Wednesday, 17 feb 2010
I am now in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia (formerly Pressburg to German speakers and Poszony to Hungarians). My third city straddling the Danube! It was an integral part of the kingdom of Hungary for centuries and its capital and coronation city from 1536. St Martin’s Cathedral is a 15th c. Gothic Church where the coronations took place and it has a 300kg replica of the Hungarian Crown of St Stephen (with the crooked cross, that I saw in Budapest) on top of the spire. Bratislava is not as grand (architecturally for example) as Vienna or Budapest, but has the advantage that I can walk just about everywhere. I am staying at the Hotel Kyjev (31 euro p.n., I am on the 10th floor) close to the Old Town with its winding alleys. The inclusive cooked breakfast buffet was great.
I walked up some of these little alleys yesterday to Bratislava Castle on a hill overlooking the Danube. It is closed for repair, but I walked around it. I also walked through St Michael’s Gate, the only one of the original four gates of medieval times still standing.
There are three main bridges across the Danube. The Old Bridge, the New Bridge (built in 1972, definitely looking very 70s with a flying saucer-like observation deck and coffee shop), and the newest bridge, Apollo Bridge built in 2005. For this last bridge, the whole structure was rotated from its construction site on one bank to rest on a pillar on the opposite bank. I went up the elevator this morning to the outside observation deck, then went inside for a coffee. It was pretty windy and you could feel the floor shaking slightly. Actually, the weather over the last week has become a lot milder and today was the mildest yet. Maybe Spring is just around the corner!
I went to the bus station a while ago and bought a bus ticket for Friday 11.00am, to go to Banska Bystrica. I don’t know much about it really, except it looks to be at about the dead centre of Slovakia (Bratislava is in the west) in the region where there are supposed to be mountains, forests, castles and folk villages. It is a three hour journey and about half-way to the Polish border. I will be sorry to say goodbye to the Danube, but it’s time to move on!
It is a matter of pride for me to learn at least five words in the language of wherever I am. These are: hello, goodbye, please, thank you and may I have the bill. In Slovak these are: ahoj (pr. ahoy – sounds like pirate talk!), dovidenia (sounds like dosvidanya the Russian for see you again), prosim , d’akujem and ucet, prosim. Incidentally, the equivalent of these are about the only words of German I picked up. “The bill, please” was easy – “Die rechnung, bitte”, because rechnung is just like reckoning…
Some pics:
The car (a Trabant) is in the lobby. And as you can see from the advertising poster, a big attraction of the Hotel Kyjev, along with free Wi-Fi and 24-hour check-in is the retro-style 70s decor!
Dovidenia!
hey Norman. it’s always a pleasure to see a Trabant (in your hotel foyer). did you give it a tap? – they were made from fibreglass. hopefully you’ll see one getting about in the street – puttering and farting along.
the flying saucer structure topping the bridge looks fantastic! good move getting up there, what a treat. I love it.
Norman, are you still in Bratislava?
I am from Bratislava (native), we could have some cofee if you have time 🙂
Hi Danulik
Just noticed your post. Sure, coffee would be nice. But I am leaving tomorrow morning and there might not be time. I have enjoyed my stay in your charming city. Maybe next time I visit, in a couple of months…
oh thats a pitty. OK next time – do not forget to write 😉
take care 🙂
btw I now found out that we have the same picture on header of site ;)))
Your blog looks great Danulik! I will have fun exploring it.
I am travelling up to Poland and will be spending a couple of months there and in the Ukraine, then returning to Hungary at some stage. Bratislava is not so far from Budapest so if I come back here I will be sure to contact you.
All the best.