the wine makers could only produce about 100 liters of wine. Anything more became theirs.

The first Winery was Anonym and the wine maker was Aaron, the second one was Nada Bormuhely, with Peter being the wine maker. They produce white, rose, Pinot Noir and are just starting a sparkling wine. They rent the land to grow the grapes, or buy from other sources. They use no irrigation to force the roots to go deep and totally rely on the rain. Harvesting happens in September, but it depends on the winemakers decision, with every year being different. 2 years in the barrel and one year in the bottle. At our last winery, Debreczeni-Ferenczi, Carmen was our most gracious host. Not only did we taste his wines, but he served us a delicious 3 course authentic dinner.

I fulfilled the promise I made so long ago. Another place, another area, another adventure. #Hungary #Budapest #twobrokekids

Another Easter, another adventure. This time we are in the country of Hungary. Some place that I have wanted to visit for a very long time. We are staying in the Castle District on the Buda side. Again, we can walk to the places we want to see.

This city took some serious damage during both the World Wars. With the Nazi withdrawal, Communism dictatorship took over. In 1956 the people rose up against the Soviet occupation, but were defeated. The country was under Communist government until 1989. On October 23rd of that year, the Hungarian Republic was proclaimed. You can see the Russian influence with in the architecture of the building. Very industrial looking very plain. As our driver told us, “we were told how to build.”

A most beautiful place was St. Stephen’s Basilica. Construction began in 1905. The main altar was bare because of Lent. No holy water, no candles to light. These were to be blessed that night at Mass.

The main religion is Roman Catholic. However, there are approximately 100,000 Jewish people living in Budapest. Their synagogue is the 2nd largest one next to the one in New York. I wanted to take a tour, but being Saturday, and their Sabbath, and Passover, it was not going to happen.

We walked the Chain Bridge over the Danube River. Both sides of the bridge are protected by two stone lions. It was blown up in January 1945 by the retreating German Army, and rebuilt and completed by 1949. The weather was spectacular so we took our time going across it and just stopping to look at the beauty of our surroundings.

That night we took a nighttime/candlelight dinner cruise on the Danube. You see the city differently, and all it’s beauty all lit up. Lent was definitely over. Yeah, me!

Again, #twobrokekids. #MondayBlogs