I have found out what the grand building is (from yesterday's photos). It is the National Theatre of Slovakia.
Well last night I bottled out of watching a band. I did go for a meal at a Slovak pub and had my first beef goulash with sliced herby bread dumplings. Very good value. I had my meal and side salad and a bier for less than 10 euros. I wasn't sure whether I was really allowed a 'goulash' before I got to Hungary! I went to find the bar for the band and it was one of those places where no-one was around and you had to go through a door down some stairs and it had flock wallpaper. It didn't look too great so I gave it a miss. I was really tired anyway. The wonderful weather had turned to a thunder and lightening display. It did rain but not for too long. I was better off at the hostel, where I watched the world championship ice hockey final between Sweden and Switzerland with a Swiss lad. I didn't manage to stay up till the end but I found out this morning that it was 5-1 for Sweden. Incidentally, Ice Hockey is the favourite sport of Slovakia.
I had a great sleep. I obviously needed it. I had a nice slow start and had a bit do breakfast which is what I had left from yesterday's breakfast. I decided to take advantage of a free city walking tour that started at 11am. It's one f these where you give the guide a tip at the end. It was very good and I learned a lot about the history of the city and the country and how it has been a bit of a political football between the Czech's, Nazi's and the Communists. The pictures will tell their own story.
For lunch I had a bowl of potato and cabbage soup followed by a cheese and ham thing in breadcrumbs with potato and yoghurt dip. plus a side salad. It cost 4.40 euros.
I went pup to the Castle and took a few pictures then back to the city centre for an ice cream. Eventually I went back to the hostel and did my laundry. The people at he hostel are a massive mix. There are Americans, Aussies, Canadians, Russians, Turkish, Brazilian and probably several other nationalities but people are very friendly. The Danish man who is in my room is a bit strange, he travelled here yesterday and as far as I can tell he seems to sleep more of the time. I don't think he is an ethnic Scandinavian possibly naturalised from Turkey or somewhere like that. I think he's a bit odd so I won't be going out drinking with him or more importantly giving him this blog address after I have not been too nice to him! But why would you travel to a city for a weekend and then spend most of your time in bed. He was sleeping yesterday evening after he arrived, he was still in bed when I got up and he was in bed when I came back this afternoon.
I'm going out into town with two Aussies and an American. You will have to wait till tomorrow for an update. I shall ave to be careful as I have a good cycle ride tomorrow.
Photo 1, Bronze statue of a man at work.
Photo 2, Town Hall and Tower.
Photo 3, Plaque about the burning of a witch. It seemed similar to Pendle.
Photo 4, Blue Church in a Gaudi style.
Photo 5, Bratislava Castle.
Photo 6, View from the Castle across to the flats of the suburbs - very communist era!
Photo 7, Me and my new girlfriend!
Photo 8, Tram system looks a bit communist era as well.
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