Why Men Should Marry Archaeologists

Day 19 - 3 June
The morning found us docked in Bratislava. The view from our cabin was quite spectacular, a bridge across the Danube, with a tower at the far end topped with a restaurant that looks a bit like a spaceship.

The view from our cabin

After our habitual overindulgence at breakfast it was time for a tour of the city.  We boarded our bus and took off for Bratislava Castle, which overlooks the city.  Our tour guide had a very good sense of humour and remarked that he was married to an archaeologist. He said:"the advantage of having an archaeologist for a wife is that the older you get the more interesting you become to her."

Slovakian Parliament building near the castle

Heroic statues of a figure on a horse, outside the castle

Building next to the castle

View over part of the city from the castle - unfortunately spoiled by smog or 'natural' air pollution 

Back in the city - one of the squares that were dotted around the old city

John thinking that the public-use bicycles in Bratislava could do with updating

Parts of the old city were rather run down, but there were signs of restoration in places

Contrast between the Bentley sports car and Mercedes parked outside a really run down building in the city

The Slovak Radio Headquarters building -  built as an inverted pyramid. Our guide told us that the building was not popular with the staff who work in it because each floor is shaded by those above it.  We didn't get close to this building, although we saw it from a distance. I got the photo from the internet 

Our group strolling through a shopping precinct

Lovely detail on the roof of this building

Lea and John checking out the souvenirs

A derelict building decorated with paintings by school children - themed on Van Gogh - nicely whimsical

View from the ship of an advertisement for Kia cars - the next photo shows a closeup

Clever pun

Bratislava was a fascinating break in our journey, but we really didn't have enough time to explore properly. There were interesting contrasts between the old and new, the well-maintained and the run-down. It would be interesting to revisit in a few more years to see how successful the restoration efforts have been.
After a light lunch it was time to go on an optional tour back into Austria to visit Schloss Hof.

The entrance into Schloss Hof

There were quite a few frogs swimming unconcernedly about in the lake at the entrance - they seemed quite fearless 

According to Wikipedia, Schloss Hof once belonged to Prince Eugene of Savoy who purchased it late in his life in 1726. He had it enlarged in the Baroque style by the architect Johann Lukas von Hildebrandt in 1729, and used it as an elaborate hunting lodge. He left it to a niece in his will, and it was later purchased by Empress Maria Theresa of Austria and became part of the imperial estates.

Part of the main building

A garden area near the main buildings

A stork nesting on a chimney in the grounds of the Schloss - it was feeding a baby stork while we were there. Apparently, baby storks are delivered by people - who would have thought

We visited a mock up of a kitchen at the Schloss.  Fruit was popular as a decoration but wasn't eaten by the wealthy. They dined mainly on meat, pastries and chocolate - my kind of people, except for not eating fruit

Back on the ship we were entertained by a five-girl group called 'Aphrodites' - they were very good

Lea - disappointed that she couldn't lick her dessert plate clean in polite company - or with us

Robin feeling contemplative after dinner

We enjoyed a spectacular 'blood moon' as we left Bratislava, en route to our final port, Budapest

Another great day.  Tomorrow is Lea's 60th birthday (OK, it was on the 4th of June, but my blog is on a time delay to ensure I don't say anything inappropriate).