Slovakia - Bratislava, or as we know it: Bratislava

Time is running out. We, who are travelling so slowly, suddenly realise that we want to arrive in time for our daughter's wedding and that Slovakia still has so many treasures to offer. It's a good thing we're travelling in the low season. This means that caves and natural monuments are already closed.

We ponder: a few days in Bratislava? Or Vienna? Or both? And then the return journey? A few more beautiful places in the Czech Republic and the south of eastern Germany?

As always, we decide after the "Let's see" method: We drive to Bratislava, find a good pitch right on the Danube and stroll into the old town centre on foot. Gerd is the tour guide again today, he has selected the sights.

This city is a true jewel in the history of the Habsburg Monarchy experienced a special heyday. Bratislava was part of the Hungarian kingdom for centuries and was badly destroyed during the Second World War. In the 1970s, the cityscape was greatly altered by socialist plans such as the construction of the Nový most Danube suspension bridge. Well, socialist architecture is not so ours.

However, Bratislava is the cultural and economic heart of Slovakia: with around 429,000 inhabitants, Bratislava is not only the capital, but also the cultural centre of the country. Several universities, museums and theatres are located here. Economically, Bratislava is an important motor for Slovakia and contributes a considerable 25 per cent to the country's gross domestic product. (For whatever reason this GDP has to be stated, as it really says nothing about quality and all that).

First of all we walk to the blue church - an architectural highlight near the Slovak National Museum - the city's most famous Art Nouveau building. Its pale blue colour and blue majolica decorations are simply breathtaking. Unfortunately, the museum is closed at the moment and we can only peek through the bars. But still: pretty!

The Old Town - with its historic town centre is a pleasant place to walk around: Most of the buildings here date back to the time of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. Monarchy. A stroll through the winding alleyways takes us back in time. Numerous restaurants, wine taverns and cafés invite you to linger and enjoy. We, who have a slight sweet tooth (rumour has it we can't hide it), naturally end up in the time-honoured Confectionery Kormuth. We pay an exorbitant price for our sweet salvation. But remember: it's worth it!

Now we don't know ourselves: is it all the sugar or all the steps? We are getting tired. But there is still so much to see.

Rescue is near, a red Tourist train lures us on a city tour. That's not really our thing, but it's fine now. We get up to Bratislava without having to trudge up the hill.

The train takes us through villa neighbourhoods, past war memorials and then eventually up to the castle, which is completely overcrowded thanks to the weather. And we are right in the middle of it. The imposing Pressburg Castle towers high above the old town (Bratislavský hrad), the city's landmark, from which you have a breathtaking view of the Danube and the surrounding countryside.

We only have half an hour to visit the castle. We skip the exhibitions, apparently I've "regaled" Gerd with a little too much imperial and royal history beforehand. We also have a growing desire to go to Vienna after all and get our fill of Sissi & Co.

When the train drops us off in the old town hours later, we realise that we've had enough of Bratislava. The famous nightlife is of less interest to us, as are the many wine bars. A number of hen parties with truly outrageous behaviour do their best to drive us on. And somehow I sense that Gerd would probably like to "take Vienna with him".

So into the Felix, a quick massage for tired feet and out of the city. Once across the Danube. And out of the country that has really impressed and inspired us over the last few weeks. has. Only to fall into bed 60 kilometres later in Vienna on a completely overcrowded but very conveniently located campsite by the underground - without any dinner at all. Rare, but it happens to us from time to time.

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Merci for "travelling with us

We are thinking about taking another break from travelling in the summer and visiting our families in Germany and Switzerland. One of the ideas is to organise a Lecture about our long journey to the Persian Gulf to prepare. If you would like to, what would interest you the most? We will also tell stories here that don't find a place here on the blog. We're thinking of the Bern and Berlin area - simply because we have family there. But other places are also conceivable. Feel free to write to us.

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