We finally made it on to the Monarch Queen - our home for seven nights as we sailed down the Danube River. (It was this river cruise that was the starting block for our 44 day overseas journey.) Our first tour with Gate 1 included a morning walking tour on the "Pest" side of Budapest!#WordyExplorers #DanubeRiver #DanubeRiverCruise #RiverCruise #danube #TheDanube #Gate1 #GateOne #MonarchQueen #hungary #budapest #pest #CityPark #HeroesSquare #VajdahunyadCastle #medieval #architecture
Have you ever used a centrifuge to dry your swimsuit? Since I'd never seen one before, I was fascinated by how quickly it took most of the water out of our swimsuits. Perfect for travelers who spend time at a thermal spa!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #pest #SzechenyiBath #ThermalPool #ThermalWater #HotSprings #HotSpring #spa #centrifuge #SwimsuitDryer #twwt
We visited bath houses on both the Buda and Pest sides of the Danube River. Our favorite was definitely Szechenyi Bath in the "Pest" side of Budapest. The hot spring waters were so relaxing and the perfect end to our first ten days abroad.#WordyExplorers #hungary #DanubeRiver #danube #budapest #pest #SzechenyiBath #bathhouse #HotSprings #ThermalBaths #ThermalPool #spa #pool #sauna #SteamRoom
As the day was ending, we crossed Budapest's Margaret Bridge from "Buda" back over to "Pest". Our timing at the midway point, Margaret Island, was perfect to catch a few tunes on the musical fountain. Enjoy!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #pest #MargaretIsland #MargaretBridge #MusicalFountain #MargaretIslandMusicalFountain #music #tunes #fountain #FountainShow #LightShow #twwt
Even though we thought the price was kind of high, we had decided to take the popular tour of the Hungarian Parliament building in Budapest. We left our hotel early and were greeted by a much longer than expected line with tours already sold out well into the late afternoon. We skipped the wait in line (& the tour) but enjoyed seeing the building exterior both during daytime and at night. #WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #DanubeRiver #pest #HungarianParliament #parliament #dome #architecture #history #NationalAssembly #government #SoldOut #twwt
One last view from Castle Hill before our trek down toward the river for dinner!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #pest #DanubeRiver #danube #CastleHill #BudaCastle #BudapestParliament #ChainBridge #StStephensBasilica #SaintStephensBasilica #unesco #view #PanoramicView #panorama #SeeTheWorld #ExploreTheWorld
As we were planning our time in Budapest, Fisherman's Bastion was overwhelmingly the number one site recommended. Whether it was tips from other bloggers, tour descriptions or articles about the city, nearly everything we read said it was a "must visit".#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #DanubeRiver #buda #pest #FishermansBastion #CastleHill #BudaCastle #unesco #vista #viewpoint #panorama #PanoramicView #architecture
Also on the "free" list are the amazing views from Buda Castle on Budapest's Castle Hill. (Check back again for views from the well known Fisherman's Bastion - it does have an entrance fee but even better views!)#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #CastleHill #BudaCastle #DanubeRiver #danube #OldTown #unesco #viewpoint #PanoramicView #panorama #BirdsEyeView #parliament #HungarianParliament #ChainBridge
It seems that no matter where in the world we are traveling, we can be assured that more than one crane will interfere with our photos!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #CastleHill #BudaCastle #unesco #crane #cranes #construction #restoration #progress #history #historic
Since we only had one day to explore Budapest on our own, we chose to stroll through the grounds of Castle Hill (Buda Castle). We had planned to ride the funicular (closed for maintenance) and go inside Matthias Church (closed for a wedding), but still enjoyed our time.#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #CastleHill #BudaCastle #unesco #castle #royal #MatthiasChurch #TrinitySquare #OldTown #historic #architecture #twwt #explore
We had read about the Cave Church on the "Buda" side of the Danube, and since the entrance fee was only $3.00 USD per person, we decided to explore on our own!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #GellertHill #GellertHillCaveChurch #CaveChurch #RockChurch #cave #limestone #church #chapel #BlackMadonna #twwt
While still exploring the "Pest" side of Budapest, we crossed part-way across the Danube on the city's most famous bridge. Fun fact: Before the Chain Bridge was completed in 1849, there were only two ways to cross between the Buda and Pest sides of the River (by boat or by foot which was only possible during winter when the river was frozen)!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #buda #pest #DanubeRiver #danube #ChainBridge #SzechenyiBridge #SuspensionBridge #bridge #architecture #history #WorldWarII #wwii
First stop while exploring the Pest side of the Danube during our only day on our own in Budapest was at the "Shoes on the Danube" memorial. So hard to believe how fellow humans were treated because of differing beliefs.#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #DanubeRiver #danube #RiverBank #pest #ShoesOnTheDanube #memorial #art #sculpture #history #WorldWarII #wwii #execution
Although we don't typically go bar hopping when traveling, when I heard about the "Ruin Bars" in Budapest, I knew I had to visit one. We chose Szimpla Kert, recognized as the oldest of the ruins that have been converted into eclectic bars!#WordyExplorers #hungary #budapest #pest #JewishQuarter #SzimplaKertRuinBar #RuinBar #nightclub #bar #pub #party #cocktail #cocktails #beer #CraftBeer #music #eclectic
We enjoyed plenty of good food during our time in Prague, Czech Republic - both highly recommended traditional Czech meals and restaurants that we just came upon while exploring!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #dining #dinner #meals #dessert #wine #beer #traditional #TraditionalCzechDish #trdelnik #twwt
We knew about several of the pieces of art that we encountered as we explored Prague, but others (butterflies, Umbrella Man and beetle) were a big surprise!#CzechRepublic #prague #art #artwork #sculpture #mural #ManHangingOut #SigmundFreud #SpitfireButterflies #FranzKafka #UmbrellaMan #CowParade #BigBug #beetle #LennonWall
Two days with the Prague Visitor Pass is not nearly enough time to explore the capital city of the Czech Republic ... but at least it's a start! Here's just a few of the hundreds of photos we took of the city's unique architecture. #WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #architecture #OldTown #LesserTown #StareMesto #MalaStrana #rudolfinum #DancingHouse #ChurchOfStNicholas #ChurchOfOurLadyBeforeTyn #HavelskaMarket #modern #medieval #twwt
We missed out on seeing much of Prague's Jewish Quarter because the day that we planned for exploring Old Town was a Jewish Holiday and many sites were closed. We did make time on our second day to at least spend some time walking through the Old Jewish Cemetery (also the last place where we used our Prague Visitor Pass).#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #OldTown #StareMesto #PragueVisitorPass #PraguePass #unesco #JewishQuarter #OldJewishCemetery #synagogue #synagogues #history #WorldWarII #wwII
Even though the funicular was out of service, we walked to Petrin Hill for one last bird's eye view over Prague. This one was from the observation deck at Petrin Lookout Tower which, at first glance, resembles the Eiffel Tower.Fun fact: Although the Eiffel Tower structure is taller, the altitude of both Petrin Tower and the tower in Paris are very similar ... but only because the tower in Prague stands upon a hill!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #PraguePass #PetrinHill #PetrinTower #PetrinLookoutTower #PetrinObservationTower #funicular #BirdsEyeView #ViewFromAbove #ScenicOverlook #EiffelTower #panorama #panoramic
Most of our second afternoon in Prague was spent exploring Prague Castle. Although our Prague Visitor Pass didn't include entrance to all areas of the castle, we did have access to the majority of the buildings that didn't require a guided tour.#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #LesserTown #MalaStrana #PragueVisitorPass #PraguePass #PragueCastle #unesco #BasilicaOfStGeorge #BasilicaOfSaintGeorge #StVitusCathedral #SaintVitusCathedral #OldRoyalPalace #GoldenLane #DaliborkaTower #architecture
We spent most of our second day in Prague's Lesser Town. We couldn't pass up on another climb for city views - this one at the St. Nicholas Bell Tower. (The tower climb was included in the Prague Visitor Pass, but visiting the church required an additional entrance fee.)#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #LesserTown #MalaStrana #StNicholas #SaintNicholas #SaintNicholasBellTower #StNicholasBellTower #BellTower #ObservationDeck #climb #StairClimb #ViewFromAbove #BirdsEyeView
Even though the Lennon Wall covers just a part of the wall surrounding the Maltese Gardens in Lesser Town, it is still mentioned in most of the "Prague must see" lists!Fun fact: Although the wall started with an image of Lennon, it is believed that John Lennon had never visited Prague.#CzechRepublic #prague #LesserTown #MalaStrana #MalteseGardens #JohnLennonWall #LennonWall #JohnLennon #art #graffiti #memorial #peace #FreeSpeech #beatles
Probably wouldn't have discovered the tour at Pilsner Urquell, but it was included with our Prague Visitor Pass ... so that's how we wrapped up our first full day in the Czech Republic.#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #OldTown #StareMesto #PragueVisitorPass #PilsnerUrquell #beer #foam #BeerTasting #brewery #BeerHall #museum #BeerMuseum #history #HistoryOfBeer
I had read about the Franz Kafka sculpture in Prague before our visit, but wasn't exactly sure what to expect. So glad we got to see it "spin"!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #art #artwork #CzechArt #sculpture #statue #KineticScuplture #FranzKafka #bust #DavidCerny #MakeYourHeadSpin #SpinningHead #twwt
Another tower climb for the four of us - 138 stair steps took us to the viewing gallery at the top of the Old Town Bridge Tower. It was the perfect way to see the Charles Bridge (that we crossed on foot and sailed under by boat) as well as more of Old Town and Lesser Town.#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #OldTown #StareMesto #Lesser Town #MalaStrana #VltavaRiver #OldTownBridgeTower #gothic #tower #climb #BirdsEyeView #ViewFromAbove #CharlesBridge #StoneBridge #PragueBridge #PedestrianBridge
An hour long sightseeing cruise on the Vltava River was next for us as we explored Prague's Old Town. We got to choose from a selection of treats and drinks as we boarded and listened to recorded commentary along the journey.#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #PragueVisitorPass #PraguePass #OldTown #StareMesto #CharlesBridge #VltavaRiver #SightseeingCruise #BoatTour #PragueVeniceBoatRide #PragueVeniceCruise #VodouchBoat #twwt
Since it was both included with our Prague Visitor Pass and the timing worked well, we decided to join a tour of Prague's Old Town Hall which included the Gothic Chapel and Medieval Underground!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #OldTown #PragueOldTown #OldTownPrague #OldTownSquare #OldTownHall #GothicChapel #AstronomicalClock #MedievalUnderground #medieval #underground #PragueVisitorPass #twwt
Used our Prague Pass for a "free" elevator ride to the observation deck at the top of the Old Town Hall Tower to soak in the view of Prague's Old Town (and more) from above!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #PragueVisitorPass #OldTown #StareMesto #PragueOldTown #OldTownPrague #OldTownSquare #ObservationDeck #ScenicView #BirdsEyeView #ViewFromAbove #twwt
We planned our visit to Prague's Old Town Square so that we were there at the top of the hour. We didn't want to miss hearing the bells and seeing the astronomical clock "show" on the Old Town Hall Tower.Fun fact: Today, Prague's astronomical clock is the oldest in the world that is still in operation!#WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #czech #prague #StareMesto #OldTown #PragueOldTown #OldTownPrague #OldTownSquare #OldTownHall #OldTownHallTower #tower #AstronomicalClock #orloj #TopOfTheHour #apostles #12apostles
We spent our first full day in Prague in Old Town (Stare Mesto). We started the day in Old Town Square, home to Prague's Old Town Hall as well as churches, a palace and monuments dating back hundreds of years. #WordyExplorers #CzechRepublic #prague #OldTown #OldTownPrague #PragueOldTown #StareMesto #OldTownSquare #OldTownHall #ChurchOfStNicholas #ChurchOfSaintNicholas #ChurchOfOurLadyBeforeTyn #KinskyPalace #historical #twwt