Bratislava, Slovakia in a day.

Wednesday August 6th

We had a schedule today because it involved catching a train. So, our plan was:

8:30     make our way to the Hauptbahnhof via subway
9:16     leave on train for Bratislava

This part all worked very well! The train was crowed but comfortable and we passed fields of sunflowers, housing, industry and towns. For the first time all week our tickets were checked. Austrian public transportation runs on the honor system...no ticket or no validation and you get a 70 Euro ticket.

Upon entering Slovakia the difference was immediate. Graffiti was everywhere, the roads did not seem in tip top shape, the people seemed gloomy and even though some of the buildings were painted bright colours the vast majority of them were grey concrete.  We took the X13 bus to the city centre and walked around. We decided to do a city tour that included the castle....it took 45 minutes, with a fifteen minute break.

New town across the Danube

Sheep cheese dumplings, beef zander ...think I would have had the schnitzel!

There was some interesting street art we came across.

Men at Work

Seriously, on cobblestone as well!

We had a return schedule printed by the Austrian train lines and it showed a train left the main station at 15:43. We got to the X13 stop and when it arrived literally piled onto the bus  - it was packed.This however did not stop people from elbowing their way on at the next two stops. Why is there always someone that has garlic breathe or forgot their deodorant that day. We arrived at the station with plenty of time to spare and made our way to the departure board. There is was Hlavna Bratislava - Wein, Hauptbahnhof 15:43, but no platform number listed. So, we waited patiently thinking that it was about to be posted .  At about 3:30 I went to the ticket counter and asked - she handed me a new schedule and said that train does not go.....can't argue that. The new schedule left at 16:16 from platform 3 and we had to get off and change trains after two stops. Oh Vey!  Things are different in Bratislava.....in Vienna even the trams on the street tell you that tram 2 will arrive in 4 minutes! It must drive the Austrians crazy to have such neighbors.

All in all we are glad that we went up there for the day and happy that we decided to make it a day trip rather than spend a night there. Other than wandering the old town there was nothing else to do or see. Give it 15 years and it will become a destination.

Auf Wiedersehehen!