June 15th: Bratislava, Slovakia

It was nice to have a leisurely sail along the Danube this morning. After the Wheelhouse tour with Captain Achim, as the sun was balmy and temperature in the 80's, we took the opportunity to take a dip in the hot tub on the sundeck.

 Uwe, our cruise manager

The AmaDolce pulled up dockside to Bratislava around noon. Yet another city tour was in store for us after lunch. The old town of Bratislava city tour was about 90 min and highlighted the city's main square, the Philharmonic building, St. Michael's Gate. The inner town  is alive with dozens of restaurants, cafes, and bars so we did chose to spend some more time on our own soaking in the culture and scenery of "Pressburg" (also called), the capital of Slovakia. The old town hall dates from the 14th century. It's a mishmash of architectural styles and sprinkling of amusing statutes "Cumil the Peeper" ; "the photographer"; "Schone Naci"..etc.The Slovaks and the Czechs agreed to separate peacefully on January 1, 1993, after Soviet influence collapsed in 1989. Since 2009, its currency has been the Euro as well.

 Yet another statute of Marie Theresa - looks like a younger version

Close by is Bratislava's beautiful Concert Hall where Mozart & Bach are much celebrated

  

Maximilian's Fountain in town square (aka Roland's Fountain as knight Roland is defender of the city). The legend says once a year, precisely at the stroke of midnight at New Year, he turns and bows in the direction of the former town hall, honouring the 12 councillors who in the past gave their lives in order to save the city.

Old Bratislava has numerous unique and funny statues, this one is supposedly one of Napoleon with the bicorn hat pulled down over his eyes, eavesdropping on conversations. Napoleon's artillery had bombarded Bratislava for three days back in 1809. There are still evidence all over town of a number of French army cannonballs wedged in buildings

here's Cumil the peeper

& its live copy

Neat art display .. what you can do with old horse shoes and beer barrels

Slovak Radio building - so called upside down pyramide

Just drove around the outside of the Presidential Palace

Top of Bratislava Castle Hill - view of Kamzik Tower & Danube. There is a good ariel view from here of the newest part of Bratislava, called Petrzalka

Situated on the isolated rocky hill of the little Carpathians directly above the Danube, the castle construction began in earnest in the 10th Century under King Stephen I of Hungary. In 1809, the Pressbug and its castle was bombarded by canons of Napoleonic troops and later in May 1811, the castle burst into huge flames. Restoration started only recently in new millenium but the castle is mostly bare and empty... most of the treasures long taken to Austria. The equestrian statute is of King Svatopluk I & was raised in 2010 

At night and back on boards, it was the Captain's Farewell Cocktails & Gala Dinner :

 Ann from Florida

 Rick from Florida & Leslie from London Ont.

 Captain Achim played host to the head organizers of the two large tour groups  & appropriated our usual table for the night :(

Two couples from Canada, Ron & Sherri (Calgary), the Hazens from Halifax  & Ken from LA 

Meal was fabulous!

Apres dinner entertainment by The Aphrodites - fantastic classical instruments playing popular tunes and very droll introductions from quartet leader