"Two-toned Budapest" a Budapest Travel Page by acemj

There is something so fascinating about a city that literally wears the scars of its past on its proverbial sleeve. Budapest's buildings are pock-marked and graying reminders of a violent war and an oppressive era. But at the same time, its collection of architectural structures is magnificent and awe-inspiring. The Houses of Parliament along the Danube, in my opinion, are a far more glorious sight than London's Buckingham-Thames answer.

The dualing natures of the city can be found in its people as well. From an outsider's perspective, it seems that the locals are caught between two opposite forces. From the past comes the pull of conservatism and a life of limitations. From the future comes the pull of promise and freedom and to me, it seems that many Hungarians are unsure which step to take. <I>Should we walk boldly into a wonderfully uncertain future or should we continue to exist in the dim familiarity of the past?</I>

The romance of Budapest is best discovered from its center, the River Danube. Whether walking across the historic Chain Bridge, taking a boat ride on its green-gray waters, or strolling through the peaceful paths of Margaret Island, you will get the best perspective of Budapest from the river. You will see the past when you look at the quiet hills of Obuda or the sovereign dominance of the Citadella, or the Austro-Hungarian magnificence of the House of Parliament. And you will see the future when you see the busy streets of Pest and the capitalistic influences of tourism and commercialism.