Day 13: Cruise - Bratislava, Slovakia

Today we awoke in Bratislava, Slovakia.  We have a morning city tour planned and then we sail to our final destination Budapest, Hungary.

Bratislava is only 60 km downstream from Vienna making them two closest capital cities in Europe.  There are only 5 million Slovakians but many NHL players come from this country. In fact, most of them come from the same neighbourhood in Trencin.  Slovakia has cheap labour costs so many auto makers like VW and Kia have setup production here making Slovakia the highest auto producers per capita in the world.

Our bus tour took us first to the castle district on the hill overlooking the city and the river.  The Slovak parliament is next to it.  The rich people of the city also live high in the hills where the air quality is better.  The heavy industries of car manufacturing, oil and steel leaves a brown haze over the lower part of the city.  From the castle you can see into Austria which is only 6km upstream.  Our guide told us of how people would swim the river during communist rule to reach freedom.

Bratislava's castle has 4 towers

Slovakian Parliment is next to the castle

A view from the castle shows Austria in the distance

Marilyn, Carl and Warren at the gates to the castle

Castle courtyard

Next, we drove down to the old town which has been restored since the fall of communism.  Our guide told us that during her youth there were no shops or restaurants or bars in the old town.  Its amazing how much it has changed in 25 years!

Old town view of church tower

Bratislava is 6981 km from Toronto

Main square

Fountain in main square

City worker statue.  Rub his head for good luck.  Rub his nose to have a baby.

Dwight next to Napoleon

Marilyn relaxes in front of a statue

After the tour we had time to explore the old town.  Marilyn purchased some souvenirs and I bought a nice water colour painting.  After sauntering for 45 minutes, we boarded to set off for Budapest at 1:00.

We had a leisurely lunch and spend time in the afternoon on the sun deck playing cribbage and having drinks.  A fine way to spend a Friday afternoon.  Passengers were invited to tour the wheelhouse and see how the ship is navigated.  The Legend in only 7 years old and has very sophisticated propulsion technology.  It is also very eco-friendly.

Ivana explains the technology of the ship's control room

Dwight hides his disappointment that he could not steer the ship

The farewell dinner was held since many passengers have to retire early on Saturday when we arrive in Budapest to catch very early flights home on Sunday.  (The earliest leave at 2:45AM on Sunday) After a drink in the lounge, most of the group turned in but Marilyn and I stayed up to see the entrance to Budapest.  It was a chilly 11:30PM when we arrived, but the view of the magnificent parliament buildings all lit up as we came past St Margaret's island was worth it.

Arriving in Budapest at night

Parliment buildings are magnificient at night

Spectacular view despite the cold