Slovakia

Day 321: Bratislava; the angsty middle child of Eastern Europe

Oh Bratislava, I know it’s unfair that you’re smack in the middle of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague, and they are all sooo awesome, and you’re… well, Bratislava. Despite being a lovely little town, on three hours of sleep, I was less than impressed. Maybe another free walking tour wasn’t the best idea after a restless night, but I was not having the city tax, nor the $20 dorm bunk, nor the overly nationalistic tour guide. I’m all for tour guides bragging about their city, their country, but I trust the guide more if she or he throws in some good jokes in at their own expense on top of the twenty reasons their city and country is better than someone else’s! Having exhausted the city before lunch, we made our way to the mall for popcorn and a really rather terrible movie. I was excited. Andrew was excited. Suddenly we liked Bratislava a little bit more!

The walking tour went through the old town, with history lessons covering the possession of the city, witch hunts, and communism of course! Again, there was more talking than walking at times, but it was interesting. As tired as we both were, I was still glad we did it.

The Church of St. Elizabeth (nice name, right?) is a Catholic Church that’s also known as ‘the blue church.’ We were told it’s the most famous church to get married in and has a year waiting list. One year didn’t seem so long to me…

This was the only street art that I saw in Bratislava. I thought it was fairly accurate.

Outside of Eurovea (the mall) we spotted this grand statue, unfortunately I have no idea what it is commemorating. Inside the mall, I was smitten with the sculptures that were scattered throughout the mall. It was a glimpse into a circus performance at every turn.

Day 320: Bratislava has a city tax?!

Another day, another train. This time to Bratislava. In all of my travels around Europe, I’ve always skipped Bratislava for reasons I can’t really name. Perhaps it was horror stories of gypsies on trains. Perhaps it was that after living in Prague, I simply didn’t feel the need to visit. Maybe it’s because there really isn’t a whole lot there. Or, it could be the €1.65 per person, per night Bratislava city tax on its visitors. Yep. You have to pay to play up in this medieval town. I wasn’t pleased, but hoped the our visit would be worth it. We walked around town, had dinner. I enjoyed photographing some Communist bloc style buildings and then it quickly turned into one of those nights where I needed to crash early.

I was elated when we returned to our hostel room and two other girls in our room were already in bed as well. I was NOT elated when I woke up to other guests partying on the patio just below and outside of our room around four in the morning. I usually enjoy hostels, they’re a great way to meet people, especially when traveling as a couple, and sometimes they can be nicer than a hotel room elsewhere. But I had a big “I’m too old for this sh*t” moment as I lay in my bottom bunk bed willing the young drunk backpackers outside our window to go. to. bed.