Bratislava

The cities of Bratislava and Prague are only about 330 kilometers apart, making travel between them quick and easy. 

Slovakia and Czechia were once united as Czechoslovakia, a country formed in 1918 after the end of World War I. Czechoslovakia existed as a single nation until it peacefully split into two independent countries, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, on January 1, 1993.

Nowadays, both countries have similar customs, like enjoying hearty food, traditional folk music, and a love for sports, especially ice hockey. Many Slovaks travel to Czechia for work, study, or leisure, and the shared history keeps them culturally close. So, it's time to see this unique, yet closely connected country with my own eyes.

The Old Town of Bratislava is a charming maze of narrow streets, colorful buildings, and historic squares.

I love my hotel BEIGLI, because it is located in the city centre, and the room is very spacious, even with the view to The Castle, which I am going to visit today with my friend.

My friend often travels from Vienna to Bratislava, which feels like a second home to her due to its proximity (only 60 kilometres). The short distance between the two cities makes it easy for her to visit regularly, and she’s grown quite familiar with Bratislava over time. For her, this close connection makes the city feel like an extension of Vienna, offering a sense of comfort and familiarity.

Bratislava Castle is a famous landmark sitting on a hill above the Danube River (at 85 metres). It was built in the 9th century, with much of its current structure dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. The castle has served as a royal home and a military fort over the years. After a fire in 1811, it was rebuilt and is now a popular tourist spot. 

Interestingly, the castle’s shape resembles a four-pointed crown, symbolizing its royal history, and its towers were once used for defense and as watchtowers.

The view from Bratislava Castle also offers a stunning panoramic vista of the city, the Danube River, showcasing the city’s blend of historic and modern architecture.

As my time in Bratislava comes to an end, I am grateful for the memories made, and already looking forward to the next adventure. While the Old Town is beautiful, I wish I had more time to explore outside of the central district to fully experience the city's diverse character. So, I will come here again to check, what the city has to offer.

Karlovy Vary, Birthday

Happy birthday to me! At the hotel they prepared for me a small birthday cake. It was so nice of them. Anyways, I am going to continue this special day at swimming pool, with some spa procedures and of course eating good food and drinking good wine during the day.

I am one year older today, and maybe mineral water will help me stay younger. So, I have visited many springs in the city and tried the most suitable water for my health.

Another dessert in the emblematic café Elephant. So much sugar in one day, but I have a real excuse for that :)

Changing the clothes for another outing and food experience...

Oysters and champagne at my favourite restaurant in Karlovy Vary.

Absolutely satisfied by the time I have spent today, I am slowly walking back to the hotel, where another dinner is already waiting for me.

Karlovy Vary, Photosession

As a part of my summer vacation I arrived to Karlovy Vary to stay in the SPA hotel Thermal for several days. Previous year I also visited the city in June, and it looks like the tradition already (by the way, here is the story about my previous trip). I hope, I will not be bored, because the city is small, and I already know it very well.

As usual, the best way to get to Karlovy Vary from Prague is by bus. It is cheap, fast and comfortable. And my hotel is located only in 15 minutes from the bus station on foot.

I have a fully renovated room at the hotel on the upper floor, and the view is one of the best, which I have ever experienced. I already imagine how I meet the morning sun from this lovely balcony.

Today my colleague arrives to the city as well, so we can spend the time together. I will be a free guide for him, and he will be a free photographer for me.

The city is small, but it is extremely cozy. We walked a lot, enjoying the sunny weather, talking with local people, drinking free mineral water etc. Suddenly, I found out that my friend after 4 years living in the republic already speaks Czech as a native, but to my shame I do not speak Czech at all.

At the end we were so tired, that we ordered a taxi to the restaurant, where we decided to have a dinner. I did not eat much, because at my hotel I have the dinner as well.

I have said goodbye to my friend, and he went back to his home town Plzen. Tomorrow I am expecting to have a busy day, so I need to have rest at the hotel.

Paris, The Louvre

Paris is a global symbol of romance, elegance and cultural richness, and it attracts millions of visitors from around the world each year. Finally, I have decided to join the group of the city's admirers. So, this is my first visit to this charming place. 

Through the heart of Paris The Seine River is flowing. Many of the iconic landmarks are situated along the Seine, including  Notre-Dame Cathedral, which was the first landmark I have seen upon arrival to the city centre.

Unfortunately, Notre Dame suffered a devastating fire on April 15, 2019, which caused the significant damage to its roof and spire. Nowadays it is under the extensive restoration, so I could not see the whole splendor of this masterpiece of French Gothic architecture.

After a short walk and before checking-in the hotel, I am in search of some good food.

I really wanted to try something from local food here. So, in some decent place I have ordered the escargot (or snails), which is perhaps the most famously associated with French cuisine.

So, the most common method of preparing escargot involves cooking the snails with garlic, parsley, butter, and sometimes wine. The mixture is then placed back into the shells or served in special escargot plates. It was very delicious to my taste!

After checking-in, I headed to the Louvre museum, the largest museum in the world, where I already have booked my first excursion...

Actually, the Louvre began as a royal palace in the late 12th century and served various purposes over the centuries. It was transformed into a public museum during the French Revolution in 1793.

The Louvre's architecture is a blend of medieval, Renaissance, and modern styles. The glass pyramid in the main courtyard, designed by architect I. M. Pei, is a modern addition that has become an iconic symbol of the museum.

Nowadays The Louvre houses an extensive and diverse collection of art and artifacts spanning from ancient civilizations to the 19th century. It boasts over 35000 objects, which are placed into eight departments, including Near Eastern Antiquities, Egyptian Antiquities, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Islamic Art, Sculptures, Decorative Arts, Paintings, and Prints and Drawings.

Undoubtedly, the Mona Lisa, painted by Leonardo da Vinci, is one of the most famous and celebrated artworks in the Louvre. Visitors from around the world come to see the enigmatic smile of this masterpiece. And to get access to this rather small painting you would need to stay in the long queue.

Of course, the Louvre is not only about Mona Lisa. Very often people do not pay attention to other masterpieces, which are more accessible but not less genius, such as this portrait "La Belle Ferronniere" by Leonardo Da Vinci, with the same enigmatic smile, which we can see in Mona Lisa's.

The excursion is over, but during two hours it is physically impossible to see the whole exposition in the Louvre. Probably, it is better to plan several visits to avoid fatigue and fully appreciate the vast array of artworks located there.

After such a good food for mind I also need some food for my body. I have found a good place nearby my hotel, where I could order some traditional food, including the delicious French fries :)

Tomorrow I will have the full day in Paris with more excursions and visiting the public places.