My own "Das Boat" blog from the Gracia Botel Bratislava where we are berthed tonight
We were joined in Vienna by 5 new riders: PC and Mieke from Capetown, Paul from Seattle, Rudolph from Vancouver and Mark from Brisbane. We set off in convoy for the relative;y short ride to Slovakia and immediately noticed the change in scenery to farmland and reserves and NO coffee shops although we did find a cafe at around 40km.
After an early lunch stop just after the border, which is hardly signposted but looks like a deserted army post, Edna and I cycled off with the Bratislava Castle on the horizon to be the first on board the Gracia Botel which is quite spacious and beats camping in a tent!!
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| Not much of a border sign... |
After a quick shower, I set off with Edna and Stirling for the hike to the castle which is really quite huge and dates from 907 with many additions and improvements over the centuries. We then stopped for lunch and had the traditional Slovakian dish which I can't pronounce but is like little dumplings with sheep cheese and crispy bacon on top. I was dismayed to learn that Almdudlers are unavailable out of Austria so I settled for a non-alcoholic local beer.
After lunch, Edna and I explored Jewish Bratislava. We visited the Jewish museum, walked to the only active synagogue (which was locked up) and viewed the memorial erected near the bridge where the old Jewish quarter was destroyed to enable construction. Apparently 70,000 jews were deported by the Nazis and the memorial serves as a holocaust memorial as well as a ereminder of the once Jewish area.
Edna found the only schnekke shop in town - but it was closed - and I stumbled on a private eye peering around a corner into the square. We stopped for Edna's coffee and a bit of people watching and then headed back to Das Boat for dinner with the Group and then off to our cabins.
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