On The Move!!: Bratislava and cruise to Budapest

It's Thursday - so that means we woke up in Bratislava, Slovakia! The Danube is a natural border between Austria and Slovakia and Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia. At one time it was the capital of Hungary when it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire...and the largest and most important town in Hungary (a suburb of Vienna). When an independent Czechoslovakia was created in 1918, the city got its name, Bratislava. Slovakia separated from the Czech Republic in 1993 emerging as a fully fledged independent nation. Bratislava is the country's largest city as well as the political, cultural, and economic center.

We were given a tour of this city by bus taking us into the hills above the river to see the Ambassador's residences, and the Castle of Bratislava. Under Queen Maria Theresa, the castle became a prestigious royal seat. In 1811, the castle was inadvertently destroyed by fire and lay in ruins until the 1950s, when it was rebuilt mostly in its former Theresian style. The old town (below the castle) was built inside fortified walls. Their are 2 entrances - each at a 90 degree angle to each other (to discourage raids). Our guide pointed out to us many of the old features of the town. Instead of addresses - each address didn't have a number but a sign.....so mail/packages would be delivered to the house with a lobster - or house with a dragon instead of a particular number on the street. The signs were somewhat elaborate.

There are many unusual statues around the old town. The main town fountain has 4 boys holding it up. Initially it was built so that the boys were peeing into the fountain. Apparently, Queen Maria Therese was somewhat of a prude and had them cover that up - so now these boys are holding fish and the water comes from the mouths of the fish (see below). The town was very cute.

Of course the town had a Xmas Market as well as an ice rink. Apparently on the day we were visiting, there was some kind of strike going on at the schools - so the teachers took their pupils to the market and ice skating instead of attending school. (Hmm - interesting that when our teachers strike - they don't take their students with them). It was fun to see all the kids at the market. The kids either had matching hats - or vests over their jackets - or the group pictured below all had similar headbands with Santa Hats. I thought that was a clever way to keep track of your group.

We only had a half day in Bratislava before we left for Budapest. We arrived in Budapest late at night and it is amazingly spectacular to see from the river with all the lights on.

US Ambassador's house in the Bratislava Hills - Hmmm - looks familiar?

Parliament Building

Castle of Bratislava

Downtown Bratislava - just outside old town

downtown

Entering old town over the bridge

backside of old town (with grafitti on bridge)

sculpture in the old moat of the old town

approaching the second entrance which is at a 90 degree angle to the first entrance (to increase security as bullets don't turn 90 degrees

building ornamentation - loved the faces

at the center there is a fresco that adorns the building face. Just above and to the left you can see a cannon ball stuck in the side of the building. After the invasion people were given money to repair their homes if they were struck by cannon balls. So people left the cannon balls in to show they had been hit. Interesting is that the cannons were shot from the river and this building was at a 90 degree angle from the river. Hmmmm - early insurance fraud???