Slovakia – SteveWhittythoughts1965

March 20, 2013March 21, 2013

Vienna & Budapest – Day 6, 11 March 2013

I spent rather a comfortable first night in my hostel. I also enjoyed another filling breakfast. By the time I got ready for the day I had made up my mind on what I planned to do. When checking in I noticed the free walking tour. It is something I always take advantage of as a solo traveller it is a good way of meeting people.

It was a beautiful day, a chance not to wear a coat. I made the slow walk towards the meeting point in Vörösmarty Square. As usual I arrived way too early. While waiting for the tour group to come together I was approached by a man who wanted to sell me a I-Phone. Noticing that he was holding the box I politely decline. I suspect there was nothing inside the box.

As I registered myself with the group I met a couple of girls. One Brazilian, the other Canadian who were happening be studying in Brighton. We were getting along well. The tour started with a brief history of Hungary. With its recent poor record in choosing sides in 20th century wars I figure it has been unlucky. We started off in Pest passing St. Stephen Basilica before crossing Szechenyi Chain Bridge into Buda climbing Castle Hill towards the Royal Palace.

The tour ended at the Mathias Church Fisherman’s Bastion. We were recommended a restaurant that we should try for some lunch. By this time several more people had joined us. Bree from San Francisco who was studying in Paris, Marion from Paris, Ceylan from Istanbul who is studying medicine in Poland and Martin from Poland. I chose a pork and potato dish with red cabbage washed down with a bottle of local beer. An enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours.

After lunch we may our way to the National Gallery. Myself, Ceylan and Marion decided to go inside. Not before agreeing with everybody else that we should meet up later in the evening at the Szimpla Kert ruin bar.

After leaving the National Gallery we made our way back towards Pest and our hostel. It was the slow route going first via the Parliament building. Marion commented that it looked like the Houses of Parliament in London. I had to agree. Carrying on further into the city I noticed a statue of Imre Nagy, the Prime Minister of Hungary during the 1956 Uprising. He is looking towards the Parliament building. It was a moving site to see.

Going further we all agreed that we needed to drink coffee and ended up at the Hutte Cafe Bar. It was unusual that it was housed inside an inflatable building. Probably explains why the coffee was so expensive.

After arriving back at the hostel we agreed that we should go for something to eat before going to the Szimpla Bar. We ended up in a restaurant called “Frici Papa”. It served traditional Hungarian fare. I chose the Beef Goulash. When in Hungary as they say.

After the meal we met up with everybody else at the Szimpla Bar. It is known as a ruin bar because it is housed in an old building that has seen better days. It is a bar containing different floors that played music or you could go to rooms to escape and chat. Martin met up with a friend he knew called Kasia a French girl and another person from Slovakia. It was a great evening even if I was starting to feel tired. It must be my old age. Ceylan and Marion agreed that we should all meet up for breakfast in the morning.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

December 3, 2012December 3, 2012

Bratislava – A Reflection

After Prague I thought that things would not get any better. Therefore I was totally and pleasantly surprised what I found in Bratislava. The city itself displays plenty of history yet it is small enough to be able to be explored by foot.

Initially when I arrived into Bratislava I was left feeling disappointed. It was Sunday afternoon and when I stepped out of the bus station it was though I was transported back to the 1970s and communism. The trolley bus looked rickety and dated. Having said that it did take me to the stop nearest the hostel.

After being advised by the hostel to take the free walking tour it was then I discovered the delights of Bratislava. There is a lot of history in Bratislava but there is also a lot to see that made me smile. The city does not take itself too seriously. Bratislava was a major city of the Austro-Hungarian empire. At one point the Emperors were crowned in St. Martin’s Cathedral. A lot of the old city was demolished during the 1970’s to allow for a flyover. One could only think how much more beautiful the city would look.

There are a lot of colours with Bratislava whether it is the bright blue of the St. Elisabeth’s Church or the greens and yellows. This is something that town planners in the UK should consider. A splash of colour is a great way of brightening a place. I suspect that it would not cost too much either.

It is also a city that does not take itself too seriously. There are indicators of this with some of the statues you find dotted around the city centre.

Being so compact Bratislava offers the cafe culture that I loved. Plenty of bars, cafe’s and coffee shops to enjoy. It allows you to watch the world pass by. It has that kind of vibe.

This is an ideal city for a long weekend. Spend the first day exploring the city centre. The next day I would go and see the spectacular ruins of Devin Castle. Spend the afternoon cycling in the surrounding countryside that hugs the Danube river. It is only a thirty minute bus ride from Bratislava.

My five must see attractions in Bratislava are:-

Bratislava Castle
Devin Castle
St. Michael’s Cathedral
St. Elisabeth’s Church
Slavin War Memorial

I would also include a trip to Shtoor Home Made Cafe. A perfect place for good coffee, sandwiches and excellent cake. What more can a man want from life.

To sum up Bratislava I would say that it is one of Europe’s secrets. How long it will stay like this I would not like to say. Whatever happens it will always have a small city feel that I love. I cannot wait to go back.

Until the next post stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 17, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 8, 17/09/2012

While I was checking in yesterday I noticed a leaflet for a free walking tour. The couple behind the counter also recommended that I should try it. Walking tours are a great way of familiarizing yourself to a new city. The tour was due to start at 11am. The weather was excellent. It was time to get the shorts on and expose the pearly white legs to the world. However, in my excitement I forgot to apply the sunscreen. My arms would know about this at the end of the day.

The tour itself was excellent and the guide Romana made it interesting with all her knowledge on the history of Bratislava. What was sad to see was how little of the historical centre remained. The Communists in their better judgement decided that a flyover would be of more use. Oh well hindsite.

After the tour was complete I took a walk alongside the Danube in order to make my way to Bratislava Castle. I passed a statue of Stalin. Apparently it was on display for an exhibition.

Like all castles the one in Bratislava is perched on top of a steep hill. In its present state the castle was built only recently. You cannot go inside but there is enough to walk around the grounds. It also offers good views of the city below.

I spent the rest of the afternoon walking around the rest of the old town. I could not fail to notice on how beautiful the women in Bratislava looked. Not that the women in Prague were not bad looking but Bratislava took it to another level.

Tonight was the first night that I cooked for myself in a hostel, tuna and rice. I survived that. I got the chance to talk to a couple of German girls. They seemed pleasant enough. We exchanged travel tales and they mentioned that they were going to Budapest. I should have included it in my trip. We all live and learn.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve

October 12, 2012

Prague & Bratislava – Day 7, 16/09/2012

More than half way through my trip and I am off to Bratislava. This is the first time that I have travelled between countries on my travels. It all adds to the adventure.

Maybe I spent too long in Prague but now I feel ready to move on. The whole process of boarding the coach was painless enough. No need to check-in, showed my ticket to the driver. Also got a free bottle of water for the trip. I have never been treated like that before.

I arrived in Bratislava at around 5pm. What a culture shock compared to Prague. It was like chalk and cheese. Trolley buses were running past the bus station. It was as though I had been transported back to old communist Czechoslovakia.

It was a short trolleybus ride to the hostel. Again the comparison was chalk to cheese. Hostel Blues is a proper hostel with a kitchen, bar and chill out zone. More importantly it in the middle of the city. So after finding my bed I decided to go out for a walk. To be honest my time in Prague had caught up with me and I did not want to go far. So after a quick bite to eat and a drink I called it an early night.

October 4, 2012

Photo of the Week – Monument outside Devin Castle

This week photo is a monument commemorating those people who were executed by the Communists in Slovakia during their rule from 1948-1989. The monument describes it as during the period of Communist terror.

On the inside there is the names of the executed. They were all shot by firing squad. This is represented by the bullet holes that are all over the monument. It is strangely mesmerizing and make you think about the sacrifice people made for freedom.

Until the next post, stay safe, stay healthy and keep smiling.

Steve