The capitol of Slovakia and also the largest city of that country. This was a first for me, due to my employment I was never allowed to visit Warsaw countries and Slovakia at that time united with the Czech Republic was known as Czechoslovak Republic. A lot of water has flown under the bridges, so to speak, since that time. Now I was enjoying my first visit to a new country. As part of Czechoslovakia Bratislava was under Russian rule and since the demise of the USSR and the amicable split from Czech the Slovenians have been busy rebuilding the economy and country. Judging by the crowds we saw the city is a magnate for tourist, especially those, like Susan and me, who are on river cruises.
By now I was used to seeing trams and busses in city centres, but I was taken aback seeing a trolleybus. Last time I saw a trolleybus was in Glasgow in 1966, the last one running in 1967. They were known to all Glaswegians as “Whispering Death”. Our local guide advised us that they are ony used on the steep gradients to the Castle and Parliament trams being used in most other areas.
Unlike German and Austrian cities, Bratislava has a unique tourist bus and like the trolleybuses it is painted red:
Presporacik (Oldtimer) – there are various cruises around the town from 30 minute to 3 hours. Alas we did not have that much time as we would be enjoying an after lunch cruise down the Danube to our final destination Budapest. However there were sights still to be seen in Bratislava. Our guide took us up to the Castle where on a clear day you had the chance of view across three Countries, Slovakia, Czech and Hungary. Not sure if I did see all that way but I think I got a nice view from the castle of the Danube and yes it was “Blue”.
We reboarded the bus and headed down to the old city which was total pedestrianized so we would be dropped of and commence our short walking tour back to the ship, at least it would all be downhill 
Like most European cities, Bratislava attracted the attention of Napoleon in 1809 and twas his army which burned down the castle in 1811. I do like the Slovakian sense of humor and the opportunistic citizens. Our guide pointed out the odd French cannon used as a shop decoration with the comment that the owners were waiting for the French to reclaim and repay for them. From St Michael’s Gate (Old City Gate) we walked through a long narrow street full of food shops and a market (which was just beginning to open) and turning left I came across a really important site:
The pub where “Nessie” spends her holidays when she travels incognito to Bratislava. Walking down this street our ears were assaulted with a terrible noise. No it was not a football crowd, but the noise of horns, bells and shouts assailed us as if the rampaging Legion from Rome had travelled forward in time. Our guide explained that the day was the last day of school for some and they would be moving onto University the next term. The custom was that the classes would walk though the town celebrating that they had finished school and looking for donations for 
University – i.e. buy booze .
We entered the old square which had the various Embassies. It was funny when she pointed out across from the Greek Embassy was a Greek Restaurant and from the American Embassy – you got it a MacDonald’s. Out side the French Embassy is a bench, and leaning over that bench is a statue of Napoleon resting on the back of the bench. The local folklore has it he is waiting for his army to return – and is still waiting.
Alas I did not get a clear shot of said statute but can you spot it through the hoard of my fellow shipmates. It was here we heard about the scam operated by some of the respectable burgers of the city. High on the Town Hall next to a central window is a cannon ball. This was supposed to have been shot into the church during the cannonade by the Napoleon’s army. However it is too well set to have bene fired from any cannon, and that is allowing for restoration. The enterprising builders/owners had taken one of the old cannon balls which were strewn around and embedded into the wall – thereby claiming tax exemption due to enemy bombardment. Even in war and aftermath people did their best to not pay taxes .
As I said earlier I love their sense of humor – and this shows in the odd statues one finds in the street (along side them are modern equivalents) I prefer the originals:
Schoner Naci
Na zdravie
