Today was the day we translated ourselves from Budapest to Bratislava, the huge distance of about 200 km! We left Budapest, its castle, its bridges over the Danube and its quaint trams, and drove to Bratislava, its castle, its bridges over the Danube and its quaint trams.
It looks as if all Europe is in a frenzy of roadbuilding at the moment!
The hay has virtually all been cut and baled or rolled. The sunflowers are going to seed.
On the way, we noticed what seemed to be a bit of a grass fire, with brigades in attendance — Australia certainly doesn't hold a monopoly on these.
At one point, we encountered an oncoming plane — he was flying low, but we don't think he was trying to land on the highway!
The border crossings are eerie — the buildings are still there, from when there were customs and passport checks as you crossed, but now the signage is all to the effect of 'Don't stop. Don't slow down — we're not here!'
We finally got to Bratislava, where we spent some time in a Macca's — McCafe is in all the outlets in Slovakia, so we're enjoying the stops. We did some internetting, but this stop was just as much about relief from the heat as anything else
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After a couple of hours, we continued on — only a couple of kilometres — to Autostop Zlaté Piesky, a large campsite on a lake in the outskirts of Bratislava. The tram line runs from here right into the old city, so it's a good place to base ourselves for the next couple of days. Reviews of the site had us expecting an old, tired and dirty place. Well, two out of three ain't bad — the place was clean and well tended, full of young campers in tents and buzzing with activity!
Distance driven — today, 137 miles ( 221 km ); to date, 24,337 miles ( 39,167 km )
Great to find a site BETTER than the reviews .. and it looks shady, which will be some protection from the heat.
ReplyDeleteYour van seems to have coped with the high temperatures. It is certainly a home away from home by now, and so much easier to keep clean and tidy, at least on the inside.
Next time we catch up, we will have to go to a McCafe .. I love the coffee.
I've just copied a gazillion things on medical anthropology on which to base my middy ethnography. Med science, knowledge, technology and power are rather an overwhelming thing in a making maternity choices to empower women allow them choices in birthing and to be 'with them' as they want that too, even in the antenatal period, I fear, but will see what I can do. So more of the same for you apart from the area being old. I guess it is still hot. As Russ says, Gertie is looking good, bless her. I hope Bratislava is fun. Brats generally are not and their parents are their slaves. That I know. So go for a Danube sail and forget the bratty bits is my advice. love ya, cathy.
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