Bratislava
3 European capitals in 3 days. Each their own Habsburg drama, every capital a CASTLE.
Downstairs at 8am, piled-in our driver’s 4-door, crossed EU borders an hour later. Country farms, brightly-coloured town centers. Every 6 years, Austrian gov’t helps subsidize a fresh bucket of paint.
Welcome to Slovakia. Hand-off to Luba at Bratislava Castle (Bratislavský hrad). Likeable gal, our guide – but think Sis signed us for the Brainiac edition. 3 hours later, I’d be JEOPARDY ready.
Slovakian authors. Beethoven recitals. Fall of the Austro-Hungarian empire. The Socialist era. Communists. year Czech & Slovak cultures nationalized. So much info. Breathe, Luba, breathe.
Bratislava Castle wow’d. Built high above the Danube. Panoramic view of the Slovak capital. Picturesque gardens. Cathedrals. Cobblestone filled our path DOWN to city center.
Restaurants, flowers, shopping & CHOCOLATE. We’d backtrack here after exams 🙂
Bestest weather. Mix of sun, comfortable temps. Authentic Slovak dining; Maria Theresa stories came to an end. Whatta wealth of knowledge! “I think you know” – well, I certainly do now, Luba.
Unplugged, brain off, bring on the chocolate. Warm BOWL of it, please. Strawberries, coconut, banana, mountain berry toppings – red chiles my personal pick (dig spice in my life) 🌶️
Train station find on Google, one-way ticket back to Vienna. Hotel-home for schnitzel.
Tomorrow: Budapest. A Hungarian Hop on-Hop off adventure awaits.
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- Bratislava Castle (907 A.D.)
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- Danube River overlook
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- St. Martin’s Cathedral
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- Welcome to Slovakia
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- ‘UFO’ Bridge
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- Michael’s Gate
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- Slovak-Magyar-Deutsch
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- Old Town Hall
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- traditional Bratislava roll
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- Slovak National Theatre (Opera)
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- post-TOUR reward
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- hot CHOCOLATE 🌶️
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- SCHNITZEL dinner
Bratislava (short 15-sec clip)
Sunday touchdown, Monday lift off. Tight 22 hours between travels. One fast-paced crazy work-day. Unpacked, repacked. Passport ready. Denver – Paris – Vienna. Destination: Austria (Slovakia & Hungary).
Travel week with Sis – marathoning Sunday in Krems, week 7 of 10. Memories always best when shared. Iceland, Austria, USA & Canada. Lotta see & do – and run – before Colorado snow season ❄️
Dig family travel. PLUS Sis is a planner. Much appreciated after multi- weeks of soloing. First time flying Norwegian Air. Ukraine Air on the return home. Europe on a budget, all part of the adventure.
Bonjour, willkommen, wiedersehen & schnitzel.
Taxi from the airport. Family already afternoon-landed, waiting at Hotel Urania. Sis’ St Louis run group arriving Friday. Gonna be a full-house European adventure. Super excited!
Tonight, first nite. Scenic walk along the Danube & a bowl of soul-warming goulash.
Quick sleeps, hotel breakfast, car awaiting downstairs.
Day trekking Slovakia. Castles, cobblestone & a guide named Luba 😊
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- Willkommen Austria!
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- first nite Vienna
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- the Danube
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- tomorrow: Slovakia
Denver – Paris – Vienna
Last sleeps at the Hotel Borg. Last morn of sweet pastries & Skyr.
Bags packed, clothes readied – it’s marathon day. Time flies when you’re hiking volcanos, mineral springs soaking, riding Icelandic ponies. Lamb dinner. B-I-G life 🙂
City Hall welcomed. Passed my bags to Michaela. Thousands of upbeat accents, stretching, ready to run Iceland’s capital city. Paparazzi camera blitz – M snapped lotta quality shots. Very much appreciated! Generally, I solo-travel with an iPhone lens. Thanks kiddo.
Runners queued, bunched closely together. Walked over the start line (literally). Soon after, a jog. More space/less congestion, on-pace a half-mile in. Cool temps, sunshiny skies. Beautiful North Atlantic day. City sights with the Halfers. Perfect run weather.
Easy flat course; windy ocean breeze. Race second-half: bike path, city park, suburbia roads. Downtown looped last 10k. Mile 20 burst of MUSIC, renewed energy/spirit. Two quick miles, then steady to the end. Push, PUSH, PUSH (I’ve got a plane a catch – HA!).
Moscow, Dublin, Milan, Reykjavík. sub-4:30 time, my 4th European FINISH. Not bad for a kid from the sticks.
Shower, bus transfer, clock-race to the airport. Life of a weekend marathoner. So many spots on the Globe – but I’ll be back.
Goodbye M. Miss your smile, your love of LIFE. See ya December, Christmas in Connecticut – no scary YULE CAT, please ❤️
Reykjavíkur Maraþon Íslandsbanka 2019
1430 Keenan Haga USA
00:27:48 (5 km) 00:55:09 (10 km) 01:31:55 (16,4 km) 02:02:50 (21,1 km)
02:58:46 (29,4 km) 04:00:27 (38 km) 04:29:02 +01:41:46 04:27:56
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- Hotel Borg ✔️
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- Iceland’s finest
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- queued & READY
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- Start Line walk (literally)
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- 4th European FINISH
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- Ísland Maraþon 🇮🇸
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- North Atlantic goodbye
Reykjavík Marathon
