Budapest, Day 16

If you're going to attempt to buy someone, could you please wait until after 8am and I've at least had a cup of coffee? Yes, at the Cluj gara this morning, I was approached 3 times by the same young man. He must have been in his 20s, and he asked me where I was from, what I was doing, etc. I continually kept walking away from him and found a place to sit on the platform with other people around. I'm not going to lie - that was pretty scary. My passport has been checked three times since we crossed teh Hungarian border. I would have thought one time would have sufficed! I was so excited to use my Hungarian!!

I showered and got onto the streets of Budapest as quickly as I could. The first stop was Allami Operhaz, the State Opera House. I used my Hungarian and purchased tickets to the Saturday night premiere of In the Vortex, a modern ballet to be performed by the Hungarian National Ballet. I am so confused by the 226 fiorent to 1 dollar.

Next was my failed attempt to visit Kodaly Emlekmuzeum - the building is under renovation so the museum is not open. I was very disappointed but I quickly continued up Andrassy ut to Liszt Ferenc Emlekmuzeum. I am in music heaven here!!! The museum was quite small, but a stunning collection. One of Liszt's composing desks was there - with his small built in 3 octave keyboard. It was magical seeing where some of my favourite piano pieces were written. Now, for a piano geek like myself, I really appreciated the displays of numerous beautiful, old, and famous pianos: many Chickering & Sons, a Mason & Hamlin Organ, Bosendorfer, and a dual organ by Pere & Hils with the upper piano by Erard.

I did so much on Thursday evening:

Liszt Ferenc Ter

Evangélikus templom in Deak ter

 Vorosmarty Ter

 Kiskiralylany-szobor (Little Princess) in Vigado ter

 Belvarosi Templom, where I sat and listened to the organ during a service

 An interesting public WC

Szent Mihály Templom where I heard 5 men perform Renaissance madrigals a cappella

And the infamous Fischer Rezi, Fisher Girl Statue on Vaci Utca