Food in Budapest was excellent, and we got in our share of chicken paprikash, dumplings, and amazing pastries. We also visited their large Food Marketplace, which is a building and not just an open market with every paprika you can imagine as well as everything else you might need to keep your pantry well stocked.

Arriving into Budapest on the Danube was very lovely as you get an immediate preview of the castle, churches, parliament and several of its bridges. Here again, much of it has been rebuilt since the war, but it still has an old feel to it. We are not in San Diego. Budapest consists of two cities that united in late 1873. Pest lies on one side of the Danube, and Obuda on the other, merging to form Budapest. Buda houses the palace, as well as the offices of the prime minister and president,...

This is our second river cruise, and it's also our second with AMAWATERWAYS. Our initial trip with them was on the Rhine in September 2022, traveling from Basel to Amsterdam. Now, we're spending a week on their newest and largest ship, the AMAMagna, cruising down the Danube from Vilshofen, Germany, to Budapest, Hungary, with stops in Austria and Slovakia.   The AMAMagna is significantly wider than the previous ship, and we booked one of their “junior suites,” which was just perfect. There...

We went to the Museum of Fine Arts to view their old masters and enjoy a beautiful Capra photography exhibit. I think we were spoiled by the extensive collections in Munich and Vienna, but this was still an enjoyable museum to visit. And let's not forget the old masters.

As a member of the Axis, Hungary became increasingly hostile towards its Jewish citizens. Before the war, Budapest was a welcoming city for Jews, similar to the situation of German Jews, and they were deeply integrated into society, living among non-Jewish citizens rather than in ghettos. Many Hungarian Jews served and died in WWI and were honored for their sacrifices.   We visited the Doheny Synagogue, considered the second largest synagogue in the world after one in New York or Jerusalem....

We had a delightful guide named Gretta from Context Tours who introduced us to some of her favorite buildings, which included a range from classical to Art Nouveau, Bauhaus, brutalist, and uniquely beautiful structures that didn't adhere to a single style. The brutalist were most intriguing to us as we do not seem their work much here in the states. The city expanded in concentric circles, similar to Vienna, so it lacks a clear grid layout. Most buildings are no taller than 6 or 7 stories,...

The Aria Hotel is a trendy and chic establishment, though it might have overdone the piano-themed décor, such as the keyboard pattern woven into the carpet in our room. The room was comfortably sized and as stylish as anticipated, but I found the bed slightly too soft. We enjoyed a nice terrace for relaxation, and the staff was both attentive and pleasant. Budapest boasts many renowned luxury hotels, so if you decide to visit, there are numerous choices. We usually prefer smaller boutique...