Budapest: Margitsziget
...or Margaret Island for those who don't speak Hungarian.
A small island, right in the middle of Danube, home to the Sziget Festival (yes, I thought that would ring a bell).
Its best-known landmarks are:
- The Centennial Memorial , commemorating the hundredth anniversary of the city's unification
The Centennial Memorial
Copyright by Ady Dima
- A small Japanese Garden with a mildly thermal fish pond
- A tiny zoo
- The "Music Well" (Zenélő kút), a small pavilion, close to Árpád bridge;
- The "Music Fountain" (Zenélő szökőkút), a fountain near which music is played and light shows are performed in summer, close to Margaret bridge;
The Music Fountain
Copyright by Ady Dima
- An octagonal Water Tower.
We took the "surface metro" to get to Margitsziget via Margaret Bridge. Once there, we were amazed by the beauty and calm of the place. Cars aren't allowed on the island: only public transportation or rented bikes.
Once on the island we took a bus for a tour of the island and admired the Palatinus water park -and honestly felt bad about not bringing our swim suits with us...-, the sports pool, the hotels and thermal spas...the endless crowds of people, walking, jogging, riding a bike, admiring the serenity of the place.
We particularly enjoyed the Music Fountain. It can't be described in words or captured in photos, but it's worth taking a camcorder to record the show.
Music Fountain
Copyright by Ady Dima
If you walk along the bank of Danube, you'd be amazed by the views of the city. Margaret Bridge with the Parliament in the back if you look to your right, The Royal Palace and the Citadela if you look opposite to the Parliament and Arpad Bridge to the left.
Margaret Bridge and the Parliament
Copyright by Ady Dima
