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Lunch at The Loft
A pub meal tastefully servedWell, we did it again. We changed our minds on where we were going next, we have decided to go through Slovakia to Bratislava, before going to Vienna. It was just by chance that we saw that trains go that way and as we were only in Bratislava for less than 24hours in 2001 decided to renew our acquaintance.
We arrived at the station in Valtice just before 1000 and then became a little worried when there was no-one else there for the first morning train at 1016. As it was Sunday we thought there may be a different timetable. Our worries were unfounded, people started to arrive and when the train did arrive there must have been 20 people there.
At Breclav station we had to wait a little while before being told what platform the train was leaving from and as usual the train was late. No matter, we boarded and were soon travelling at speeds up to 140kph, arriving in Bratislava right on time.
After a couple of wrong turns we found our hotel, the Loft, a modern 4 star hotel. We went more upmarket than we normally
Bratislava
The Castle can be seen from almost everywhere do, but what the hell! They wouldn't let us book in prior to 1400 but they did store our bags. We went out into the beer garden and joined groups enjoying the fine weather. Here we had lunch and a few drinks, enjoying watching a group of Scottish guys who had seemingly come for a few days for a buck's show. Drinks were aplenty, and they were well primed. Even more so when they left over an hour later!
Our room was fantastic, and was on the top floor overlooking a park - very modern and spacious. They advertised an 'open mini bar' which consisted of a couple of beers and soda water, plus a packet of nuts! Very nice, something we haven't had before!
After a brief snooze to get ourselves together, we walked down through the Old City, with little looking familiar, to the Danube River. This, and the Bratislava castle which overlooks it, are about all either of us can remember from our last visit. Then, we jogged along it and looked at the fort, bathed in light. A few memories, such as the whimsical sculptures in the streets and the dreary flats built by
Grassalkovich Palace
Built in 1760 this is now the residence of the President of the Slovac Republic. Our hotel faced the gardens at the rear of this. the communists (and now hidden behind high trees and hedges) came back to us as we came across them. The town has certainly been cleaned up and modernised since then. We spent several hours wandering around the old town where we could hear more English being spoken than we have heard in weeks.
In one of the main squares we found market stalls, so while Rags went and found some coffees and something to eat, Judy searched through these. We ended buying a few trinkets here to take home as presents.
By now our feet were telling us it was time to walk back, this we did via a Billa supermarket the Information centre had told us about. Here we bought some 'picnic food' as we weren't particularly hungry. It was a relief to be barefoot in our 'home' and we spent the rest of the evening here. Judy was particularly busy, one of her tutors had let her down and needed assistance to get assignments marked. The power of the Net proved itself again, with some other tutors volunteering from across the globe plus she did some extra marking herself. No-one needs to know where you are
UFO bridge
The locals call it this due to the shape at the top! in the world, everything happens no matter where you are.
Monday 2nd June 2014 Another day and we both feeling ready to start heading home. It would be different if we were in a group, now it almost seems as if we are going through the motions, especially Rags would finds enthusiasm isn't a strong point!
Today we headed for a shopping complex pointed out by the Information office on the other side of the Danube River.
It took us about an hour of walking to get there, a bit of a detour taken inadvertently! We had to cross the bridge named the Most SNP in short, nicknamed the UFO Bridge because of the saucer-like dome at the top of the cable supporter. On our return from the shopping mall we paid to take a lift to the top where there is a restaurant and a viewing platform. Great views of all of Bratislava can be had from here. Interestingly for us, was that the row upon row of unsightly apartments built during the communist regime, were now no longer visible from the Old Town area. They have been hidden from sight
St Martins Cathedral
Consecrated in 1452, 19 coronations took place here. The best known was Maria Theresa by the tall trees and parklands between them and the river.
The shopping mall was similar to a mall in Australia, 3 levels with all sorts of shops. Rags bought a pair of cycling gloves and knee length riding shorts, these being well priced compared to home. Judy managed to find a nice cardigan so we both left happy with our purchases.
On our return walk we went to the top of the bridge lookout as mentioned before, before walking through the Old Town and back to the hotel. By then our feet and legs needed a rest and we spent the rest of the afternoon working and relaxing.
We intended having dinner at the Fabrika, the restaurant attached to the hotel, as they advertised a fixed cost meal on brochures in our room. We sat down, the waiter eventually came and dropped a menu on our table, and when Judy requested the other menu he very rudely told her that ended at 1400! Nowhere on the menu was this indicated, as we had checked on this previously. We just got up and walked out!
Just inside the gate of the Old Town we found a
Bratislava
Whimsical sculptures such as this may be found in unexpected places in Old Town restaurant advertising an "all you can eat" for 8 euros, so we gave that a try. Food was ok, just a bit cool. The drinks were double the price of most other places, this making up for the cheap meal, but it didn't worry us too much as we only had a drink each.
A search for Billa, the supermarket, took us for a bit of a walk, we didn't find the one we went to yesterday, but another. Here we bought the makings of our breakfast for tomorrow, neither of us feeling like a big hotel breakfast.
By the time we returned to the hotel it was about 2100, so after making ourselves a tea and coffee we had showers and a quiet night.
Tuesday 3rd June 2014 We had a nice quiet morning, had breakfast in our room and stayed there the whole morning. Judy had an online meeting with her new students and other tutors at midday, local time, so she caught up with other work as it is a new Study Period and students are all keen and introducing themselves. Rags just spent the morning relaxing and playing
The Castle
Dominates the landscape in Bratislava on his computer.
By just after 1300 Judy was done so we walked into the Old Town area for lunch. A turkish kebab and a soft drink satisfied us and we continued to the Bratislava Castle, our planned destination for the day. As said in an earlier post, the castle is visible from almost anywhere in the town and therefore it was a long steep climb to it.
Relics have been found dating this castle back to before 1 AD, the first written record of it dates from 907AD. It was destroyed by fire in 1811 but no reconstruction was started until 1953. When we saw it in 2001, the exterior looked fine from a distance but on seeing what renovations have been done over the last 10 years and still ongoing, it can be seen that a huge amount of money is being spent. As a symbol of Bratislava, and as a tourist attraction, this money seems well spent.
Huge galleries exist inside the castle, some with paintings of past monarchs and other well off gentry, a whole room of paintings of various views of the castle itself, and many rooms that are empty or as
Bratislava
The view from our window overlooking the Palace Gardens yet not utilised. Outside, excavations are still being done, old foundations and walls uncovered and relics dating back through the ages found. A most interesting place to visit, not to be missed, but should be much better in years to come if they continue the work.
Back down the hill to the Old Town after this, we walked along the Danube river banks to the port area where we booked a ferry ride for tomorrow which will take us to Vienna. This should be an interesting trip, a bit of a variation to train or bus travel. We timed our walk back to the hotel so that we know what time we should leave to get to the port by about 10am tomorrow. We both like to be early, so have agreed to get down there and then relax with a coffee at a cafe before we need to board.
Back at the room we both repacked our bags, ensuring that we could wheel our gear down the hill in the morning. We then had our fresh bread with several different cheeses, plus a couple of huge roll-mops which we bought at the supermarket, together with our drinks
making for a substantial dinner.
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Thelma
non-member comment
Bratislava
Have just sat here and typed all my comments about this Blog, was almost ready to post it when the Power went off and on. I lost the lot of my comments !!GRRRRR Enjoy your Ferry trip to Vienna,sounds great ! I'll keep all my comments that I lost and tell you about them when you arrive home.Love Ya, Mum.