Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden! Today was a slow and relaxing day in Budapest, Hungary, and I got to explore some amazing places. I rode a bus around the city, visited a huge church, saw a very sad but important memorial, and tried some yummy Hungarian food. Let’s get started!
A Relaxing Morning
After a busy few weeks, we decided to take it easy this morning. We didn’t set an alarm and enjoyed a quiet breakfast before heading out for the day.
The plan was to catch the #72 bus just outside our hotel to visit St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Christmas Market.
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| Even the elevators are unique |
A Little Bus Adventure
Well, we made a little mistake and got on the northbound bus instead of the southbound one. Oops! But instead of worrying, we decided to stay on and enjoy the ride. The bus made a big loop, and we got to see parts of Budapest we hadn’t planned to visit. Eventually, the bus turned around and took us to our stop. It was like a surprise city tour!
St. Stephen’s Basilica and Christmas Market
When we got off the bus, the first thing we saw was St. Stephen’s Basilica, a huge church with a dome that seemed to touch the sky! It’s one of Budapest’s most famous landmarks, and its size and details are so impressive.
Next to the basilica was the Christmas Market, full of fun stalls selling all kinds of handmade gifts and tasty treats. We stopped to admire some crafts, and Rob used a Google Translate app to talk to one of the vendors. When Rob told her that his grandparents were from Hungary, she smiled and typed back, “So you are 50% Hungarian!” How cool is that?
Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial
After exploring the market, we walked down to the Danube River to visit the Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial.
This memorial has 60 pairs of iron shoes lined up along the riverbank. It honors the memory of Jewish men, women, and children who were forced to remove their shoes and shot into the river during World War II by the Arrow Cross militia.
Standing there, looking at the shoes and the flowing river, made me feel very quiet and thoughtful. It’s a very sad part of history, but it’s important to remember so we can hope it never happens again.
Walking to the Parliament and More Christmas Market Fun
From the memorial, we walked along the river to the Hungarian Parliament Building, which is one of the biggest and most beautiful buildings I’ve ever seen. It has tall towers, detailed designs, and looks like a castle!
After taking lots of pictures, we headed back to St. Stephen’s Basilica and the Christmas Market for lunch. But we did a little car and house shopping on the way.
Tasty Hungarian Foods
We tried two delicious traditional dishes:
- Cabbage Rolls: These are cabbage leaves stuffed with a yummy mix of meat and rice, cooked in a tasty tomato sauce.
- Chimney Cake (Kürtőskalács): A sweet pastry baked on a spit, rolled in sugar and cinnamon. It’s crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and so good!
Back to the Hotel
After eating, we hopped back on the bus (the right direction this time!) and headed back to the hotel. It was such a fun and relaxing day exploring Budapest, and I can’t wait to see what adventures tomorrow brings!
What I Learned Today
- What is St. Stephen’s Basilica?
St. Stephen’s Basilica is a huge church in Budapest named after Hungary’s first king. It’s one of the most famous landmarks in the city! - What is the Shoes on the Danube Bank Memorial?
This memorial honors Jewish people who lost their lives during World War II. The iron shoes remind us of the people who were forced to leave their shoes behind. - What is Chimney Cake?
Chimney Cake (Kürtőskalács) is a Hungarian dessert made of sweet dough, baked on a spit, and rolled in sugar and cinnamon. It’s delicious!
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help structure and document our journey.
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