Vienna & Bratislava - cities entwined in time.

Location: Austria and Slovakia - 17th-20th April

From the imperial glories of Vienna in Austria to the subtle high medieval feelings of Bratislava in Slovakia, twas a journey few would wish to leave.

Journey undertaken by myself and Yani.

As the centre of an Empire Vienna was designed to impress and subdue in its magnificence. It is testament indeed to the wealth and greatness of the Hapsburg's and the entirety of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

As such a centre it attracted the arts in a way few other cities can match. Here, a tribute to Mozart reflects this reality.

Yani and I get Touristy...

The Hofburg rises as a testament to the power and wealth of one of the great empires in European and world history.

Adjoining rooms and buildings are to be found in plentiful quantity. Here, the Butterfly House of the old Hofburg Palace.

Inside the state and palatial rooms of the palace. An no, those are not phones people are using, but guides.

Just a train carriage believe it or not. Used by the Empress consort of Austria and Queen consort of Hungary, Elizabeth (or Sissi) - married to the Emperor Franz Joseph I.

A model of this impressive monument to Imperialism - the Hofburg.

Puzzling out the information superhighway.

The chance wanderings of exploration led us to the Spanish Riding School in Vienna with its famous Lipizzan ballet horses.



The joys of Gelato can be found even in Vienna. Italian ice cream continues to conquer the world. Long may it do so say I.

The National Library. Perhaps a testament to my photographic skills - perhaps not. You decide.

Notice the footwear?

The Karlskirche (St. Charles's Church)

At the very roof, scaffolding had been set up for the adventurous who wanted to reach the top.

Well who am to resist a challenge? Done and dusted. See that look on my face - see it, see it?

Tthe Hebrew Jehovah Tetragram symbolizing God's omnipotence and, through its warm yellow tone, God's love.

The Votivkirche Cathedral in the background.

One of the most important neo-Gothic religious architectural sites in the world. Raised in memory, interestingly enough, of an attempt on Franz Joseph's I life by the Hungarian nationalist János Libényi.

Smith's corrected view of Josh and Yani.

The Peterskirche, owned by that 'dreadful' organisation - Opus Dei.

Baptism by the dreaded Opus Dei, notice the whips and scourging occurring?

We discover the name of Yani's future dreamed of Tea Room.

I also picked up a nice little extract from an Ethiopian Bible with some delightful scenes of the Magi and St George and the Dragon.

Never did I dream of University student unions like this. To see such tradition mixed with unionism shook some Australian preconceptions.

On they march through Vienna.

One just cannot avoid the Hofburg. The Belvedere palace next time maybe.

The glories of Vienna experienced, it was time to be a little more laid back. A short train journey from Vienna is Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. A small city by comparison perhaps, but it is nonetheless a place filled with its own majesty and objects of worthy pride.

Slovakian food and service is proven to be of the highest level. Excellent atmosphere, fine dining and music made our night out something to remember.

See the UFO in this picture? No seriously. Double-take, double take...

Bratislava straddles the River Danube and for this reason was an important link in times past between Vienna and Budapest - the Austrian and Hungarian empires. During the Turkish invasions of the Hungarian Empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, Bratislava (old Pressburg), became the capital after Budapest fell. 11 Kings and Queens were crowned in the city's Cathedral.

There is still a sizable Hungarian minority living in Slovakia and the Magyar language is an official language in many regions.

Probably trying to find that UFO.

Central square - tidy and nice. Though drunk English louts fighting on our first night there was not so fun to see.

Child of the Sun as she is, Yani revels in the early Spring sunshine.

Wandering the streets of the old town was a pleasant, ordered feeling. There was an old world feel and sense of calm to the surroundings.

On this beautiful spring morning, Yani become the embodiment of the spring child. "Glorying in its life-giving rays" as some might say.

Anyway, this was Bratislava Castle, (or Pozsonyi Vár in Hungarian). Founded by the Hungarians of old, used by the Austrians and re-established by the Slovaks this building provided splendid views out over the city and the River Danube.




Well alas, all good traveling must come to an end and ours also. After some excellent days soaking up history, architecture, art and sunshine it was time to head back to our respective homes. Trains and and planes awaited but for the most part the normal busyness of life was back upon us and more journeys would have to wait.


More catching up to do in my next posts: trips to 1066 country, Northern Ireland, Bohemian Switzerland and Italy await and lie in view.