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BRATISLAVA
A city waiting for tourists
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An old plane at the Bratislava airport magnetically attracts those who visit the city for the first time, and we are always very interested in looking at such art objects. There is a newspaper and cigarette kiosk next to this plane. If you are going to fly here, be sure to remember it. At first we did not even pay attention to this kiosk, but a little later, the sales girl became our savior. And this is how it was:
Arriving in Bratislava, we examined the almost empty airport and went to the bus stop, which is located just to the left of the exit. Bus # 61 was supposed to take us to the city. A ticket machine was installed at the bus stop, which offered us a 60 minute ride for 1.20 euros. The only peculiarity is that payment must be made in coins only. Another couple of travelers who happened to be next to us spent a long time digging in pockets and bags, after which they successfully collected 3 euros in small change. They bought themselves two tickets and even offered us the remaining 60 cents. We proudly refused, assuming we would just pay the bus driver. The bus that arrived cordially opened the doors for us, but the driver was not so friendly and just put us back at the bus stop, explaining in simple Slovak that there is an automatic machine where they buy tickets, but the driver does not take money. Having watched the departing bus, we sadly returned to the airport to drink some coffee and reflect on what "karmic mistakes" ;-) did not let us escape from the clutches of "Letisko Bratislava" (as the locals call the airport). The coffee cheered us up and we decided that if the machine requires coins, it means that the locals should have these coins :-) after going through a couple of shops that refused to exchange a bill for coins, I met a kind woman who explained that a ticket can be bought at a tobacco kiosk. Salvation was near. Remember that the tobacco kiosk near the vintage plane is also a bus ticket office! In the photo below you can see what the ticket vending machine looks like at the bus stop and the approximate views with which Bratislava "enchants" on the way to the old town. It seems to me that the inhabitants of Kharkov or Zaporozhye will not find great differences between their cities and such Bratislava.
But when we found ourselves in the old center, we could see the unique face of this beautiful city. Helps to create a unique atmosphere of the Slovak capital - the magnificent Danube. To be closer to this great European river, we settled in a ship, which is moored to the shore. Every time we left our floating hotel, the impression was created that we had just moored ashore and left the ship to inspect the surroundings. This is how our hotel looked magical in the evenings.
If you are told that the main attraction is Bratislava Castle, do not believe it. Most striking is the "UFO" - a tower with a restaurant at the top, which stands on the banks of the Danube. This is what this Bratislava beauty looks like:
Every day we admired the "Flying Saucer" from the window of our ship's room, but after looking at the cost of dishes on the restaurant's website, we thought that from 17 to 30 euros per dish is cool for tourists who flew here from Kiev for 23 ;-) and went for a walk the old city. And there, and our Grigory Savvich Skovoroda on the main street and a Napoleonic soldier at the bench.
In some places we felt tense, for example, when "KGB-PUB" was nearby. As for us, such places in a European country look pitiful. It is much more pleasant to see Baron Munchausen flying on the cannonball.
But we could not pass by the main monument of Bratislava. This guy is called Chumil. Figures with his image are in any souvenir shop. Someone calls him a onlooker, someone a plumber. And we didn't even want to understand, we just admired this sculpture.
Chumil's only inconvenience: if you want to take a picture next to him, you will have to take the pose of a "yard bully" ;-)
We walked through the streets of the old city and took some funny photos
And after that we went to Bratislava Castle - a fortress that rises on the slope of the Danube.
Fresh white snow adorned the trees and everything around looked like the scenery for a Christmas fairy tale.
In front of the entrance to the castle there is a monument to Svyatopolk or, as the locals call Svyatoplyuk. Near such a powerful rider and no less powerful horse - taking a selfie is a must.
Inside the castle there is nothing of the word absolutely. Therefore, inspecting the inner empty perimeter took at most a couple of minutes, including drawing a black circle on the white snow ;-) And going downstairs, we met soldiers in full dress (I think they were Americans) who were taking a photo session with a professional photographer in front of the castle.
Then, during the day, we tasted great coffee in a cafe behind the back of the Andersen monument, tasted delicious beer in the Berlinka cafe near the embankment and stopped by the supermarket to stock up on "delicious" for dinner.
This is how we saw Bratislava in one day. We got tired and went to sleep on our ship, because tomorrow Imperial Vienna was waiting for us.
We would be glad to receive your comments on this article. If you have been to Bratislava or are going to visit this city - share your impressions in the comments. Reposts and likes will be greatly appreciated.
Vitaly & Nataly
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