I was just thinking that I am a strange city. In one sense I have existed for over a thousand years, but in another for just a hundred and fifty years. There is no hocus-pocus about it, just public administration. I am Budapest, the capital city of Hungary, and while I have played a central role for centuries, I have only existed as ‘Budapest’ since 1873, when Buda (a settlement on the right bank of the Danube), Pest (a settlement on the left bank of the Danube) and Óbuda, which is also the found on the left bank of the Danube, but a little further north, were joined together as one. Although nowadays Óbuda is the least important of the three, it is there that my story actually began with the Celts who lived there in the 1st century AD, followed by the Romans who founded Aquincum. That settlement was part of the Romans' defence line known as the ‘limes’, and also an important trade centre. Then came the Great Migration and I couldn’t tell you how many peoples there were then before the Hungarians finally settled on the site of today's Buda. My commercial importance – thanks to which the Pest side of me also developed – has never diminished. While I was the seat for all sorts of kings (even the Turks were here!), many peoples of different nationalities and religions have come to find a home within my boundaries. I steadily grew and became even richer with ever more attractions. The 19th century was particularly fruitful in that area. That was the time when the beautiful boulevard, Andrássy út, was created, and Hősök tere – aka Heroes’ Square – was erected, where you can see statues of the 14 greatest leaders of our nation, not to mention the construction of my first bridge – the Chain Bridge – and the world’s second largest synagogue – the Dohány Street Synagogue -- and the Houses of Parliament, which just have to be the most spectacular parliament buildings in the world. Of course, people also wanted to travel. It took decades of work, but I think today I have an excellent and very varied public transport system. Busy Budapest residents can travel by metro, trolleybus, bus, tram, cogwheel railway or even ride on continental Europe’s oldest underground train. Likewise, all the visitors who come wishing to get to know me, the Queen of the Danube, better. Quite a flattering title, isn't it? I hope that one day you will visit and find me worthy of it.