 Village of St. Andre |
 Parliament from our boat |
 Danube seen across the rooftops |
 Serbian church |
 St. Andre village square |
 Remains of citadel |
 Danube Bend |
After lunch the group headed for the citadel, partially in ruins after being blown up by the Austrians in 1849, like most fortifications, to prevent its use against them. We climbed all the way to the top and had a fantastic view of the Danube Bend. On the way down we toured the wax works, made up entirely of exhibits of implements of torture.
 Atop the old citadel |
 Jane |
 Darrell & Danube Bend |
As the bus drove through a small village on the way back, we saw a large storks' nest on top of a utility tower and another stork on a street light. On the outskirts of Obuda, we passed through the remains of Aquincum, for 400 years a Roman military camp and civilian town. It was established by legionnaires in 12 A.D. when the Danube here was the edge of the Roman Empire. It was part of the Roman province of Lower Pannonia. Hadrian, later Emperor of Rome, was governor here as a young man. Pannonia was finally overrun by the Huns in 433 A.D. Acquincum was a large settlement, and the remains of villas, baths, shops, and two amphitheaters were surprisingly well preserved, though often only as foundations and low walls. (scan) An aqueduct several miles long ran right along the highway.
 Mama stork on nest |
 Papa stork keeping watch |
 Mosaic from Aquincum |
Fighting its way through heavy traffic, the bus got back to the hotel around five. We went up to the fitness center to try to work off some of the heavy lunch (and wine). We rested a while, then had a light meal (tuna) in the Grill at nine, using the second $18 voucher. Afterward we decided to go for a walk across the Chain Bridge. On the way out of the hotel, we met another couple, Harry and Connie, who asked if they could join us. The weather was pleasantly cool, and the view of Mathias Church and the Presbyterian Church below it was spectacular. The view back across the river toward Parliament was also great.
On the walk back, though, two young men attached themselves to us. As Harry lagged behind, they pretended to be interested in buying his belt. That allowed them to get close enough to pick his pocket of about $35 in loose bills he had in his side pocket. He noticed that the money was gone within a minute or two after they left us, but it was too late to do anything. It was eleven by the time we got back to the hotel.