Bratislava, the Capital of Slovakia

In 1993 Czechoslovakia separated to become two separate countries, Slovakia and the Czech Republic.  In 98° heat we climbed to the fortress hill top for a wonderful view of the city and the cathedral.  The city and country is divided by the Danube which is crossed by the UFO Bridge.  Built in the 1970’s, the saucer is accessed by stairs or an elevator and has a restaurant and bar.

The Coronation Cathedral was where eleven kings and queens were crowned between 1563 and 1830.  It has recently (2010) undergone renovations.  There was a lovely garden behind the church and below the wall was what used to be the Jewish Community.  As we walked to the former fortification wall we passed a small but lovely Orthodox Church.  Most of the Jewish home have been replaced by modern buildings.  We walked past St. Martin Cathederal from the 13th century, the building with the oldest pharmacy, a theatre, and the first water fountain that was not used for fire protection but to pleasure the eye.

It was nice to be able to explore the market area and even discover a wine cellar that boasts 100 Slovakian wines and where we tasted two red wines.