SLOVAKIA

Location - Eastern Europe; Capital - Bratislava; Population - 5.5 million; Currency - Euro MORE SLOVAKIA

Slovakia came into being following the dissolution of Czechoslovakia on 01 January 1993. Flights to Vienna in Austria are often more convenient than Bratislava, and that's what I plumped for. There's direct buses from the airport to the centre of the Slovakian capital - December 2018.

Slovakia switched to the Euro in 2009

The airport bus dropped me off in sub-zero temperatures next to the Danube River, overlooked by the UFO tower on the Novy Most (New Bridge) - Bratislava

Take a lift up to the UFO's viewing platform - Bratislava

On the left is Bratislava Castle while on the right, next to the main road, is St Martin's Cathedral - Bratislava

Boats docked on the Danube River - Bratislava

Bratislava Castle stands on a hill above the city - Bratislava

Buckets for urinals, like it! - Bratislava

Crossing the Danube on the Novy Most, or New Bridge - Bratislava

The lights shine on Bratislava Castle - Bratislava

It's a short walk up snowy steps to the castle - Bratislava

Not sure if this canine look will catch on - Bratislava

Most of Bratislava Castle was rebuilt in the 1950s after its destruction in an 1811 fire - Bratislava

The UFO and the Danube - Bratislava

A slippery walk down Zamocke Schody - Bratislava

The yellow 18th century building is now a clock museum - Bratislava

Military-based street art next to the central bus station - Bratislava

Michalska, pictured with St Michael's Gate, is one of the livelier streets in the Old Town (Stari Grad) - Bratislava

Take the steps up St Michael's Tower for a panorama of Michalska, the UFO tower and the castle - Bratislava

A dimly lit sidestreet off Michalska in the Old Town - Bratislava

The 14th century St Martin's Cathedral - Bratislava

Bright murals are on display behind the cathedral - Bratislava

The Old Town walls bear what looks like the flag of Bratislava

On no! The Man At Work sculpture's disappeared, probably the most photographed sight in Bratislava

Phew! A few days later he reappeared, probably having been off for a Christmas clean - Bratislava

Danish author Hans Christian Andersen stands at the top of Hviezdoslavovo Nam - Bratislava

There were a couple of Christmas markets in the Old Town, with Hviezdoslavovo Nam being the larger - Bratislava

I had a go at some hot wines, punches as well as Demanovka (nice!) - Bratislava

Bratislava Castle and St Martin's Cathedral from the Sky Bar on Hviezdoslavovo Nam - Bratislava

A building that's seen better times - Bratislava

Another welcoming statue doffs his hat at Hlavne Nam - Bratislava

Hlavne Nam's Christmas market has a cosier feel - Bratislava

There's the usual mulled wines & hot drinks, food, souvenirs, clothes and festive gifts at the Christmas market - Bratislava

Don't fancy meeting that on a dark night - Bratislava

A sizeable mural of Lenin at the KGB Bar on Obchodna, outside the Old Town - Bratislava

Eurovea shopping centre decorated for Christmas - Bratislava

Guess what gives the 1911 Blue Church its name? - Bratislava

Looking a little uncomfortable at a park near the Blue Church - Bratislava

A 20min walk north west of the Old Town, on Slavin Hill, is the Slavin War Memorial honouring Soviet soldiers who died liberating Slovakia in WWII - Bratislava

A little bit of street art on the way to Slavin Hill - Bratislava

Another communist-era memorial is the Monument to the Slovak National Uprising, dedicated to those who rose up against the Nazis in WWII - Bratislava

A huge mural on the side of a residential building - Bratislava

I think this cheeky guy was above a kebab shop - Bratislava

I'd like to know the significance of these names, painted outside government offices, surely a protest against something? - Bratislava

Another blast from the communist past, in the shape of an upside down pyramid, are the offices of Radio & Television Slovakia - Bratislava

In the village of Devin, 9km from Bratislava, is Devin Castle

Unfortunately for me, because of the snow the castle was closed on safety grounds - Bratislava

Behind the castle is the Gate of Freedom Memorial, commemorating the Iron Curtain that separated communist eastern Europe from the west and those who died at this border - Bratislava

Devin Castle is located at the meeting of the Morava (right) and Danube rivers, forming the border with Austria pictured on the opposite banks. This location was effectively a physical representation of the Iron Curtain - Bratislava

Christmas decorations adorn Hurbanovo Namestie - Bojnice

Bojnice Castle, the town's main draw, looms high above the surrounds - Bojnice

The 12th century Bojnice Castle is largely a 20th century reconstruction but still has a superb setting - Bojnice

In the foreground is the 'tower on the lake' in the castle park - Bojnice

Again i couldn't enter the castle as it was a Monday, and Monday = closed. Oops.. - Bojnice

I had a peek through the entrance and took these photos - Bojnice

Autumn's in full swing at Bojnice

A bird's eye view of Trencin from the castle

Trencin Castle was open when I visited. Third time lucky! - Trencin

The 15th century castle (with many renovations over the centuries) stands on a rocky outcrop overlooking the town - Trencin

The viewing platform at the top of the castle's Mathias Tower - Trencin

It was a rain soaked day but it cleared enough to see the hills framing the town, plus the Vah River - Trencin

A 16th century covered staircase leads down from the castle - Trencin

..or you can take the road - Trencin

The castle looms over Mierove Nam, the pedestrian centre - Trencin

Ask the Hotel Elizabeth if you can see the Roman inscription of 179AD, viewed through a window on the first floor.
It reads: 'To the victors of emperors and army which, numbering 855 soldiers, resided at Laugaricio. Inscribed by order of Maximianus, legate of the II auxiliary legion' - Trencin

A glass lift in the City Tower provides a view of Mierove Nam and the 17th century Piarist Church - Trencin

So this was how crappy the weather was - the castle's there, honest! - Trencin

The Clock Tower, back left, and Piarist Church, right, on Mierove Nam - Trencin

The castle tries its best to shine through the mist - Trencin

An excellent place on Mierove Nam is Restaurant Lanias, a craft brewery with all these beers for sale - Trencin

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LINKS

www.aquacity.sk - Aqua City in Poprad

http://slovakia.travel - official tourist information

www.slovakrail.sk - Slovak rail

I am not responsible for the content of external websites.