Budapest, Hungary

Budapest is the capital city of Hungary and the country's principal political, industrial, commercial and transportation centre. It has more than 1.7 million inhabitants, down from a mid-1980s peak of 2.07 million. Budapest became a single city occupying both banks of the river Danube with the amalgamation in 1873 of right-bank Buda and Óbuda together with Pest on the left (east) bank. It is the sixth largest city in the European Union.

Budapest's recorded history begins with the Roman town of Aquincum, founded around 89 AD on the site of an earlier Celtic settlement near what was to become Óbuda.

We arrived on the first day of a two-day heat wave which was too intense for the Marriott's air conditioning. Fortunately, it cooled off on the third day, and was quite pleasant for the rest of our vacation. Aside from the feeble AC, the Marriott was very comfortable and had an excellent (and reasonably-priced) restaurant.

Several meals were included in our vacation package, but before leaving home we booked a dinner via the Internet at the Bel Canto Restaurant. The restaurant is across the street from the Opera House, and diners enjoy classical music and opera arias with their excellent meals. We also booked a spa package at one of the city's numerous health spas for one of our free afternoons. While we enjoyed the Danubius Thermal Hotel and Spa on Margaret Island, it was quite different from the pampering of American spas. It was also much less expensive.