Bratislava

In a fabulous case of coincidence, it turned out that our friend Cath was going to be in Bratislava on business on the exact date we were planning to be in the Slovak capital! She was able to change her flight to arrive from London on the Sunday afternoon, ahead of her Monday meeting, allowing us to have a great catch up and our very own private tour guide.

One night in Brat

A bit early for your Monday meeting Cath!

Bratislava is a very quaint little city, the development of which is happening right under your nose. In the couple of years Cath has been coming here she reckons it has changed so much, with EU and foreign investment flooding in. Quite disconcerting nevertheless for a giant Tesco to be the focal point of the commercial district!

The main square

Man at work

It's Tesco, but not as we know it!

We had great fun barhopping through the outdoor cafes of the old town and noting how sophisticated it all seemed - not exactly what we were expecting from a nation shrugging off its recent communist past. But I guess that's the point really.

The old and the new, cheek by jowl

Hmmm, what were they thinking?

As with Cesky Krumlov, the city seemed to have survived the worst of the war - and ensuing communist rule, with its 18th century Rococo buildings and sidewalk cafes lovingly renovated in pastel hues. However you don't have to look far to see some really heinous buildings of obvious Soviet design. In fact you only need to turn your gaze across the river from the ancient castle to see row upon row of institutional concrete housing blocks known as Petrzalka, and the so called 'New Bridge' over the Danube, which quite obviously resembles a UFO... Big Brother is watching you!

The Soviets destroyed a good swathe of the old town in order to create this road

The so called 'New Bridge'

A tiny snapshot of Petrzalka, which seems to go on for miles

It was really great to catch up with Cath and enjoy a night out in the big smoke, but it was soon time to climb back onboard and head (quite literally) for the hills...