Today we made a trip to Bratislava by train. It’s only an hour’s journey from Vienna Central Station but to get to the station from the campsite we had to catch the local bus into the underground station and then make two changes on the underground. When we arrived at the station the next train to Bratislava was about to leave. We did a double take as it was a very old, single carriage train. It didn’t seem possible that it was the right one because everywhere you look in Vienna there are posters and signs advertising trips to Bratislava. One information office even had signs saying “we don’t have information on trains to Bratislava” so it’s obviously a popular day trip to make from Vienna. Once we were assured it was the right train, we climbed aboard and there was standing room only, and there were seven more stops to pick up passengers on the way to Bratislava. We were relieved to discover that we were to change trains to a new, larger one just past the half way point but the first half of the journey was definitely cattle class.
Bratislava station welcomes visitors to Slovakia
From Bratislava Station we caught the bus into the city but misjudged where we were and got off at the wrong stop. With the aid of a map and a helpful passer-by, we soon got our bearings and headed for St. Elizabeth church, also known as the Blue Church. It’s probably the youngest church we’ve visited to date, being built at the beginning of the 20th century. It’s façade is entirely blue and includes lots of blue mosaic work in ceramic and glass. Its’ very popular for weddings and we could see why. It actually looks like an elaborately iced cake. Opposite the church there is an old block of flats that is being knocked down. There were huge dinosaur like wrecking machines chomping great lumps out of it and all of the debris was crashing down but the road wasn’t closed. There were vehicles parked on the opposite side of the road and the only protection from the debris falling onto passing cars or people was a lone workman training a hose on it. We didn’t envy him. People often knock health and safety “gone mad” in the UK but we’ve seen some pretty dangerous practices on our journey that make us thankful for it.
Angela had hoped to see if there was some Art Nouveau stained glass in the church but unfortunately it was locked so we only saw the exterior.
St Elizabeth’s Church (the Blue Church) Opposite the Blue Church
We then visited the Heydukova Street Synagogue. It’s a Cubist building, built in 1923, and as well as being a Jewish house of worship it also houses the Bratislava Jewish Community Museum. On entry, Roland was asked to wear a Kippa whilst in the Synagogue. He asked the significance of the kippa and was told that it brings men closer to God but that women don’t have to wear one because they are already closer to God.
There is a very moving timeline on the wall of the stairs on the way up to the museum, detailing the long history of persecution of the Jews in Bratislava.
Five minutes in a Synagogue and he looks Jewish already Beautiful stained glass window in the Synagogue
Just one of Bratislava’s quirky sculptures. This guy has spotted his missing left ear high up on the building behind
The public toilet The Primate’s Palace
Street scene including Bratislava Castle Typical Communist era building
Michael’s Gate ,the only preserved gate of the city fortification (14th century)
We thought coffee was supposed to perk you up - Depresso?
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