Kal Korff

Splendours of Budapest
by Kal K. Korff
Internationally Syndicated Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

The city of Budapest, the capital of the country of Hungary, is yet another of Europes beautiful wonders. Once the far eastern part of the Austrian-Hungarian empire, it remains a splendid tourist attraction steeped in rich history, despite key parts of it being largely destroyed during World War II. It has since been rebuilt. Budapest is really two cities in one, comprised of two distinctive parts. First there is the Buda part which is on the west side of the Danube river. It is comprised of steep hills which are dominated by a large castle, which once served as the seat of government during the Austria-Hungary alliance. Pest is the other part of Budapest, it is on the east side of the river and consists of gothic architecture style buildings dating back several hundred years, to modern era offices and houses, to blocks of drab-grey Communist era flats, erected during the time that the Soviet Union occupied the country. When touring Budapest as a whole, if you want an easy way to stay oriented, whether you are in Buda or Pest, just remember this simple rule: Buda has the hills, Pest is comprised of flat lands. Like the city of Prague, which is laid out in a similar fashion (castle on the hills in the west, flat lands in the east), a stroll through Budapest easily reveals its different eras of history. If one is intrigued by the Austrian-Hungarian empire, visiting the Buda part is vital. If one is more interested in Soviet-era times, staying in Pest is more efficient. For former Communist-era buffs, there is also the Museum of Communist Statues which is located via bus ride about 20 minutes outside the city in the hills above it. The park is comprised of all of the major statues the Communists erected in honor of their

imaginary greatness. City officials decided to make a tourist attraction out of the collection instead of destroying them as usual after the Russians left. Budapest has many fine museums as well. Being outside the Eurozone, it is also much cheaper on your wallet than Paris or Berlin. Instead of flying directly into the city, it is recommended that you fly into Prague instead, then take the train to Budapest. The duration of the trip is about eight hours, but it is worth it. Not only do you get a great view of the exotic countryside, but also a real feel for the lands which countless armies marched across. Hungarian cuisine is rich and diverse. It is not only standard European fare, but has been influenced by Turkey and even China. There are also several all you can eat buffets priced inexpensively. To appreciate Budapest in its entirety, it is recommended that you first start your sightseeing in the Pest part of town and begin walking west towards the mountains. By the time you cross the river and make it to the top of the hills you can enjoy a rich variety of food and then either walk back down or take public transport back. 1.0v2 Aug 28, 2011 Kal K. Korff is an internationally known author, columnist and investigative journalist.

Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.

Copyright 2011 by Kal K. Korff - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this content may be reproduced in any form nor by any means without the express, written consent of Kal Korff. Fair use, does NOT apply. By reading this document, you willingly agree to be legally bound by its terms and conditions. Violators of this policy will have a felony DMCA Copyright infringement notice filed against them with law enforcement. First time offenders may be fined up to $500,000, imprisoned for five years, or both. For repeat offenders, the maximum penalty increases to a fine of $1,000,000, imprisonment for up to ten years, or both. This is a DMCA protected document, illegal copying and/or reproduction of its contents are tracked on the Internet and reported to law enforcement for felony prosecution.