Riding on a Shooting Star

Leaving Prague behind, we hop aboard a small plane to Budapest, Hungary! In just 1.5 hours we arrive at the airport, catch a shuttle bus to the city and rest in our hotel to regain energy for the following day with lots of activities planned!

The Parliament

Probably one of the most popular tourist destinations of Budapest. One of Europe's oldest legislative buildings, and is currently the largest building in Hungary, and the largest Parliament in Europe! This very symmetrical arrangement is designed to serve as a double chamber system, similar to the Capitol of Washington D.C. The center dome hall is designated for joined sessions. Visitors are only allowed inside under guided tours.

The main facade of the building faces the Danube River,

but the official main entrance faces the street on the opposite side of the river.

As you first enter the building, after passing through security, you come across a

model of the Parliament made entirely of matches!

FUN FACT! Did you know that the first noiseless match was invented by a Hungarian chemist in 1836!

We walk up the Grand Stairwell with a view of the amazing frescoes on the ceiling.

A view of the other side of the Grand Stairwell.

As we come to another set of stairs, we enter the sixteen-sided center hall where they display the Holy Crown of Hungary, worn only on the occasion of a coronation. The rest of the time two crown guards guard it.

Central Hall : All sixteen sides has statues of different Hungarian kings and rulers,

along with their coat of arms on the walls and ceiling.

The ceiling of the Central Hall. During communist regime,

a red star perched on top of the dome, but was later removed in 1990.

One of the 16 statues in the Central Hall. This one is of the first King of Hungary, Saint Stephen.

The Hungarian coronation insignia consists of the Holy Crown, the sceptre, the orb, and the mantle.

The Holy Crown is also seen on the Coat of arms of Hungary.

Next we enter the Conference Hall.

Hallway immediately outside the Conference Hall, and the hallway that we took to exit the building.

Each window sill of the hallway has a cigar holder, so that when members went on breaks from their discussions, they could come back for a puff! ...Brilliant!