Day two in Bratislava was brisk but we saw sunshine for the second straight day and that makes all the difference! We began with a visit to the Primate’s Palace that our guidebook described as the most beautiful palace in Bratislava. Hmm? While a lovely building from the outside, the inside was a disappointment but then it did only cost two Euros to get in. Very little of it is viewable and what is contains very little history to view. I need to mention that visiting museum type venues (the castle, city museum and the palace) is a bit of an unusual experience here. First, they are very inexpensive. Second, there is not much in the castle and even less in the Palace, so at least they don’t overcharge, but the City Museum was extensive and contained many interesting items. Third, and I’m blaming this on being under Soviet influence for over four decades, they each had these elderly ladies that followed us around. There is nobody else there and they follow you from room to room. And they speak no English but try to give you direction at times such as when you are apparently not following the prescribed flow even though we were alone. Just be aware that it creates a bit of a weird environment.
Then on to the Franciscan Church. A Baroque church from the 17th century, it has a locked ironwork structure across the back preventing full access. (And now you must forgive me as I know not of what I speak.) It does have access to the customary water supply that is used for the Catholic ritual exercised upon entering the church and two places to kneel to pray whereas the Jesuit church yesterday, which was fully open, had about 30 people in the seats on a Thursday afternoon praying which actually made it uncomfortable to just be in there as a tourist onlooker (which is okay, I mean it is a functioning church).
Then we headed for Grassalkovich Palace which is the residence of the President and is a very beautiful structure with some very funky and not scary guards in historical garb. It is another area that has only been refurbished since independence in 1993. And there is much refurbishing going on around the city as well as many wonderful buildings in need of attention. There is plenty to enjoy in the city for a few days but they have a ways to go to get more of their structures to the quality of other European cities that were not handicapped by Soviet domination.
Lunch at Roland, a little retail action, a cappuccino break at Cokoladovna Bon Bon and dinner at Primi. Bratislava was an interesting adventure and we are glad we gave it a try.
Now off to London.
