What an interesting place to have arrived in. The city has loads of history including when it was the capital of Hungary and called Pressburg. I’m excited to get out and explore the old town and the newer sides, to see what I can find. Here are my first impressions of Bratislava Slovakia.
Graffiti
I was not expecting to see this amount and perhaps the reason it is coming as such a shock is because the previous countries I have been living in, have virtually none. What is alarming and so disheartening to see, it’s the proliferation on historical buildings, virtually ruining the facades. It is the type of graffiti too, this is almost exclusively gang tagging or stamping, not artistic in the slightest.
Walkable
I am enjoying the wide sidewalks that are relatively clean and clear of obstruction. The city is very walkable. I can look around and enjoy my surroundings and don’t have to worry about tripping over broken pavement or similar. My Airbnb is about a 30-minute stroll to the old town and Michael’s Gate which provides me the opportunity to see other parts of the city besides the medieval core.
Safety
Perhaps this is also a shock because of where I have been for the past few months, but the number of homeless, beggars, addicts and general grittiness of the streets and neighbourhoods is alarming. I walk into a park and see people sleeping under bushes and on the benches. Daily, men are digging through garbage cans looking for empty bottles to return for cash. There is an unease that I feel here that I would in many large cities and I’ll just have to be extra aware and cautious of my surroundings. These socioeconomic problems reminding me so much of Canada and is something that is triggering for me.
Hot Hot Hot
I have no A/C and am located on the fourth floor of an older Czechoslovakian era concrete building. These summer days are very hot and there is not much breeze. I’ll be walking down to the Danube to see if there are some cooler shady spots near the river for certain. I have noticed a number of parks too, those might offer a respite from the heat.
Architecture
I think I am in for a treat for there seems to be a significant variety of architecture around. There is not much remaining from medieval times, but the latter periods of baroque and rococo are abundant and are they ever beautiful! Think pastel coloured plaster with stark white intricate detailing and you have an idea of what I am seeing as I wander these lovely wide avenues.
Bratislava has some surprises in store for me I just know it. I may have to keep my wits about me and be careful of the neighbourhoods I explore, but there seems plenty to keep me occupied just the same. Let’s get into the Old Town first and see what treasures we can uncover there.
