Budapest, January 2012

We had a day of sightseeing before catching our flight to the States. We signed up for a Hop-On Hop-Off bus tour, but then calculated we only had time for a couple of stops since the buses didn't come very frequently. The tour also included a boat ride on the river, but the boat was full when we got there, so we paid extra to ride another tour company's boat.

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	Saint Stephen, founding (or at least, first Christian) king of Hungary.
	Smaranda taking in a view from the Fisherman's Bastion.
	The Fisherman's Bastion, so named because the Fishermen's Guild had the task of defending this section of wall.
	A view toward the river and the Parliament building.
	Detail from the roof of Matyas Church.
	More of the Matyas Church roof.
	Matyas Church. Here you can see the statue of a raven, heraldic symbol of King Matthias.
	Detail from a pillar beside the church.
	Top of the pillar.
	A nearby equestrian statue.
	Same statue, showing more sky.
	Statue of an eagle leaning over the ramparts.
	Another equestrian statue.
	View across the Danube.
	At the dock waiting for our tour boat. Statue of Peace in the background, beside the old Hapsburg Citadel.
	A view of the palace, from the river.
	Smaranda on the boat.
	The Reformed Church below Matyas Church.
	Parliament, seen from the river.
	Detail of the Parliament building.
	View of Parliament from farther along the river.
	Parliament again.
	On the return leg of the boat ride: Parliament once again.
	A passenger on the boat.
	Last view of Parliament.
	St Stephen's Basilica.
	Basilica, with moon.
	Pope Gregory.
	St Jerome. The outside of the basilica is devoted to the traditional "fathers" of the Roman church.
	Altar, with statue of St Stephen. The interior is devoted to the Hungarian saints.
	After the basilica, we went to see the synagogue.
	It was closed for the night.
	Detail of synagogue wall.