From Budapest, we travelled (mostly at night) 139 km by river to Brataskava. After breakfast, we arrived back in our room to find two towels and a facecloth had been folded and manipulated into a lovely bouquet of flowers. Enroute to Brat., we spent about 60 minutes going through the first set of locks. Our ship was so close to the side of the lock that we could reach out and touch the wet sites. The captain actually steered the ship from controls on the port side of the ship. There were "bouys" of some type that kept the ship from rubbing the sides of the lock. The lock and dam make up a hydroelectric project for the surrounding areas. The lock was different from the ones in Panama. This one closed at both ends and water rose the ship up about 80 feet. A curved metal barrier at the front of the lock dropped about 5 feet and we simply motored over it. In the lock with us was another river cruise ship and 2-3 tugs. Several times throughout the morning we saw small tankers picking up oil. The water continued to stay very brown, and there were no oil slicks to be seen!
Onboard the ship, we attended a 20 minute presentation on Vienna/Salzburg and the excursions/optional tours. Then it was noon....time to eat again!! At 1:30 we were headed off on our walking tour of Brataslava (Opera House, castle, church, Main Square. On our own we went past Trum Gate to the much newer section of Brtaslava. Stopped for a Citronelada (lemonade). It was soooo hot. Went through the Palace Museum (1500's paintins, huge tapestries, beautiful furniture) for Euro 2 each. I can't believe the reasonable prices for museums, galleries, etc. Only in Europe you say...
Entertainment tonight was The Five Aprodites (very little Slovakian music/song; more American stuff).
We are just leaving Brat. now. I got to raise and stow the gangplank, thanks to Lorenzo of Romania. We passed under the bridge with the UFO Bar on top. Interesting...made me think of St. Paul, Alberta.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a full day: AM bus/walking tour of Vienna, afternoon tour of Schonbrunn Palace, and PM visit to the Opera House for a Mozart/Strauss concert.
That's it for tonight...early morning tomorrow.....
Love Mom and Dad
posting at 10:55, bed times must be alot different while on vacation.... you guys are missing non stop rain here for the past 30hours. Sounds like you are having a graet first week. check your email for a special treat
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