Bratislava, Slovakia

I totally didn't plan to go beyond Vienna, but there it sat on the map, just over the Danube and about an hour away.  Slovakia.  So, I just  h a d  to go!

I've always been fascinated by eastern Europe.  These places were once very rich and well-to-do under the Hapsburg monarch of Austria-Hungary.  Then World War II hit and the Communists ruled over them for over 40 years and drove them into the ground.  They have never really recovered like western Europe has.

So going there takes only an hour from here, but is like going back 50 years in time, in many ways!  Things haven't changed much, except in some places and, yes, they do have newer cars.  So, for a history buff like myself, it is amazing to go to these places.

Then there is the old town center, that is not really medieval, but is well preserved from the 1800s.  A great little place!

Oh, yes ... I'm taking a poll:  I was in Czechoslovakia years ago.  Since then it has been split into the Czech Republic (or Czeska) and Slovakia.  I have now been to both of those.  So ... have I been to ONE country?  Two countries?  Or three countries?  I can't decide!

My voltage adapter blew last night! I was wondering what the smoky smell was. Then, pop! And lots of smoke.

But -- I tried plugging my computer in the wall without it (after looking it up on the Internet) and it works! I don't need the converter for it--just the special plug to fit the European plugs.  The computers these days are built to sense the different voltage.  

A happy guy who got on the subway leaving Vienna, played a tune and then asked for contributions.  Most people gave!

The Blue Danube.

Coming into the Bratislava train station.

Coke in any language ...

Changing of the guard at the presidential palace.

Old Town

Entrance to the church crypt, in a medieval church.  Looking down through an opening in the floor.

The old castle/fortress on the hill.

How they sell bread in the East.

Speaking of Coke.  They have some sort of promotion going on now in Europe where they put lots of different names and titles on the bottles.  I saw them in Germany but had to go to Slovakia to find this name.  Cultures sure do differ!

I love hearing the language spoken.  I got in on a tour for a few minutes (but couldn't understand a work of it.

Vienna

I am ending my trip in the city of culture, music, and opera on the Blue Danube River.  Everywhere you go here there is an amazing and huge edifice that is an opera house, a museum, palace, or an old civic building, not to mention the churches.

So, I'll just post a few pictures.

(The internet is way slow tonight.  Maybe I'll try again tomorrow).

St Stephans cathedral.

One of the gargoyles.

I like this guy!  Duke Otto I - "The Happy"

What is everyone standing in such a long line for?  Ice cream!  It has been 80 degrees and hot here.

A statue of Mozart with a musical staff in flowers.

A channel of the Danube River.

What a day for my camera to break - on the glacier!

The reason I chose Ramsau am Dachstein is that it is at the base of a high aerial tram that takes you up to a glacier.  I just had to go there!  Plus there is a view of mountains all around in Austria and into Italy.  People were skiing there in July!!!

Well ... just take a look at the pictures.  The mountains there are spectacular, the glacier is huge.  It was 6 degrees that morning (C).

The view around is fabelhaft, as they say in German!

There is a place where you can stand on glass and look at the cliffs straight down below you.  I actually hesitated for a few seconds on standing on that one!

And - they asked if I wanted to ride the tram down on its balcony!  Outside on the TOP!  You know the tram at Snowbird.  Ever think of riding on the top of it?  Pretty exhilarating.

And, the whole thing didn't cost me anything!  There is a special promotion between the tourist office and the guest houses to provide that for guests this summer!

Oh yeah ... my camera BROKE after I had taken just a few pictures on the bus ride up!  Aye aye aye!  JUST when you need it the most!  At least I had my cell phone with.  The pictures aren't as good, but it was a relief to remember that I had that.

Skiing on the glacier.  I wish I had my skis!

Looking straight down through the glass, out on a platform. 

People coming up on top, the balcony.

My view on the way down from the balcony.

To the cute little dorf of Ramsau am Dachstein

My knees were a little wobbly after the 14-km round-trip hike above Innsbruck, but the trip must go on!  I took the train through range after range of high snow-covered peaks on my way to a little dorf called Ramsau am Dachstein in central Austria.

It is a town of just a few hundred people, mostly scattered across the green fields, on the hillside a ways above the valley floor.  I stayed at the guest house of some very nice people who fed me breakfast the next morning and gave me a good sendoff.

After a night at 4 degrees (C)

A beautiful cloudless day, 4 degrees in the morning, and back the 7 kilometers to the tram and down to Innsbruck.  (My legs were a little more tired today)!  What a great night.  (No showers, but there is running water and flushing toilets)!  Breakfast served in the morning.  Then back on the trail.

Sunrise on the mountain outside my window.

The best view out a bathroom window I have ever seen!

The breakfast room.

My little room on the right.  I took the bottom bunk. No one had the top.

Looking down into the Inn Valley to Innsbruck.

Can you see the wild mountain goats?  There was a herd of about thirty.

Looking at the mountains across the Inn Valley.

The bottom part of the trip was actaully on a cable car that adjusted each car according to the steepness of the slope.