It’s called “Shoes on the Danube Promenade,” a commemoration dedicated to the victims of the fascist Arrow Cross party who shot the people right into the Danube River, sparing themselves the hard work of burials. The victims had to take their shoes off, since shoes were valuable belongings at the time. The monument contains of 60 pairs of iron shoes, forming a row. Each pair of shoes were modelled after a contemporary shoe from the 1940’s. May 11, 2016

It’s called “Shoes on the Danube Promenade,” in Budapest, a commemoration dedicated to the victims of the fascist Arrow Cross party who shot the people right into the Danube River, sparing themselves the hard work of burials. May 11, 2016

The Dohany Street Synagogue, also called the Great Synagogue, in Budapest, Hungary, is the second biggest synagogue in the world (after the Temple Emanu-El of New York). It was built between 1854 and 1859 in Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish style, in the wake of Romanticism. I made my way here on my own using Budapest’s underground metro system…just exit on Astoria off of the red line. May 11, 2016

The stunning interior of the Dohany Street Synagogue, also called the Great Synagogue, in Budapest, Hungary. May 11, 2016

The memorial garden of the Dohany Street Synagogue, also called the Great Synagogue, in Budapest, Hungary. During the Soviet siege that ended the Nazi occupation of Budapest in the winter of 1944-1945, many Jews in the surrounding ghetto died of exposure, starvation and disease. Soon after the Soviets liberated the city, a mass grave was dug at the site of the memorial for an estimated 2,281 Jews. The trees and headstones, donated by survivors, were added later. May 11, 2016

I conquered the Budapest metro system getting myself around. (May 11, 2016)

Also a part of the memorial garden of the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest is this weeping-willow “Tree of Life” sculpture. The Holocaust Memorial, also known as the Emanuel Tree, was created by Imre Varga. The names of Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust are inscribed on each leaf. May 11, 2016

A close up of a leaf of the Holocaust Memorial, known as the Emanuel Tree or “Tree of Life” at the Dohany Street Synagogue in Budapest. The weeping willow tree, created by Imre Varga, has the name inscribed on each leaf of Hungarian Jews killed during the Holocaust. May 11, 2016

Farewell to the Danube River, the iconic Chain Bridge and most of all the beauty of Budapest. May 12, 2016

Getting comfortable on our very luxurious bus as our Rick Steves tour group leaves Budapest, Hungary, heading to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia for the night. May 12, 2016

Before our group can enter into Croatia, we have to stop at the border control of Hungary and Croatia. We were required to step out of the bus, with our passports and hand them over to the Hungarian border control staff for an exit stamp. Then the Croatian border control provided the entry stamp and returned our passports. Although Hungary is part of the Schengen Agreement, which in essence abolished passport and any other type of border controls, Croatia is working to join the other Schengen countries and at present must continue to protect its borders. May 12, 2016

A Croatian lunch spread at a Zelengaj, a restaurant just a few minutes from the Croatian border allowed our group to preview some Croatian cuisine. May 12, 2016

It was a full day on the bus but as our Rick Steves tour group made its way to Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia we could see signs of the lush landscape. The largest of Croatia’s eight national parks, we will be spending the night at a hotel in the park and walking through the park tomorrow morning. In 1979, Plitvice Lakes National Park was included in the UNESCO list of World Natural Heritage sites. May 12, 2016

Our Rick Steves tour group unloading our suitcases from the bus so we can check into our hotel at the Plitvice Lakes National Park in Croatia. May 12, 2016

Me enjoying the beauty of the waterfalls at Plitvice Lake National Park in Croatia. May 13, 2016

The waterfalls and flora of Pltvice Lake National Park in Croatia. May 13, 2016