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The Slovak route to Vienna

I wanted as much time as possible in Vienna so I left Prague early, in front of me there is a long stint of motorway across the Czech countryside and then a lunchtime stop in the Slovak capital Bratislava.

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Out of the Czech republic and into Slovakia

This borderless Europe is really easy, you go from country to country without having to stop. Of course I miss all the benefit as I have in fact to stop every time I take a picture, but that does not matter so much.

No rain means good progress and I get into Bratislava very early. The  first thing I do is to get to the top of the hill where the war memorial is and that allows me a fairly good view around giving me an idea of what to do next.

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Totally illegal parking in Bratislava, but it had to be done.

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View over the castle, pretty

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A view of the Kamzic TV tower from the Slavin war memorial

Unfortunately I’m uninspired so I end up going around a bit with the motorbike and then hang a right towards Austria.

There appears to be quite a dramatic difference between the Czech Republic and Slovakia, rich the former, a bit run down the later. On the other hand you can also see in Bratislava the sign of former glory days, shame that they are left to crumble.

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Splendid once but now a bit run down.

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The Prezidentský palác in Bratislava is rather splendid

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More past splendour gone sideway.

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The home feel away from home

To get out of Bratislava is not easy, there are road blocks and I wonder if they are related to current refugee crisis, eventually I get over the border and follow the Danube all the way up to Vienna.

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It’s Sunday and Vienna seems really quiet, perhaps it’s just around the hotel. In vienna I have splurged a bit and I am in a slightly nicer establishment. I check in rest a little and then it’s off to discover the city.

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The only bum I saw in Vienna. There are worst places where to sleep rough.

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Tram, lights, steeples and clouds.

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A touch of honesty

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More majesty in the architecture.

As it turns out it’s just that I am staying in the business district and I only have to walk a few hundred yards to find where it is all happening. In front of the county hall, the rail network people have organised a concert and there are kiosks selling chips and sausages till the eye can see.

Do you really think I have it in me to resist?

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The Rathaus park

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I just got struck by the light

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And the clouds

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In front of the county hall the Viennese were rocking.

Once I leave the concert and sausage party, it’s time to plunge myself into the pedestrian centre where the majestic building form a procession and it is difficult to decide what is more worth immortalising.

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And turning around you just have the Opera House.

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A short walk from the Austrian Parliament Building

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Hofburg from Michaelerplatz

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And from under the dome

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Busy pedestrian Vienna on a Sunday afternoon

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And art deco is to be found here too

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Katholische Kirche Domherrenhof gothic at its most extravagant

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Vienna, as one would expect it.

It’s a fairly long walk and I see many more incredible views that I take pictures of. I am by the river now and it’s time to rest. There is a little place just at the side of the bridge where they have created an enclosure with sand and beach loungers, I get a beer and I spend a few minutes admiring the majestic sky. Then it’s time to walk back up the road and find a place to eat.

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Mesmerising sky over the beer stop at the river side.

I find an ok place and I have some food and a beer, nothing to write home about and then I’m off to bed, I’m doing four states and three capitals tomorrow.

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Did not catch the way in but I was ready for the way out.

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