Strolling around Budapest.................

I've just discovered I'd not published this final post 

showing more of my visit to awesome Budapest, Hungary 

last October, so am sharing now.

Beautiful things catch your attention on the 

old streets of Budapest.

Take another little stroll with me here through Pest, 

the low side of the city on one side of the Danube.

Bronze devilish fauns, symbols of artistic spirit - at  

The Boscolo Hotel now occupying the beautifully renovated 

New York Palace building.

The New York Palace building - commissioned by the 
New York Life Insurance Company, opened in 1894. 
It was nationalized during the communist area then, 
after the collapse of socialism, purchased later
by Italian Boscolo Hotels in 2001, totally renovated 
at a cost of 80 million Euros, and reopened in 2006
as a luxury hotel.

Up until World War II, when the building was damaged and fell into disrepair, the magnificent cafe on the ground floor was a meeting place for 20th century Hungarian writers, poets and journalists, and was known as "the most beautiful cafe in the world". The renovations are amazing and I think it should 
still be called the best even today.

Although the structure is ornate, in the lobby the floral displays were contemporary and quite lovely.

Strolling along some of the side streets we noticed several 
antiques shops offered extremely ornate merchandise.

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 The following images are of the Budapest Opera House......
magnificent both outside and in.

Whilst taking the tour we were able to see the stage being set for the production of Verdi's final opera Falstaff. 

As I mentioned in my earlier posts here on Budapest, 

this is a stunning city.  

I would love to return again some day to see more.