"Much More than Just A Side-Trip From... " a Bratislava Travel Page by Ekaterinburg

I normally try to avoid using over-familiar images for introductions but somehow this image of Bratislava's infamous Novy Most just wouldn't go away.

Arriving by road, your eye automatically travels to the skyline where the castle perches in all its 'upside-down-table' glory. Then suddenly, POW !, this bridge looms up in front of you. A definite attention-grabber and pretty dramatic introduction to a city which is generally regarded as low-key.

Like many other people I visited Bratislava as a side-trip from Vienna and knew very little about it before I arrived. I wasn't sure what to expect but within an hour of arriving, was very glad I'd come. The old town is predictably charming and picturesque but the new town with its remnants of communist architecture and monuments to recent Slovak history, is far more interesting.
The combination of both, together with panoramic views along the river make this a great place for walking and exploring. After an initial guided tour, I retraced the whole route on foot but this time, with many detours. What I found, I've written about on this page. What I missed I will get to next time.