Traveling overnight, we arrived to Bratislava in the morning. Seeing this rarely visited city, at least by friends who are avid travelers, we loved the beautiful parks with plenty of seating to enjoy seeing the families and young people there. It was the first day of school, so after their studies, many students stopped by to get together with friends.
Slovakia became an independent country in 1993, and since then, Bratislava has flourished as a new capital and cultural center. We walked the cobblestone streets in the ancient town center and admired the Gothic and Art Nouveau buildings. We then went to the Bratislava Castle, which looked like it had been plucked from the pages of a fairy tale. Every town, it seems, has a castle. The architecture varies from Boroque, to Gothic, to more contemporary (late 19th century) with ease. During its last re-building, it captured a Renaissance style.
As we approached the city from the Danube, it looked like a very modern city. You couldn’t see the gorgeous old buildings in the city center. The bridge going across the river has a tower on one end that houses a restaurant. The locals call it the UFO! On the other side of the building just to the left of the UFO is Austria.
Living in Vienna, an hour away by train, is very expensive. That is why many Slovakians live in Bratislava and commute. According to our guide, the annual income in Bratislava is 17,000€ per year, while in Vienna, it is 70,000€. That makes it significantly better to live in Slovakia and commute to Austria. If you look at the building to the left of the UFO, Austria is just on the other side of the building.
As soon as we landed, we saw a time gone by. There were what we used to call “street cars” in Pittsburgh, electric trolleys that move on tracks. They provide travel all over the city, inexpensive, resulting in fewer cars on the streets.
We began the day going toward the city center, where the main square is dominated by the Slovak National Theatre. It is stunning. As we walked into town, we enjoyed the curved flat cobblestone streets (flat being the best part). We worked our way toward the Castle, passing through Primate Square (not a monkey in site!), surrounding the square. One side is dominated by Michael’s Gate, leading to St. Michael’s Church. The inside of one of the buildings was an amazingly ornately painted ceiling. Each of the buildings surrounding the Square are of a different era.
Primate Square consists of many different buildings, each with its own distinct character. Everywhere we looked, we noticed something architectural and interesting. The pictures above are of some of the unique buildings surrounding the Square.
As we worked our way back toward the main square, we saw a sculpture that is definitely one that always brings a smile to the faces of visitors. Everyone wants to rub his head, hence the lighter color on the helmet!
After our full day of touring, we returned to the ship for another incredible meal, with a plan to return to town that night. It was a wonderful idea, allowing us to see some of the beautiful buildings in a different light.
Tomorrow, we head for the big city itself, Vienna. I was there in 1969 (yes, I am old!). It was beautiful then, and most likely, it will still be.