Bratislava, Slovakia Saturday 13 September

Awoke to light rain and grey skies which do not bode well for my day trip to Bratislava. However once we had breakfast and were ready to get on the coach, the rain had stopped. Just in case though, I've packed my umbrella and light rain jacket.

We head to Bratislava across the border into Slovakia. Very fertile lands with lots of solar panel fields and wind farms.

It is an easy pass through the border. We have a toilet break so at a major shopping centre which I would have liked to look through but no time.

We have our first long stop at the palace which is no longer open to the public, but used for government findings. A small medieval fair was happening in the court yard. Lovely views over the city, albeit a bit hazy. There was also a porsche car club there.

Back on the coach and we are dropped near the entrance to the old city. There are certainly lots of people about. Lovely mixture of building types and no shortage of places to eat it or buy souvenirs. The story goes that a witch was burnt on the spot for making love potions to get all the men to fall in love with her but they got angry with her and so ended her life.

This is Bratislava's smallest dwelling at 1 metre wide.

The sun had certainly come out for us and world now me in the mid 20s so the umbrella and rain jacket have stayed on the coach.

We are then given time to wander about on our own and get some lunch. Eventually the other ladies I was with agreed on a Cafe where I had a lovely croissant and latte (although they don't seem to know how to make a really hot coffee).

More wandering at large and then time to head back to the coach.

Heading back to the boat we go through quaint little villages rather than on the motorway and eventually are back in Vienna and onboard the Vega.

It's captains cocktails tonight so before dinner we head to the lounge where we are given a glass of bubbles and introduced to all the staff and crew. Then it's time for dinner where I have what was listed at Tiger Shrimps (note the plural), mushrooms soup and then beef tenderloin.

Julie's happy to head back to the lounge to listen to the musicians but I'm happier heading back to the cabin, catching up on the blog, reading and then lights out. Only 2 more sleeps and our European river cruise comes to an end. I really must think about slotting in time for packing... As a postscript... Our local guide today was Ludmilla. She was very down to earth and wrote open about the change from Communism to the democratic system now in place. There was no overthrow or major dissent but politicians getting together and deciding. Not all change was for the Nlbenefit of all. Previously everyone had free medical access and the treatment was very high standard. Now everyone pays 4% for health. Ludmilla was also not happy with the current prime minister and reminded us a couple of times that she didn't vote for him and as voting is not compulsory only 20% did vote. I found her story very interesting, as I've been conditioned into believing that any thing other than democracy equates to dictatorship and tyranny against the people. The current state of affairs in USA is hardly democracy at its best. And I leave you with that thought for now.