Lunch In Bratislava

Nearing the end of the first half of our tour, we faced our most difficult travel day to date. It started with lots and lots of stairs, continued with hectic transfers, long waits, and hot, crowded train compartments. When we reached Bratislava, we stashed our luggage in lockers, then walked through the old part of the city.

Bratislava has a more provincial feeling about it, and the evidence of Soviet times lies heavily over the Medieval architecture. Stephen led us through a winding passage that must have once been an outdoor street, judging from the jumble of facades and doors that lined the dim corridor. At the end, a set of grand steps led up to a restaurant, housed in a hospital dating from the 16th century.

Then it was back to the hurry, wait, stairs, and heat as we continued our long day of travel to Budapest.