Costing an arm and a leg...well, at least an arm

With a single day to take in the sights, I got busy. First on the agenda was the Great Synagogue, 2nd largest in the world seating 3000 people. Next came the Hungarian parliament building and its impressive gothic revival domes, spires and staircases standing guard over Pest on the edge of the Danube. Made a pitstop on Castle Hill and the Gelert Citadel before checking out the fascinating Széchenyi Chain Bridge.

When the bridge was built in the mid-19th C, it marked one of the great wonders of the world and had an enormous impact on the country's financial well being. Its ornaments are made of cast iron and its construction, radiating calm dignity and balance, raised it among the most beautiful industrial monuments in Europe. It became a symbol of advancement, national awakening, and the union of Buda, Pest and Óbuda (Old Buda). Most importantly, it is just WICKED funky!

One of my last stops was to pop into St. Stephen's Basilica, a truly magnificent cathedral. Though there is something about it...Not long after “Good King Stephen” died, healing miracles were said to have transpired at the site of his tomb. Thus he was canonized in 1083 and as was done in the day, his corpse was exhumed from its crypt. They say his right arm was as fresh as the day he was buried so it was promptly lopped off to be mummified (read "pickled") and venerated. Somewhere along the way through the Turkish invasions, the hand was severed from the arm and they went their separate ways but like loyal Lassie, the hand found its way home. On St. Stephen’s day, the hand is taken from its home in the basilica and is paraded around the city. The "Holy Right" represents a sense of national pride for as Hungarians themselves, the hand has travelled a long and difficult road. Eeeeeeeek, freakazoid.

Sadly, I had time neither for the House of Terror or for spas. The former was where WWII activists of all stripes were taken for interrogation and torture. The walls were apparently double thickness to mute the screams. How gruesome.

As for the spas, Budapest lies on a geological fault which produces scalding jets in some 120 thermal springs. As a result, the city is a major spa centre. Some baths date from Turkish times, some are Art-Nouveau wonders and others are like bathing inside a cathedral. Next visit.