| Grand River Cruise with Budapest | |
| 13. Vienna to Budapest | |
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| A few hours after leaving Vienna, with SERENADE flying a Slovakian courtesy ensign, we are approaching Bratislava. If for any reason a ship intends to pass another starboard to starboard instead of the usual port to port it will display a blue square. When the other ship acknowledges by displaying its blue square the manoeuvre can take place | |
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| Bratislava's iconic castle which was rebuilt in its present form in the 16th Century. | |
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| The landmark bridge is known locally as the Most SNP or Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising | |
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| After our last night aboard we have just past Budapest Castle and are sailing by the Soviet War Memorial above Buda as Serenade comes to the end of its two week cruise from Amsterdam | |
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| The Chain Bridge links Buda and Pest and is guarded by tongue-less lions. Nearby is the Museum Ship KOSSUTH built in 1913 for the Hungarian Royal River and Sea Navigation Inc | |
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| Trams, free to EU citizens over 65, run past the cafes and a variety of sculptures along the promenade | |
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| Sculptures on the promenade | |
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| Views of the Castle and Fisherman’s Bastion across the river | |
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| Fisherman’s Bastion offers panoramic views of Pest and the classic view of the Hungarian Parliament, This is actually the back of the parliament and nearby on the quayside is The Shoes Memorial | |
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| The Shoes Memorial commemorates those shot into the Danube by Arrow Cross militiamen near the end of the War. Before being executed the victims were forced to remove their shoes | |
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The Millennium Monument in Heroes’ Square (above) was erected over a hundred years ago to commemorate a thousand years of Hungary’s existence. The front of the parliament (right) is far less photographed than the rear, |
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| The elaborate ceremony of the changing of the guard takes place in front of the parliament | |
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