Szentendre

Szentendre is a easy day trip from Budapest, and in fact can be reached by local trains, with one connection. The last leg requires a supplementary ticket, and with inspectors on the prowl, I took no chances.

Szentendre is situated opposite an island of the same name separating the Szentendre and main branches of the Danube after it has squeezed through the Danube Bend. It features historic architecture and artists' galleries, so is popular with visitors, but it's also touristy, with stalls chock full of souvenirs, trinkets, that sort of thing. Anyway it was beautiful weather to be out so that didn't bother me.

Charlotte appears to be a paper store.

Pretty street decorations with the Blagovestenska Orthodox Church in the background.

A closer look at the lampshades.

A traffic island at Fö Tér.

Bubble tea has reached even here, the Frutta Bar.

No matter which fork of the road you take, you have to pass temptation in the form of Centrum Fagyizó confectionery.

Trinket (actually Bogdányi) Street.

But colourful shades.

That old manual sewing machine takes me back.

The bank of the Szentendre branch of the Danube with Szentendre Island opposite. There are a couple of boat runs from Budapest per day.

Very relaxed local.

From the time gap to the next photo I think I took a break to have a beer at a riverside restaurant.

At the tiny Szántó Jewish Memorial House and Temple, possibly the smallest synagogue in the world, a tablet commemorates the Jewish families who were deported. The Nazis invaded Hungary in March 1944 and started deportations in May, ending 9 July, the date on the tablet. The losses were grievous. Close to ½ million Jews, Hungarian and from other countries, were deported. The top of the tablet quotes the 6th commandment: Do not kill.

Saint John the Baptist's Parish Church on a hill.

From here one has an overview of Szentendre.

Pigeons taking advantage of Blagovestenska Orthodox Church.

A great survivor.

The river bank.

Back at street level. Városháza means town hall.

I had a lángos at Álomlángos, which is a small shop but reputed to make some of the best exemplars of this snack. It's on a lane going up the hill.

After that I needed refreshment, so...

And the shop that supplied me.

I must have been tired so rested in the afternoon after returning to Budapest as there is only one more picture for this day, and it's of my dinner of Hungarian goulash. It was very filling since I also ordered pita and hummus.

Budapest — Central Market

In the morning after breakfast at the guest house I embarked on my explorations of Budapest. The officers of Budapest transport are reputed to be very strict so I didn't want to fall foul of them, even accidentally. I decided to save myself time and money by purchasing a multi-day pass. The guest house proprietor said I could buy one from a vending machine. And so it was, though I had to fight the terribly unreliable touch screen. I helped a couple of tourists get through their ordeal after that.

I caught the tram to the metro station Budapest Déli which is one end of line 2. Déli is also a train station, though I never used it to get anywhere. Here I entered the bowels of the earth and made a couple of line transfers.

Eventually I arrived at Fövám Tér. Tér is Hungarian for square. I learnt a few words simply because I kept seeing them.

This is the location of the Central Market Hall.

Inside is a produce market, and of course souvenir shops. Although Saturday is traditionally market day, this market would be operation every weekday too as it is covered.

You get an idea of the area from the steelwork.

I was obviously at an intersection of galleries.

Fruit shop.

Grocer.

Souvenirs.

Tea, chocolate and drinks. Bolt is Hungarian for shop, another word I learnt by sight.

Sweets and pastries.

Now I'm on the first level.

Rather crowded with tourists.

A good view of the ground floor.

Another view.

An online translator tells me that mintabolt means sample shop. But it looks like a smallgoods store to me.

The first level runs mostly along the perimeter of the hall with some overhead lanes.

I ventured out to take photos of the surroundings. I believe this is part of the Corvinus University.

The back of the Central Market.

Seems a fun run was happening.

The university library.

Sculptures that took my fancy.

I walked up the street to Kálvin Tér. This is the Mercure hotel. The Kálvin in this case being John Calvin.

The church that gave the square its name.

I walked back in the direction of the market towards Liberty Bridge.

From here the Liberty Status on Gellért Hill can be seen.

The buildings around the square.

After the market, I headed up Vámház körút towards Astoria metro station, which will be in the next installment.