Food and Travel Overseas [3] 2008 (Slovakia, Hungary, Austria)

Sensational Savvy — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:01:53 +0000

SLOVAKIA

Banska (Sep 2008)

The amicable Dissolution of Czechoslovakia with effect from 1 January 1993 lead to a split of the Czech Republic and Slovakia being 2 independent countries from that day onwards. The capital of Slovakia is Bratislava.

The Slovak landscape is noted primarily for its mountainous nature, with the Carpathian Mountains extending across most of the northern half of the country. Amongst these mountain ranges are the high peaks of the Tatra mountains

To the north closer to the Polish border are the High Tatras well known for its skiing resort and home to many scenic lakes and valleys as well as the highest point in Slovakia, the Gerlachovský štít at a height of 2,655 metres (8,711 ft) and the country’s highly symbolic mountain Kriváň.

Our tour bus stopped by Banska for a lunch from Poland, followed by 1 to 2 hours of sightseeing around the city area before proceeding to the next destination – Budapest, Hungary.

Banska looked kind of rundown and laid back. It was a totally different atmosphere compared to some of the more lively cities that we know of. Still, I find peace and simplicity in a very simple looking town.

As it is located in the mountainous region, we were walking up and down a rather steep slope. The surface ground area was rarely flat. The unleveled surface also gave the whole town a very unusual atmosphere.

The town was bustling with people selling food and vegetables on the street. Though the feeling was really nice to see an unusual landscape, I do not think it would be perfect to stay for a few days due to the lack of activities and the apparent lack of tourists.

In the last photo, a flock of sheep was going to cross the road but on a moving coach, the photo was not clear.

HUNGARY

Budapest (Sep 2008)

Budapest is no doubt one of the most beautiful cities in Europe in terms of magnificent architectural design. I was not the only one who thought so. When the coach entered the city, the people in the coach went wild with excitement busy taking photographs of the buildings.

The city looked very majestic. There were a lot of “wows” heard inside the coach and it was the one and only city that we have visited with the tour that had this responsive effect from the travellers.

We stayed in a beautiful 4-stars Novotel hotel in Budapest which was just a few minutes walk to the famous Danube river. Though looking very lovely inside the hotel room, it was however very small or too small for my liking. When I placed my big luggage on the floor, it was blocking the walkway.

Together with 2 more pairs of newly-wed young couples of my age (the rest of the travellers were senior citizens), we decided to explore the Danube River at night after our dinner.

The environment of the river looked quite similar to our Boat Quay in Singapore at night but it did not look very safe for us to wander at night. Most youngsters were seen holding beer cans or liquor bottles in their hands everywhere they go.

To be honest, the creepy and insecure feeling got the better of us as we all felt unanimous that it would be quite risky to stroll down further along the river. We did not know the culture well and whether we would be attacked or robbed by the drunk people especially when they were mostly seen in a large group.

We also had 2 drunk men approaching us from my back. I screamed when I turned around to see 2 men right in my face silently because I thought they wanted to rob us and so I panicked. We stayed for a very short while and decided to head back to our hotel to chit-chat instead.

a) We were offered an optional day cruise ride for 1h 15min along the Danube river which we were charged SGD 70 per person (approximately €1 = SGD 1.78 exchange rate back then). I did not want to feel like taking the cruise because the rate was exorbitant.

When I looked around at the surrounding, there were no other activities that I could do and so I had to take the option. Otherwise, I would be waiting for them like a fool for 1h.

The day cruise ride cost 3.900 HUF or between € 15 to € 20 if you check the website of www.budapestdanubecruise.com.

I felt a bit ripped off but again why should I? The travel company has a right to mark up from the cost and I have a right to say no. Anyway, there was nothing spectacular about the cruise ride and no buffet lunch included therefore SGD 70 was considered expensive.

b) One of the most famous buildings to be seen in Budapest is the Hungarian Parliament House.

c) Sightseeing and what I loved most was the leaves colour during autumn.

d) A Russian artist from St. Peterburg. I talked to him for a while and he allowed me to take photographs of his beautiful artwork.

e) A café inside one of the places of interest.

AUSTRIA

Vienna (Sep 2008)

a) Austria was the birthplace of Mozart on 27 January 1756 in Salzburg. Mozart played at the age of 7 for Princess Cicilly in the Schönbrunn Palace and died at the age of 35 on 5 December 1971. He was buried in St. Marx cemetery in Vienna.

In 1787, the young Ludwig van Beethoven travelled to Vienna for two weeks in hopes of studying with Mozart. The truth for what happened during this visit was conflicting, and at least three hypotheses were speculated: that Mozart heard Beethoven play and praised him; that Mozart rejected Beethoven as a student; and that they never even met.

Schönbrunn Palace is one of the most important cultural monuments in Austria and since the 1860s, it has also been one of the major tourist attractions in Vienna. No photo taking is allowed inside the palace, only the garden is allowed.

b) A street on a slope took a while walking.

c) After one has seen the imperial architects from Budapest, looking at the monotonous colours of the buildings in Vienna, I can’t help but make a comparison against a benchmark that they were indeed more paled off and simplistic.

d) “Polizei” means police and this was the police station.

e) Spotted some funny eye-catching words painted on the roof of a building “BUSH GO HOME.”

f) Lastly, my humble hotel in Vienna was spacious. I liked it very much compared to the prettier but miserably small room in Novotel Hotel in Budapest.

We spent the least number of days (2) in Vienna as compared to the rest of the cities from this travel trip with Super Travel In Singapore. I liked Vienna the least because there was nothing to excite me be it the places of interest, the landscape or the architect which is one of my priorities when I go travelling.

My favourite country was Poland and I fell in love with all the cities that I went to. Every city has a strong unique attraction that left me deep impression and nostalgic feeling – from the Salt Mine to the Old Town. I like Auschwitz Concentration Camp the most. Not forgetting that they have a street of the most handsome men and the most beautiful women in my eyes.

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Food and Travel Overseas [4] 2010 ⇒

- Singapore (Singapore)
- Stockholm (Sweden)

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Food and Travel Overseas [3] 2008 (Slovakia, Hungary, Austria)

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Slovakia