Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Day 15: Wed 2 Jul - Bratislava

Happy Birthday Dad/FIL!

19-36 deg C, another beautiful day, a bit warm for the locals  Lidl had to close because the AC went on the blink and the shop got too hot to let people inside!
Walk G: 14km; total: 125km
Walk W: 15km; total: 125km

Because it was our first day of non consecutive riding, we actually slept in, and only got down to breakfast about 7:30 am. But first it was a VIP call to Wendy’s dad via WhatsApp to wish him a very happy birthday. This would have to be the best breakfast spread we’ve had so far this trip.

After breakfast we walked to the Bratislava Castle for a look. Pensioners (+70 in Slovakia) could enter the Castle for free (€5 for the museum and other exhibits) so when Wendy handed over Greg’s card, the man asked if Wendy was an adult, and then proceeded to let us both in as pensioners! We spent a good 90 minutes walking the grounds and seeing the different gardens, statues, etc.

Because we had walked up to the Castle via the road, we didn’t realise just how elevated we were until we descended via the stairs; our knees certainly knew it though. We then just followed our noses to see more interesting statues, churches, and buildings around the Old Town.

Back to the hotel for lunch and a rest, before setting out again about 4pm on a walk that for Wendy was to the nearest Lidl for dinner. It turned out to be longer. Not to worry, we got to see a shopping mall akin to Chermside in Brisbane that is still all shiny and new looking. Wendy returned home alone and Greg walked the backstreets just to stretch his legs.

Wendy tried a Cab Sav for dinner from the wine dispenser/vending machine and it wasn’t too bad. The card she was given on check-in read €54 before dispensing a €4 allotment, then reading €50 remaining. So, either the person using the card before put a lot of € on it and didn’t use it, or there is a problem with the machine? We don’t think that Wendy is going drink €50 worth of wine in two days!

Breakfast room

Breakfast offerings

Bratislava Castle

Monument honoring Saints Cyril, Methodius, and Gorazd


That’s some wall, but then Wendy is a little bit short!







Gardens within the Castle grounds








Bosorka


Umbrellas and their shadows in a side street of the Old Town 



To the heroic Bulgarian partisan who laid their lives for our freedom








St Martin's Cathedral




Monument to Ludovít Štúr



Tomb of the Unknown Soldier



Working Man. Tourists crowd this statue/sculpture so we were lucky to get a shot free of tourists.

UFO Tower, with observation deck

Markie!!

Slovak Philharmonic 

Primacial Palace



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