Bratislava, part 1: Getting There

One of the great things about living in Europe is that there are so many countries within an easy day's travel, whether by plane, train, or boat.  This weekend it was time to start exploring the rest of the continent and to venture beyond Vienna's borders.  So what city did I choose to pop my European exploration cherry?  Bratislava. 

Okay, honest survey (that means no googling or wikipedia): how many people actually know where Bratislava is?  Hands up.  No?


Bratislava is in Slovakia.  
Hey Andy, you mean Slovenia right?  
No no, Slovakia's right.


Easy to confuse, but I assure you they are two separate countries. Both are adjacent to Austria along it's eastern/southern border, with Hungary sandwiched between them. 

Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and lies just across the Austrian-Slovakian border. A mere 55km (35 mi) from Vienna and similarly straddling the Danube river, Bratislava makes an easy day trip. Vienna and Bratislava are some of the closest national capitals in Europe (second closest after Rome and Vatican City). Trains run nearly every hour and reach the Hlavná Stanica train station in Bratislava in about an hour. 

I awoke early on Saturday morning, grabbed a jacket and my camera and headed for the train. The train ride was a pleasant journey through the Austrian countryside, blanketed with a patchy morning fog.  I began the short walk south from Hlavná Stanica towards the old city and it didn't take long until I spotted my first destination: Bratislavsky Hrad (Bratislava Castle). 

To be continued...