Bratislava, Slovak Republic

Early this morning, we docked beneath the Novy Most or the “New Bridge,” connecting Bratislava’s historic downtown with its more modern suburbs. We dispersed in several different directions, all with the purpose of exploring the beautiful old town area of this fascinating city. Our local guides explained a bit about the history of this once German, then Austrian city, taking us back a bit through time. We encountered modern Bratislava as well, in the myriad sculptures dotted around the old town. From a Paparazzi to a Peeping Tom emerging from a manhole cover, each had its own, unique flair.

After the walk and (in some cases) a lovely ride in the Old Timer Train, we convened at the Opera House. Sharon guided a group to a small glass-jewelry store, specializing in Bohemian Glass. Ray and Lucy visited the Primatial Palace to highlight the spectacular English Tapestries hidden within.

After the morning ashore, we came back to the warmth of the River Cloud for a special musical presentation. The classical ensemble Afrodite 5 performed familiar pieces from modern stage and film production. It was a wonderful way to end our morning!

We cruised the Danube Lake up to Gabcikovo Lock and Dam and enjoyed views of migratory birds along the way. It was a relaxing afternoon of cruising and Ray and Lucy shared more historical facts about this region of the world, itself, as well as incredible information about some of the instruments that originated here.

We entered the city center of Budapest after dinner and Cruise Director, Konny, shared information about the beautiful, lighted buildings and structures. Cruising in at night was a fitting introduction to the spectacular city of Budapest and a wonderful conclusion to our cruise.