Three Central European Countries

First stop: Prague The Old Town has a nice feel, and the clock tower is very distinctive. Charles Bridge left me with a beautiful yet melancholic impression, probably because of winter. St. Vitus Cathedral is my favorite Gothic style, with its imposing presence. Climbing to the top of the tower, you can overlook the whole of Prague. St. Nicholas Church is small and beautiful in Baroque style, with a delicate color like a cream cake. The Jewish synagogue is small, decorated mainly with golden patterns, and next to it is Kafka's statue. Remembering his 'Metamorphosis' is both shocking and sad. Prague overall feels beautiful but seems to lack a bit of liveliness. Second stop: Český Krumlov Still in a beautiful style, looking down from the windows of the castle is like a painting. The pork knuckle in the cellar restaurant is very good, cheap and delicious. Third stop: Salzburg With the backdrop of the Alps' snow-capped mountains, hiking up to the castle offers a 360-degree beauty. The city streets are pretty, and the small restaurant served a very nice lunch. It's nice to have a coffee and pass the time. Walking on the Love Lock Bridge is a pity we didn't bring a lock. The church didn't leave a strong impression. The next day, we took three bus transfers to Hallstatt, touted as Europe's most beautiful town. It is indeed beautiful, with snow-capped mountains, lakes, and scattered pretty houses, but there were a bit too many tourists. Fourth stop: Vienna A high-end, classy big city. The buildings in the city center are exquisite and grand. The Gothic St. Stephen's Cathedral captures the heart at first sight, as does the Gothic City Hall, the Greek-style Parliament Building, the Baroque Opera House, Karlskirche, etc. The museums were very rewarding, especially the Klimt's works at the Belvedere Palace. The exquisite rooms in the Albertina Museum, coffee and cake in the popular café in the Art History Museum, the architecture is indescribably beautiful, and the prices are surprisingly similar to other cafés. Also visited the Sisi Museum and the Treasury in the Hofburg Palace, the library, etc. Schönbrunn Palace was rather average. In the evening, attended a concert in the Golden Hall. In short, Vienna is a visual feast. Additionally, the apartment on this trip was very cost-effective, allowing us to cook what we like. The Chinese restaurant downstairs also tasted good. Fifth stop: Budapest The city is romantic and charming because of the Danube River. Pest on the left, Buda on the right. Pest's Gothic Parliament Building is majestic, and the New Renaissance-style St. Stephen's Basilica is consistently grand and spectacular. The shopping street is quite lively. Buda's castle is a bit old. Visited the National Gallery inside, which has a rich collection. Drinking floral tea at sunset in Fisherman's Bastion, watching the sun set on the Parliament Building opposite until the lights come on, feels really good. Walked back and forth across the Danube's three bridges: Chain Bridge, Green Bridge, and White Bridge. Took a dip in the thermal bath, checked in at the New York Café, enjoyed coffee and lunch inside, listened to a performance, perfect!