Sunday, May 01, 2016

Bratislava

At first Bratislava seemed like just another pretty cool town on our Czech to Slovakia west-to-east trek. Although passing the Presidential Palace as we walked into town from the train station reminded us that Bratislava is a capital city. Then, after checking into our apartment, we walked into the Old Town and encounter several tour groups, and a tour guide with a Viking River Cruises ID. Oh yes! Bratislava is on the Danube River and is just a few hours from both Budapest and Vienna. No wonder. And there were many independent tourists going around in twos and threes; and, just like us, often intently studying their folded Tourist Office Map to navigate the Medieval streets of the Old Town.

We liked Bratislava. The city embraces tourism in an unpretentious way, is lively with a university, has interesting architecture and a fortress overlooking a major river. Not to mention the Changing of the Guard. ;-)

Before we even got to the gate of the Old Town we spotted a mobile coffee cafe, and a blue-haired young woman attempted to interview Sun-Ling... We are going like this town. ;-)
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Old Town Gate.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Old Town.
Bratislava, Slovakia

The main Catholic church is St Martin's with some interesting carvings on the choir stalls.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Tour group leaving St Martin's.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Closer to the Danube, and by the Port, there is a square from the late 19th century, with the National Theater, Philharmonic Hall, and Carlton Hotel.
Bratislava, Slovakia

And with May Pole.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Radisson Blu Carlton Hotel.
Bratislava, Slovakia

We happened to catch this cruise ship pulling away from the docks, headed upstream towards Prague.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Town Hall.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Trams.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Photobombed in the old Market House. ;-)
Bratislava, Slovakia

Art Nouveau gymnasium (school).
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

And next door, by the same architect, the so-called Blue Church.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

And more Art Nouveau nearby.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Changing of the Guard at the Presidential Palace.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Very tasty lunch at City Vegetarian - a cafeteria.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bike Messenger.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Gathering for a Critical Mass bike in SNP Square - on the last Friday of the month.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

Self-documenting photo?
Bratislava, Slovakia

The SNP Bus Terminal.
Bratislava, Slovakia

The New Bridge ie The SNP Bridge as seen from the Castle.
Bratislava, Slovakia

The Castle.
Bratislava, Slovakia

And for completeness, the plague column.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Installation.
Bratislava, Slovakia

And two final shots of the Danube.
Bratislava, Slovakia

Bratislava, Slovakia

1 comment:

Crash Eddy said...

Wow! A blue church with blue pews. Who'da'thunk'it?

The only cruise line we've ever considered is Viking. We know a woman who sailed the Danube cruise with her father. Flight to start location was delayed and they had to catch up with the ship at another port.

Every time you photo a courtyard, I think of our stupid Raleigh city council who changed Fayetteville Street from a city plaza back into a street with parking. Whenever an event occurs, have to set up traffic barriers to return it to a temporary plaza. How dumb!

Google Maps is confusing re SNP Square as it doesn't appear to be a plaza.

Electric trams. What a bright idea.

Plague column? A column commemorating a disease? Who'da'thunk'it?

Most Recent Post

Sri Lanka: Trincomalee

Trincomalee, on the east coast of the island, is the least touristed city of our Sri Lankan tour. There are beach resorts a few kilometers t...

Most Popular Posts of Last 30 Days