Friday, September 2, 2011 Bratislava, Slovakia

Spent the day in the old city of Bratislava, Slovakia, the largest city in Slovakia and the state capital.  For those of you geographically challenged, Slovakia is the other half of the country formally known as Czechoslovakia. The borders of Hungary on the west and Austria on the west are only about 12 miles away. We were told that the Czechs and the Slovaks get along fine except during national hockey tournaments.

The major industry is building Volkswagen cars and manufacture furniture, chemicals, tobacco products, musical instruments, woolen goods and leather products.

Enjoyed some Czech "Budweiser" which is the reason American Budweiser has to be sold under the name "Bud" in Europe. Budweiser is a far superior product than Bud.

We met a couple on the trip from Australia. As we were coming back to Vienna they ask we were staying. They said they were on Tram line 62 and that line and station was the same as where we go. That was such a surprise. We all rode the tram back and their apartment was on the opposite side from ours. Crazy unusual things can happen.

 

Danube River

 

Can you find something to eat or drink?

 

 

 

A no frills castle.  Nice on the outside but that was all.

Workman on his cell phone - they are everywhere!

  

View from the castle across the Danube to the new area of Brastislava.  It is high density, no frills, low cost housing for the locals to live.

Edward with steps up to the castle behind him.

 

View of the Old Town from the castle and the streets.

Taking a break – which way to go?

 

The flowers have been beautiful in every country we have visited.

  

A McCafe is located right on the town square. 

Get a  Super Ponuka Za for 1 euro ( Pizza Italia slice, due formaggi PizzaWrap, minipizza 2ks or PizzaChips) or go for the Novinka, (Grilled Chicken Vegetales or Chicken Pizza Wrap).  Pizza is big item in all the countries.

Statue of Man looking out of sewer.  If you rub his head it brings Good Luck!

 

Tour bus

Slovakian Porcelain in a country with heavym industry. Porcelanova Manufaktura Royal Dux Bohemia since 1853.

City Hall

Mexican Restaurant in Bratislava.  It did not have any customers.  Why?

Streets with tourists.

Corgon - A Solvakian beer. 

Men smoking water pipes.

Gelato is everywhere!

 

Czech Budweiser Beer -

        

Jewish Memorial

Police?

Tuesday, August 30, 2011 – Vienna Austria

We got unpacked and had a very quiet day. We ventured out to the grocery store to get a few items - wine, coffee and snacks, etc. Later on we had lunch at a little pub in the neighborhood. We had a Viennese Schnitzel. (We think this is where the Texas Chicken Fried Steak came from) It was not something already pre-made. It was prepared from scratch. Very good and so BIG. It was plenty for us to take a “doggie bag” for lunch. Probably make sandwich with leftovers. After lunch we took the leftovers back by the apartment then went to walk around the neighborhood. We found out where to buy tram, bus and subway tickets and got on the tram to the center of the city. There is a large pedestrian walkway with lots of shops, hotels, restaurants, etc. Later we called it an early night and went to bed. A few hours later about 2:30 am we were both awake and could not sleep. I think our sleep clock is all messed up from traveling, even with no time change and getting use to our new surroundings. .We watched some TV, surfed and worked on our computers. Edward finally went back to sleep but I stayed up and watched some of the US Open for a few hours and finally got a little nap.

Last night it was dark here by 8:15 pm. I think summer is over in this part of the world and it will be cutting into our sightseeing time. I sure don't like walking back after dark.

August 31 Wednesday – Resting. We are still not ready to do too much.

Billa is the closest grocery store to us.  We were so glad the apartment manager gave us “exact” directions.  Supermarket is within 100 meters on Kliebergasse. Coming out of the house go to the right and take the first right on Gassergasse and then take the second left on Kliebergasse (the second left was the entrance into the store).    Could you see that is was a grocery store?

View from the Sky Bar on rooftop of a department store. 

St. Stephens Cathedral in the heart of Vienna,.survived many wars.   Build in 1147.  It has a diamond patterned tile roof.

mmm! cupcakes.

The walkway in the middle of the city is crowded with people.  This area has changed a lot since we were here in 1986.

Monday, August 29, 2011–Leaving Paris,France going to Vienna, Austria

We got up at 6:45 and realized after we got start that we did not allow enough time to get dressed, check to make sure we had all of our belongings packed and travel to the train station. We rushed around and got on our way as fast as we could and still make sure we had everything we needed to take with us. Well, we did make it to the train station in time but not with much time to spare. We had to walk a long way down the platform because the train was in 2 sections, Paris to Strasbourg then they would drop one section and then continue with our section on to Zurich. After traveling for several miles the train stopped in Lorraine, France (not a regular stop on the schedule).  They told us there was an accident somewhere ahead and we would be delayed 50 minutes up to possibly 2 hours. We were a little concerned since our connection in Zurich 2 1/2 hours. We thought that would be plenty of time between connections when we made the reservations but if we were delayed longer than 2 hours that would be cutting it too close. Thankfully, they got the accident cleared and we started again and were told we would only be delayed 38 minutes. We are now about 1 1/2 hours from Zurich and beginning to see some mountains. We arrive in Zurich at the re-scheduled time. Now we have to wait an hour in the train station. We get some coffee and wait for the train and track number on the mechanical screen. We finished our coffee and just sat in the shop a few minutes. I went out to check the screen and then a second time the track was listed. We gathered our luggage and thought it would be just as comfortable on the train as in the coffee bar. 

The train left on time. It was a beautiful trip with the going along Lake Zurich.  Then we got to the mountains! The train now follows the river down the valley.  We went through Innsbruck, Salzburg, Linz then arrived in Vienna about 10:30 pm.  Loved going through all those places, reminded me of THE SOUND OF MUSIC!  We saw snow covered mountain tops and flowers blooming in the valley.

Lake Zurich:

    

Fields and foothills to the Alps:

   

Rugged rocks.                                Windsurfer on the lake.

  

Clouds hanging on the tops of the mountains in the Alps.

    

In the valley lots of houses with flowers on every window.

 

Dome churches in every village.

     

Railroad tracks, the river, the highways all run next to each in the valley.                        

        

The railcar had the TV screens to show our location like the airlines. Also, they had attendants that brought us drinks and meals from the Dining Car.

   

We each had a single seat on each side of the train. Lots of room and could get up and down as many times as I wanted to without getting dirty looks

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Sun beginning to set in the mountains. 

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Very dark after the sun sets so not much to do but listen to iPod or read for the rest of the trip.

We got to Vienna about 10:30 pm.  Got a taxi to the apartment and the apartment manager let us in and showed us around to go over everything in the apartment and how it works.  It was probably after 1:00 am before we got to bed EXHAUSTED.  It was a long day but I think it was worth it.