Kossuth Lajos tér and Falk Miksa utca

"Tér" is Hungarian for square and "utca" is the word for street. This square is the place where the famous Hungarian Parliament building is found.

Váci utca

Once we were refreshed at the cafe, we continued away from the market along Váci utca. This street is lined with shops and eateries for various sorts. Everything from ice cream vendors to Italian/Hungarian restaurants are found here.

The Central Market

No trip to Budapest would be complete for us without a visit to the Central Market. A big place filled with lots of meat and veg vendors as well as a few places that sell spices (lots of paprika), honey, and tchotchkes.

St. Stephen's Basilica, Back Inside to the Treasury

With a view of the right bell tower (again, as viewed looking toward the front of basilica from the street) and the Budapest Eye in the background, we leave the breezy walkway and head back inside the basilica to visit the treasury.

St. Stephen's Basilica, Inside and Out

And so we end the tour of the interior with a fitting look at the altar area. This is truly an extravagantly decorated place, clearly meant to impress. that it certainly does.

St. Stephen's Basilica

This place is quite large, but certainly not immense. Yet, the space, at times, overwhelms. The view above that is looking across the center aisle, leads you into a space that is truly grand on any sort of human sized endeavor.

St. Stephen's Basilica

This building, on the grand scale of bygone times, is actually quite recent. It was completed in 1905. Wikipedia tells us that in 1868, the dome collapsed and the whole thing had to demolished for a fresh start. So even though construction was underway for 54 years, you could say that they only really started in 1868 since they started over then.

Birds and the Tundra

My ability to photograph birds on the wing is limited. But when they alight (and hold still for a bit) I can do fairly well.It is especially nice to find them on the tundra with all the colors and textures it presents.

St. Stephen's Basilica Continued

Without the bustling crowd visiting the church of our previous visit, I am able to photograph some things I either could not get a clear shot of or found so difficult to shoot, I gave up on. This time all was easy.

Another Installment of Alaskan Birds

There are three roads that connect Nome to the region around them. There are no roads that connect it to the rest of the world or even a larger town. The population of Nome is fewer than 4,000.

One of the roads extends north into the interior of the Seward Peninsula. It connect to a small place about 70 miles away called Teller, hence it is called the Nome-Teller Road. It crosses several rivers and in the marsh lands near this road we find the Savanna Sparrow.

St. Stephen's Basilica

On our first outing into Budapest, we stopped for a a coffee and a roll (of course we stopped for food first) and contemplated the Basilica for a while. We decided to get tickets for a visit even though we've been there before. Unlike our previous visits, this day is warm, sunny, and we are early enough to miss the crowds.

The Long Tailed Duck in Breeding Plumage

As we work through the bird photos in something like chronological order, we are still well within the first day's adventure. Today I bring you the Long Tailed Duck. They don't normally look like this but this is breeding season and everybody has to (re)dress for the occasion. This fellow is no different.

A Taste of Things to Come - Andrassy Avenue, Budapest

On out first outing in Budapest, we stopped at the Opera station of the M1 subway to get a nice breakfast cake at the restaurant in the hotel next door. However, it was only serving the hotel residents at the time so we had to continue on down the street.

The Birding Saga Begins

 

Today I will begin the birding saga. It will be, at best, sporadic since it takes me time to process the images, sort the good from the bad, figure out my notes about who each bird is and get the results to the blog.

Last of the Flowers for a While

Today marks the end of the parade of flowers for a while. I know you must be as relieved as I am. Tomorrow brings images from other places, outside of Washington and a much needed refresh to the images here on the blog.

Flowers on a Sunny Day

The bees have really been buzzing about today. As you can see, there is lots of pollen on the petals of the flower from the disturbance of this recent visitor.

It's Pollination Time!

These guys are...well, just busy as bees around here. The bushes and flowerbeds are chock full of bumblebees and their ilk.

Bumblebees etc.

While it still raining with a continued frequency, it is easier these days to find a break where there is a little sunshine to venture out into the world. Aside from the dreary-wearies we get from from all the rain and clouds, we do get lots of fresh, green plants to grow everywhere.

Colors and Shapes Galore

Another bold specimen filling the screen with colors and textures.

A Few Flowers to Soothe Your Eyes

Even the common flowers bring a splash of color to our lives.

Not everything graceful is a flower. Sometimes it is just a frond of grass on the business end.

More Fun Along the Streets of Home

I continue to bring you photos of small, hidden sights along the streets of home. Perhaps my showing you these things in a new way, you can also see them as you walk about your neighborhood.

Things to See While I Wander the Alaskan Tundra

I really love the range of pinks in these flowers so I keep shooting them.

The More Subtle Colors of Summer

With the (slightly) warmer temps* come a burst of colors in all sorts of places.

Green Things

We are surrounded by the encroachment of chaos and no time is more naturally chaotic than spring. If you think about it, many of the jobs we've created are simply to hold this chaos at bay...landscaping, dam and jetty building, even home building.

By the Centennial Trail

Portions of the trail still have a short bits of the track on the side to remind us of its origins and no doubt save the money of ripping it out.

Used, Aged, Worn, and Rusted

Today's post title not only applies to the photos but also to how I often feel. I also find that as I walk the streets of town and see these "antique" items I less often feel they are old or out of place. They are just reminders of my childhood.

Things to See While in Town

I read the other day that the last working telephone booth in New York City has been removed. I wonder if there are any bum ball machines to still be found there?

Walking into Town

With the growing sunshine availability I can enjoy afternoon walks in addition the morning runs. As the PNW version of summer slowly comes, new kinds of plants appear...weeds we'd mostly call them...and the scenes begin to shift.

Morning Run

 There are several reasons I get up early to go for a run each morning. Among those reasons are: I've done it long enough now that I feel guilty when I don't, I regret the missed days when I restart because things hurt more after a break, and it is good way to wake up and start the day. However, one of the main reasons is morning is quiet and I have the trail mostly to myself. There are birds, rabbits, and frogs all providing activity and layers to the morning chorus.

And on days such as this one, there is the morning sun slanting through the trees. This warmly colored streaky light always makes me smile. Even when I'm mentally monitoring all the various joints and muscles for a hint that something is about fail (old man legs are tenuous), I am aware that I'm passing through a serenely beautiful place. It is calming and invigorating.