HOP-ON-HOP-OFF CITY TOUR
The Hop-On-Hop-Off City Tour (which costs 6000 forints each) was operated by two different coach lines, the Pink Line and the Green Line. A 1-hour river cruise is included in the package together with a booklet of free coupons which we did not have the time to exploit. The ticket is valid for two days and you can board both lines at any of the designated 33 stops simply by showing your ticket. This had to be the best thing since sliced bread.
THE PINK LINE
As it was drizzling, I wrapped myself with the disposable raincoat, a hideous light blue plastic sheet not unlike the sheets used to produce garbage bags. The last time I had occasion to use one was decades ago during my school days when a raincoat looked pretty decent ... for a raincoat. It wasn't flattering to be caught in this plastic sheet but under the circumstances, it was better to be a walking garbage bag than to be sicker than I already was. You must remember that I hadn't quite recovered from the sore-throat and flu and was happily coughing up a storm.
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Petofi ter
The Dormition Cathedral on the right. |
We waited at Stop No: 5 (Petofi Ter) for the Pink Line to appear. The rain kept up a light drizzle. A small crowd had gathered by the time the pink coach appeared.
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Air Raid / Peeling Plaster?
Belgrad Rakpart (apartment) |
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Dorrmition Cathedral
Greek Orthodox Church |
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The tourist guide on board was a middle aged Hungarian, fair of complexion and bearing the distinctive hungry looks of the Hungarian. Her shoulder length straw colored hair was tied up neatly with a blue ribbon which stole curious peeks at me. I was sitting directly behind her. She occupied the first seat on the left near the aisle. Her spoken English was heavily accented but one could make out what she said if one paid attention. As the coach drove past each tourist attraction, she introduced each spot before the coach halted to drop off or pick up more passengers. You get the flexibility of exploring each tourist attraction at your leisure, only to return to the designated stops to be picked up for the next scheduled stop.
The Pink Line started at the Clark Adam ter funicular service at the end of the Chain Bridge on the Buda side. From the Chain Bridge, it goes along the Danube up to the Margaret Bridge where it crosses to the Pest side, after which it goes down along the Danube until it reaches the Chain Bridge on the Pest side. (opposite the Clark Adam ter) Here, it looped around a small central park before going down again along the Danube towards the Balna Shopping Center where after a U-turn of sorts, the coach returned to the city center. Next, it crosses the Elizabeth Bridge to the Buda side, goes up the Danube to end up once again at the Clark Adam ter ... all in, making 14 stops. (The Green Line : 19 stops)
Unfortunately, we did not get off at any of the 33 designated stops. Time was of the essence. We were leaving Budapest on the next day. The city tour ended at 5 pm and it was well past noon before we commenced the tour. Furthermore, we were hampered by the light drizzle which grew into a full-fledged rainstorm.
The Inner City Parish Church is the oldest church in Pest. It was built at the site of the grave of St Gellert, (the bishop who was rolled down Gellert Hill in a barrel into the Danube way back when.
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| Inner City Parish Church |
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During the Turk occupation, the church became a mosque. After the Turks were ousted by the Habsburgs (Austria), the mosque was reconverted to a church.
Next to the church is a square (Marcius 15 ter) built on the ruins of contra-Aquincum. (ancient Roman city) Marcius 15 ter is one of the 33 designated stops.
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Liberty Bridge (Rock Chapel on right)
Third Oldest Bridge
Distinctive *Turul bird on top of pillar
*Turul are falcon-like birds prominent in ancient Hungarian mythology |
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Balna Shopping Center
Fovam ter |
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| ... where merchants sell their produce |
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Great Market Hall
Fovam ter |
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| taken from on board the Pink Coach |
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Open Air Farmer's Market
opposite the Great Market Hall |
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Hotel Astoria
3 designated stops between the Pink and Green Line
so this must be a pretty popular spot |
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Calvin Square
at intersection in city center
named after French Protestant Reformer John Calvin |
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| National Museum |
The Pink Coach dropped us at Stop # 9 (Kiraly utca) which was a busy street filled with shoppers.
From here, we were directed to cross a couple of streets towards the Budapest Eye. (Ferris wheel at Elizabeth Square)
That was Stop # 1 of The Green Line.
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As far as the Pink Line goes, we started at Point 5 and stopped at Point 9., missing all the spots in between. Hopefully, the Green Line would show us more of Budapest.
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