Bratislava

The longest distance we travelled was between Budapest and Bratislava leaving Budapest under a full moon at 8 and not getting to Bratislava until mid afternoon. The Hungarian countryside was not too interesting. I walked around in small circles on a track on the top deck. After about 4 miles, my watch indicated I went a mile. Pretty fast for a geezer but of course it was measuring by GPS  I have a good friend of Slovak heritage who sent me numerous videos of the country. Plus my daughter-in-law is part Slovak so I was prepared for this city.

Again pictures are in random order.

main square of the old town

Most of the many outdoor cafes provided heavy furry blankets

I loved this sculpture. Rubbing the dirty man's hardhat (he is trying to look up skirts)is supposed to bring good luck

My favorite, the Blue Church

This is Hans Christian Andersen with characters from some of his tales. Should have got some hot mulled wine from behind him. Slovakia takes euros unlike Hungary

The Holocaust memorial next to a photo of this beautiful synagogue the Communists tore down to make another bridge. Bratislava is the only capital surrounded by two other countries. Austria, communist free, was so close but impossible to get to without being shot. Communists would not let anyone worship anything. Our Catholic guide had her first communion in her house.

The so called UFO bridge, which has a restaurant up there Same bridge built on the ruins of the synagogue

Why these ugly stepstools along the river? To contain flooding, huge walls were put up along the river. People complained they couldn't sit on a park bench and watch the view thus the stepstools. Didnt see anyone on them. hey finished the ws just in time. In 13 there were devastating floods
 

Inside St Stephen where we spent way too much time. Not interested in relics and the treasury

All in all a charming city. The Prime Minister is a progressive woman, in contrast to the Hungarian dictator