Bratislava, Slovakia

Leaving Vienna on Christmas Eve morning, we couldn't resist taking a slight detour into the country of Slovakia whose capital city, Bratislava, is just down river from Vienna on the Danube. We headed to the Old Town and spent a couple of hours exploring. Because it was Christmas Eve day, the majority of shops, restaurants, and museums were closed, but we did manage to find an open coffee shop which was much needed on a chilly day.

We started our walk here at Michael's Gate, the only remaining gate of the original medieval wall. 

The city was decorated for Christmas, but unfortunately the Christmas market had closed for the day.

Dotted here and there throughout the Old Town were fun life size statues.

The city has a beautiful opera house,

a "Narnia Pub",

and a UFO bridge!

There was a beautiful tree and nativity scene and an ice skating rink which was...unfortunately closed.

 

We were, however, able to go inside St. Martin's Cathedral which is the oldest church in Slovakia. Eleven kings and queens were coronated here between 1563 and 1830.

Beneath the church lie catacombs containing the remains of many important historical figures.

Our morning in Bratislava may not have been very eventful due to the timing of our visit, but we got to see a very charming old city and check another country off our ever-growing list of countries visited. That's a win in my book!