A nice easy start to the day, as it’s a short hop to Vienna and there are frequent trains. However, I’d messed up slightly – some trains go to Bratislava main station…some go to a different one. 😐 Not a big deal, it’s only 6 euros in an Uber…but as we were six, we needed 2 cars. Aurélie ordered one, but my Uber app wasn’t working, it was complaining about PayPal, and you’re getting stressed as we have in-laws getting twitchy, kids are fine, everyone is wanting updates in one or two languages, you’re not sure why the app isn’t working, does this mean something has been hacked while you’ve been using various WiFi networks? So we other 3 jumped in a taxi at the station which charged…35 euros. Cash, obviously. Obviously daylight robbery too.
(I think what had happened was this – my Uber is connected to PayPal. So when Uber needs money, it asks PayPal, which pulls money from my UK bank account. I think this last bit is the issue in Slovakia – either their banking rules don’t allow it, or PayPal haven’t set it up in this region. I should have used Bolt instead, which is present here and which app is connected to my credit card.)
The hotel (yes, a hotel! One star, but a step up from hostels…) involved a check-in in one building but our room in the other was very nice and comfortable. Initially we just left bags at reception and set off to walk gradually to the lunch venue. It was another case of seeming like we’d have loads of time… but in the end, we didn’t. The in-laws don’t walk as quick, not helped by it being rather hot and Parlement (the restaurant) being high up, near Bratislava castle. We made it without casualty or mutiny and the lunch was very nice, washed down with a bottle of Bollinger (it being Aurélie’s birthday) and a local Pinot Noir, which was excellent.
We went back slowly to the hotel to freshen up. No dinner was required for the grown-ups, and we found a bar in the old town to drink spritzes and people-watch. The kitchen was closed but they were fine us buying slices of pizza from next door for the kids. Nice. Ice creams on the walk back home.
Timsformational 