Bratislava Castle
We’ve posted ahead a few days. Let’s backtrack to Bratislava! On Wednesday, we spent the entire afternoon spent touring this colorful capital of Slovakia. Our team was fortunate enough to go on a personal tour with Rotarian Martin Sloboda, founder of MS Travel Agency. We knew we were in good hands – Martin literally wrote the guidebook to Bratislava! You’ll even find Martin quoted in famous travel writer Rick Steves’ tour books. And if you stop in a Bratislava souvenir shop, chances are, the postcards you bought were taken none other than Martin himself.
We began the day with a bird’s eye view of the city, stopping at a viewpoint in the same neighborhood as the United States Embassy residence. We walked the steps of Slavín War Memorial, the only official cemetery for fallen Soviet soldiers. From there, we embarked to Bratislava Castle and enjoyed lunch nearby with scenic views of the city from above, looking downward to sites such as St. Martin’s cathedral. We sampled local delicacies such as Danube Stew (with seafood from the nearby Danube River) and Wienerschnitzel (a thin, breaded and fried schnitzel made from veal).
Then, it was off to Old Town Bratislava! We explored Old Town Hall, took in the ambiance of Hlavné námestie (a popular square) and strolled along Michalská ulica (St. Michael’s street), peeking in the passageway’s many galleries and cafes. Old Town had an antiquated charm that reminded me very much of Vienna. Live piano music filled some of the cafes and spilled out onto the square. It was like being transported to a different era! We stopped at Kaffee Mayer to enjoy a slice of Marcipánová torta (marzipan cake). Martin shared with us that this was his wedding cake – the very same dessert from the very same café!
Throughout the tour, Martin shared insight that only a local could offer. For instance, some of the best café’s aren’t the ones that line the main streets – they’re the ones that are tucked under arches and in courtyards not immediately visible to the public. We enjoyed taking a look at many courtyards, statues, and cultural sites not in plain sight.
To conclude our tour, we strolled along the Danube before joining fellow Bratislava Rotarians for a special wine tasting event at Víno Mrázik winery, a cellar situated on Devín Castle grounds. Slovakia’s climate is great for producing a range of whites and sweet reds. The wine varieties we sampled were particularly unique – they were infused with black currant! We were also treated to traditional delicacies including various smoked cheeses, spicy sausage, and the famous bread with pig lard spread that the District 2240 GSE team mentioned in their Pennsylvania presentations. Don’t let the name fool you… it was delicious!
Our favorite tour guide Martin standing next to the travel book he authored!
Man at work!
One of several unique cafes we stopped in.
Martin and the team walk the steps of the Slavín War memorial.
A glimpse of St. Michael’s Street.
We got a behind-the-scenes look at a café being refurbished.
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