Today was a day to catch up on anything else that I might have missed and most importantly to get souvenirs for my family and friends. I don’t know what my friends and family would say if I had forgotten to get them a souvenir.
After speaking with American missionaries at Budapest Church of Christ, it was suggested that I go to the Aquicum which was a Roman ruin in the northwest part of Budapest known as a Obuda. I got on Google Maps and get directions. It stated that I should ride a particular bus to a particular stop and then get out and walk. Unfortunately I didn’t pay attention to the actual name of the place I was going to and instead went to a park with a very similar name as the Roman ruins. I noticed my mistake when there were no Roman ruins at the park and instead looked like a normal average city park. I caught a train but unfortunately it was going the wrong direction and I went back two stops before actually realizing my mistake. I got off and waited for the next train. A man approached me as I was looking at the map and offered help I told him that I someone knew where I was going to and describes the Roman ruins. He was a very nice man and told me a little bit about himself and about the Roman ruins. He was unemployed but he had gone to school to be a religious teacher. And he was looking for a job. He was also helpful when we got on the train they made an announcement that the train would not stop at the stop I intended to get off on and suggested that I get off at the stop before and just walk or take a bus. As I got off a stop there were some Japanese tourists who helped direct me to where I needed to go they suggested that I walk which I’m not so sure what the fastest way to get there but I decided to follow their instructions anyway. Where some Japanese tourists who helped lead me to where I needed to go. They suggested that I walk which I’m not so sure what the fastest way to get there but I just headed to fall there instructions anyway. They were very kind and we had a short conversation on our way to the museum.
I got to the museum, paid my fee and went in to look at the exhibits. There are quite a few gravestones which had translations on them. Also what appeared to be Stone coffins with inscriptions on them as well . I thought to myself whether or not the inscribed stones were made prior to the death and then the inscription was carved later on after the person died. These were very large coffins and were probably for rich families. Within another part of the museum parts were displayed make no doubt about it the Romans were very advanced society to be able to make it sexy beautiful pots and among other things.
What I found very unusual wish to see parts of an organ, albeit very small, that the Romans apparently had manufactured.
Outside of the museum you can see the outline of where a Roman bath was. Budapest is known for its baths and apparently they’ve been having baths in Budapest since ancient Roman times. In a covered area but still exposed on one side to the weather or some more ancient stones from Roman times. I felt as though they probably should have been inside to keep them from being damaged due to the harsh Budapest winters. There were a lot of the stones.
Afterwards I really wanted to see a Roman Stadium but it was further down the area and I felt as though I was running out of time to try and find it. Instead I got on the bus going the direction which I needed to go. This happened many times in my Budapest trip I really didn’t know exactly where I was going but I figured it was good to try and get on a bus going in the direction that I needed to go and then figure it out from there once I recognize the surroundings. The bus I was on terminated right beside a tram station. I found a map of mass transit in Budapest and figured out a way to get on the blue subway line. I felt it was probably best for me to try to go down to the area of where the souvenirs for sold so that I could at least buy some for my family and friends. I had a bit of trouble finding the great Market Hall which was in an area where I know I needed to go but eventually I found it. I had asked a tourist information sites about where I can find particular historic McDonalds. Everyone remembers when McDonald’s opened in Moscow to a big sand fair. But Budapest at a McDonalds you before that. He was actually the first McDonald’s behind the Iron Curtain. I found the McDonalds and got a meal. I decided it was time for me to try and get to see St Ignatius Church. I found a Wi-Fi signal to where I could get a Google map direction. As I got on the bus I found that it was going in a different direction. An older lady was very helpful in pointing out to where the Basilica was.
The Basilica was grand. It had two towers and a domed roof. Before I even entered the Basilica I decided to climb to the very top to make some panoramic pictures by the dome. Also got out my GoPro and did a panoramic around the Dome of the Basilica. I won’t find out until I get home as to whether or not these GoPro videos turned out okay. But usually they turn out better than what I expected.
Inside of the church was nothing special really and it was all posted with silence signs. The Rick Steve book suggested that I pay a 200 Hungarian currency donation to enter the church.
Afterwards it was time for souvenir shopping. This always provides a headache for me because I never really know exactly what to get. Eventually I realize that some souvenirs that I give to my niece and nephew will be will end up in a garage sale. but I try to get them something anyway just to let them know that I’m going to be about them whenever I’m traveling. Which souvenir shopping you have to shop around because some stores are very expensive for all of the stores are very inexpensive for the same exact items. Number one on my list for myself was a soccer jersey. I try to get a soccer jersey for every country I go to. I also planned on getting my nephew a soccer jersey. The store I went into the salesman was actually running to separate stores and had to unlock the soccer store in order for me to look at jerseys. The first Jersey that’s always over 50 US dollars and I decided not to get that. The others were much more inexpensive aunt probably of the same type of material as the other jerseys.
Before going to the Basilica I had seen people looking at what I thought were Russian hats with a big red Russian store. So I tried to find these heads but actually I don’t think they ever really existed. It could be were thet were the winter hats but they did not have a Russian store on it. I could get these hats in Nashville easily so I wasn’t going to spend the extra money on a very similar hat Budapest if there was nothing about it. But it did take time for me to walk up and down the shopping area several times before realizing that these hats were inside of the store.
After picking up several souvenirs including Easter eggs that were actually going to be used as Christmas ornaments I decided it was time to start heading back to my hotel. The Budapest Church of Christ was having a mission campaign and had services at 6 p.m. that night. I wanted to be sure to support these mission efforts. After eating supper at Subway I headed back to my hotel. I jumped off my souvenirs and only took my Bible with me. This is very unusual for me and it almost felt very awkward not having my backpack full of maps and a camera. I walked a few minutes and caught the tram to the area near the church. The church meets in an apartment complex with a gated front door. I have been told how to ring the buzzer for them to allow you to let me in but I wasn’t sure if I was doing it properly. Finally some residents of the apartment came out the door and I managed to get into the apartment. I walked up to the steps to a lot open door where the church with having their worship service. The preachers were busy getting together a laptop to record the services.
The gentleman speaking that evening hold of God’s love toward him. It seems that he had had a brother commit suicide and he himself had been divorced previously and gotten into some fights before converting to Christianity.
After the church service we moved into the church’s kitchen to have some fellowship. One of the preachers brought his young son along. The resident preacher gave the young sons kinder eggs which have small toys with moving parts inside of them. These kinder eggs are banned in the US and would be confiscated by customs if it was ever tried to be brought in period I guess the US children are just not that smart to be able not to the small parts inside of the egg. It was great seeing the young boys get excited about the kinder eggs.
I said my goodbyes to the fellow Christians at the Budapest church and headed back with a family in the same direction as my tram stop. I had a big day the next day so I wanted to be sure and pack before having to get up early in the morning to catch my bus back to the airport for a flight to the US.