Bratislava, Slovakia. Wednesday, 10th May 2017
The outdated Air Serbian aircraft touched down at Wien Flughafen (Vienna airport) at 08:25 and after a quick retrieval of bag and sailing through passport control, we found Mac Donalds in the terminal building. Returning to Vienna airport after three years! Naturally, it revived fond memories of May, 2014. Easily located the FLIX bus stop just outside the building. The sleek, green coloured coach arrived on the dot and departed for the Slovakian capital precisely at 10:50. The wonderful European countryside greeted us once again as the bus literally glided along the smooth highway. The first views of Bratislava as we neared the city, were pleasant. We will find out what stuff it is truly made of, over the next few days.
Alighted at a stop called SNP Most, quite close to the approach to the castle perched on a hill. I went from pillar to post looking for an office/shop selling local transportation tickets, in the vicinity of the stop, as I had researched before leaving Nashik that the tickets would be available at the SNP Most stop. Friendly locals tried to guide me, but in vain. Then one clearly pointed the way to a 'red and white' coloured building, just across the narrow street. I went as directed only to find the place locked! In desperation, I approached the next shop - a small general store and the man there told me the same thing - to go to the 'red and white' building. On telling him that it was locked, he expressed surprise and offered to help me himself. He came out of his shop; and pointing in the direction of the 'red and white' building, said, "It is open!" I looked in the direction of his index finger and saw, for the first time(!) another read and white building behind the locked one, with a door open! With a sigh of relief and muttering apologies plus thanks to the friendly gentleman, I hurried towards the correct 'red and white' building and finally purchased the 168-hours local transportation tickets that permitted us unlimited travel on all public transport(except taxis, of course!) all over Bratislava, for 168 hours from the time of first punching them.
We put up at Hotel Apollo, at Dulovo Namestie. It is lovely - old world charm with modern amenities. Our room no. 510 is on the fifth floor, front facing. A lovely view from the room! Set off for an exploration of the neighbourhood in the evening. The walk proved extremely refreshing as it took us through a residential locality complete with tall, neatly lined stone buildings having a green area or a garden outside, then the sidewalk and then the narrow road between the rows of buildings. We spotted housewives taking their toddlers for pram rides and stopping at a petite park - where we too sat on clean wooden seats for a while - to exchange gossip! We were surprised to see this 'social' side of Europeans. Dogs seem to be common here as pets, we spotted quite a few. Continued our stroll and caught the main road. Then, on an impulse, we boarded trolley bus no. 207 which runs from Saleziani to ZST Zelezsna Studienka. We rode till the last stop. The ride took us through lovely parts of Bratislava and we concurred that this city was a charming mixture of Prague and Vienna. Passed by many 'Namesties'(squares), that truly bring the place alive as these are junctions for many routes, and are busy with people; pet dogs too. There is often a small but well-maintained garden or a green patch at its centre, which adds to the delight.
The route took us along the quieter reaches of the city - neat bungalows or cottages lining either side of the clean road, each boasting of its well-manicured garden. Returned by the same bus, alighted one stop earlier than the one we had boarded at and savoured the walk back through the residential locality, to our hotel. Had dinner - chicken steak with rice and mushroom sauce, chicken pasta and rum(Captain Morgan, black spiced) at Pama Bistro restaurant, just adjacent to the hotel. Urmila was feeling cold(she had bravely ventured out without a jacket), so she remained seated in the hotel's lobby while I ventured out and strolling a bit further, found Tesco Supermarket. Returned with Toblerone and Milka Oreo chocolates. Relished the Milka; off to bed at 21:15 but not before admiring the night views of the city from the comfort of our front facing room on the 5th floor.
