Day 49. Tuesday 19 May.

One night in a hotel is never quite comfortable (it’s temporary, there is always the presence of others, heavy doors slamming etc). The décor in Marrol’s Boutique Hotel (an apt name) was quite lavish in that old style, and the drapes were 3 deep: sheer, blackout and then the gold brocade (with tie back sashes). We had breakfast downstairs, buffet style and adequate to fuel up for the day. D was intrigued by, and in admiration of, two ladies of a certain age who accompanied their breakfast with (refilled) glasses of white wine (possibly champers?).

After breakfast it was just the 90 metres walk to the apartment to drop off our bags in the hope that electricity would be reconnected later in the day and we could resume our planned stay from there. Our hosts, faced with this situation, have been responsive and proactive.

On stepping into the courtyard, we chatted to a chap having a quiet smoko; he was from Cyprus & visiting a friend here. The usual response when we say we’re from Australia is ‘So far!’  He would like to visit Oz but was worried about sharks (snakes & spiders too). He commented that his country’s economy has been wrecked by Iran attacks…British tourists who underpin the economy have been scared off. We wished each other a happy day in Bratislava, there was much to love.

After unpacking, where to? Down to the waterfront, looking for a museum that might explain some of the political, cultural and social history of this country. The waterfront cruisers were in! So the lanyard wearers were about! But not too many of them, which was the case all day.

Our first pick turned out to be a museum – but we were gruffly pointed to the castle, as this particular museum was all about plants & animals. A coffee en route would be grand but two cafes were passed over, as staff made no effort to acknowledge us but the third obliged cheerily.

Of course, the castle is UP.  A pause in the climb to drop into St. Nicholas’s Church, which seemed to be more of a museum, and perhaps somewhere to light a candle, rather than a ‘functioning’ church.

Arrived at the castle – to find everything is closed on Tuesday. Nevertheless, we were able to take in the grounds and get some perspective. Combination of old & new is dazzling.

There was a yoga class on the lawns outside, participants seemingly all Sub-continent (is that description still allowed?) based on dress, but conducted in a very strong American accent.

Noted a woman reverently ‘dusting’ the statue commemorating St. Elizabeth whose short life in the 13th century (1207-1231) was devoted to care of the poor after the death of her husband.

And on the horizon…

Down the steps and back into the Old Town, via St. Martin’s Cathedral, just getting in and out before a horde of school kids came bustling in, with teachers instructing to ‘shush’. There was a group already in listening intently to a briefing: no signs whatsoever of devices. So miracles do happen in this digital age.

From there back to the apartment to find that electricity had been restored. Restocked on some food essentials for the next couple of days and caught up with laundry. That prompted us to wonder whether we could turn on the heating a bit to help dry the washing, and to warm us. Fiddled with the central heating radiator dials: no response. Checked out the water heater: error messages. Presumed that turning off electricity supply had affected the hot water system. WhatsApp to hosts who authorised pressing the reset button. There was a brief reaction on the dials but the error message returned after five minutes. Repeat. D texted the host again who arranged a visit by a ‘magician’ to fix the problem. Meanwhile, T was just chilling in the main square sunshine, observing tour groups coming & going and listening to a guitarist strumming well-known tunes: ‘Staircase/Stairway to  Heaven’, ‘Hotel  California’…

Took in the Blue Church on our way home, having decided to dine in (omelette & salad) as we were whacked once again. Not sure about this being ‘the right age’.

Delicious irony: a Chinese couple posing in front of the Blue Church while D waited, patiently and quietly, to get a good position. Chinese male took several photos, his partner came over to check, then back for another try. This happened three times. Then he vented his frustration as an Indian family approached the statue at the front and started taking photos. D suggested to T it was time for her to pose there too, but she declined.

Magician (turns out to be a good friend of the host) arrived and in short order fixed the problem – adjustment of the water pressure via a dial under the unit that we neither knew about, could see, nor would have dared touch. We now have hot water, so are not only warm but can have a shower!

Seems the Slovaks like their statues – a random selection: