After two full days in Vienna we woke up early on the Saturday morning as we had scheduled a day trip to a neighbouring Country, Slovakia. A tour of the Capital, Bratislava was the theme of the day and we were very excited to see it.

We had pre-booked a tour before we left the UK as it was highly recommended. An 8 person air-conditioned minibus with an English Speaking guide. It picked up and dropped off at your hotel, drove to Bratislava where we would meet a tour guide for an hours tour, before having a few hours to walk at our leisure before the return journey home.

Bratislava here I come!

At a cost of around €40 it was well worth it.

The pick up was around 0800 so we headed down to an early breakfast first. Today was going to be Waffle day!

Waffle Time

Both Boo and I were looking to make waffles so we tentatively approached the machine. We literally were the only people in there that early on a Saturday, thankfully.

Boo decided I could try and make one first. Like I had a clue?!?

Tea? Decisions, Decisions….

Luckily our favourite waiter came to our rescue and made us both waffles which we soaked in maple syrup. Delicious.

Eventually we went and sat our in the reception area to wait for our minibus.

A very smart young gentleman in a black suit and tie came into the reception area and asked if we were the Rebecca Brown party. He dashed off to use the facilities before escorting us out to the minibus.

Or not!

Parked at the front of the hotel was a very smart, expensive top of the range Mercedes! Absolutely not what we were expecting at all.

We happily climbed in and started the journey. The back doors locked with a quiet clunk. That was when Boo and I looked at one another.

I think the escapades of the night before had made us totally paranoid. Yet here we were, in a strange mans car travelling to another Country. When we should have been in a tourist minibus!

I asked our driver if we were going to a depot to get into the minibus. His response was “There is no minibus”.

Well, that sent us off into a little bit of a panic, before he happily told us that as there were no other tourists to go on the trip that day, it was nicer and easier to use a car.

We breathed a bit of a sigh of relief and sat back to enjoy the wonderful views on the journey there. Our guide was a mine of information and told us quite a lot of the History of both Austria and Slovakia.

There is a restaurant at the top of the bridge!

After around 50 minutes we pulled up to a hotel in Bratislava where we were meeting our guide, Maria for the tour of the City.

The small City streets

Ornate Street Lamps

Mosaic Embellishments

Original wall murals

She was a wonderful tour guide, so knowledgeable as she pointed out the sights and peculiarities of the City. Bratislava is a very pretty Capital City, yet very tiny in comparison to most. The buildings are old and well maintained and it was a pleasure to walk around.

Beautifully kept buildings

Ancient Paintings

Maria told us of the history of the City and also the more recent additions, such as several statues and sculptures which she said she would point out to us on our travels.

Statue of Hans Christian Andersen

I particularly liked when she pointed out two of the buildings that still had cannonballs embedded in them from the time of Napoleon trying to invade the City.

Cannon ball no1

Cannon Ball no2

There are several other famous things dotted around the City, however the most famous has to be the “Watcher” statue.

If you haven’t hear of it, you would probably still recognise it as it is pretty famous around the World.

Coming out of the sewers

In essence, Cumil The Peeper is a man looking out of a manhole. It is unknown whether he is coming up after cleaning the sewer or peeping up womens skirts!

Cumil the Peeper

He literally is in the roadway and has had his head smashed off twice by drivers not looking where they are going. They have now put up a specific road sign warning of a ‘Man at Work’ – Genius and so so funny

Man at Work

One of the other fantastic statues is of the Napoleonic Soldier, allegedly guarding his post. However, this is done all in sarcasm as his bottom is pointing at the French Embassy and it is said to be a gentle sarcastic poke at the French.

Bottoms Up at France!

Well, we couldn’t resist have photographs with this soldier.

Any resemblance?

Boo and her Frenchman

We hunted down a few other statues and items of beauty including this sculpture that covers the top of an ancient well. It was too pretty not to capture a photograph of it.

How to beautifully cover a Well.

Although he looks happy… it is a very sad tale!

The smiling man with a top hat is a bit of a sad tale. He was a real citizen of the City called Ignac Lamar. He loved a woman who didn’t return his love and it send him mad. He would stand in the streets and hand out flowers to random women. All because of unrequited love.

Standing Guard

We said goodbye to Maria and had a few hours to wander around the City.

Beautiful.

First of all we headed to a cafe in the main town where Boo had a Sachertorte (of sorts) and I had a berry cheesecake. Boo loved her dessert, but I have to admit I wasn’t too keen on mine. To be fair though, it is all down to personal taste…

Kind of a Sachertorte… but not quite

Not a huge fan

We then had a little more time to wander around the City before our car journey home.

Passing this Rock Bar, we had to do a double take when we saw the advertising! We couldn’t imagine them getting a lot of women in the bar and hoped it was actually a typo!

Sexiest?!?! Oh yeah.. I really fancy a night out there… NOT!

We popped into a Vintage shop. They had some lovely fur hats, however my head must be exceptionally large as none fitted. However, I did see this stunning bag. In immaculate condition and for the super low price of €20. Well I snapped it up. It would have been silly not to.

Then I got to the till… They were having some kind of special offer on and asked for the paltry sum of €13. I couldn’t get out of there with it quick enough!

Immaculate Condition

Looking through the guide books had pointed us to the Blue Church of Bratislava. Otherwise known as The Church of St Elizabeth, this beautiful and perfectly kept church really is a building that defies belief.

The Blue Church of Bratislava

Every inch of the church is well kept, loved and maintained. The inside has blue accents everywhere and the smell of furniture polish was heavy in the air.

Beautiful in its simplicity

Just so ornate

There was no-one around in this place of sanctuary. It was just a place of hope and love and solitude. I literally could have spent all day in this sacred place.

Perfect in ever way

I am not a particularly spiritual person. I don’t attend Church any more but I have a belief of sorts. Whenever I enter a place of worship I find myself lighting a candle and saying a prayer for those that I have lost.

I could have stayed there all day

But I can honestly say I have never known peace like that which I felt in the Blue Church.

Even the grout between the brickwork is mosaic.

It was peaceful and so very inclusive. It felt like no matter what my issues or what sin I may have committed, I was absolved once I walked in through the door.

The Church of St Elizabeth

It was a powerful feeling indeed!

And SO spiritual.

Outside was a small memorial again decorated with blue mosaic tiles like the Church. Fresh flowers decorated the stone surface but there was nothing to signify what it was for.

Since writing this post I have found out that it is a monument honouring Unborn Children. Truly beautiful indeed.

The Monument to Unborn Children

We eventually left the Church and walked back to the main square. Several more photographs later and our time was pretty much up.

Colour everywhere

We wandered down the river side. The Danube definitely looks different in Bratislava than in Budapest, but there was still a lot to see.

The Danube

Too pretty not to show it off

Bratislava Castle

A statue honouring Ludovit Stur – the father of the modern Slovak language

Sadly we headed back to the pick up point, where our shiny Mercedes was waiting and we eagerly climbed on board.

Right by our pick up point

We were full of the adventures of the day and the hour long drive back went so quickly.

The day in Slovakia was lovely and we were so glad we had taken the day trip. There was so much to see and it really was an ancient city in a modern day setting.

Bratislava was a truly beautiful City. The best things come in small packages, which is exactly what Bratislava is like. Fun, Exciting, New and Modern. With the mantles of the old regimes around their shoulders, yet not conforming.

Just Perfect.