Our hotel Pest is located one block from the Budapest Opera and about five blocks from St. Stephan's Basilica. We wandered on down to the Basilica for a look-see. Wow! Much marble and gold but only one mention (a picture) of the collapse of the dome while it was being built in the 1880s. The pietistic Curmudgeon couldn't help but wonder if this is what Jesus wants?
The hill behind the castle gave a wonderful view of the hills of Buda and the flats of Pest accross the beautiful blue (grey) Danube. The broken clouds dappled the scene with light and dark effects.
The Hungarian Goulash, actually a very good soup, came in a bowl with a cap of bread baked on it. It went down well on a chilly day when there were occasional snow flakes in the air. Signs of spring are showing in the green grass and trees beginning to bloom. Paprika's big here. Our breakfast table had salt and paprika shakers but no pepper.
Wanting to see the opera we went to the ticket office (Budapest's version of Ticketmaster) next door to the hotel. The "system was down" so we agreed to return after our two hour bus tour. When we did, they had tickets for us ( in the fifth row so we'll be able to see the fat girl sweat). They don't take credit cards so I offered to go to an ATM. The clerk motioned me to follow her, she led me to my hotel and there I was able to use my credit card for the tickets. The opera is Puccini's EDGAR. I'll report on the experience tomorrow and double check the spelling of the composers name. (The traveling curmudeonette gave me the correct spelling.)
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