Hi, kids! It’s me, Flat Stanley Brayden, and today I went on a big adventure from Vienna, Austria, to Bratislava, Slovakia! I said goodbye to my friends on the Avalon Illumination, took a train through the countryside, and explored Bratislava’s Old City and Christmas Market. Plus, I went on a food tour that let me taste some of the best Slovak dishes. Let’s jump in!
Goodbye to Vienna and Hello, Bratislava!
This morning, I said goodbye to the Avalon Illumination and my new friends from Southern Maryland. Avalon arranged a taxi to take us to Vienna’s train station. Rob checked with the information desk to make sure everything was ready for our 10:15 AM train, but since we arrived early, they said we could take the 9:15 train instead.
The train ride was so cool! As we sped through the Austrian countryside, I saw rolling hills, small villages, and lots of beautiful scenery. In less than an hour, we crossed into Slovakia and arrived in Bratislava, the country’s capital.
Since we were early, our ride wasn’t there yet, but after a short wait, our transfer arrived and took us to the Arcadia Hotel in Bratislava’s Old City. The hotel’s location was perfect—just steps away from the Christmas Market!
Exploring Bratislava’s Old City
After dropping off our luggage (our room wasn’t ready yet), we asked the hotel clerk how far the Christmas Market was. She smiled and said, “Walk out the door, turn right, and it’s about 100 meters in front of you!”
The market was so close, and the Old City streets were so pretty. I saw cobblestone roads, colorful buildings, and even some embassies, including the U.S. Embassy. At the Christmas Market, I tried halušky, a traditional Slovak dish made of potato dumplings with cabbage, bacon, or cheese. It was warm, filling, and delicious!
Bratislava’s Food Tour: A Taste of Slovakia
In the evening, I joined a Tours by Locals Culinary Tour with a guide named Daniella. She was super friendly and knew all about Slovak food. She even started us off with her favorite chocolates before we even left the hotel. Over three hours, we visited several spots to try Slovakia’s best dishes. Here’s what I tasted:
- A Starter and Wine: We started at a retro café, where I had a tasty appetizer paired with local wine.
- Sauerkraut Soup and Duck: Next, I tried a rich sauerkraut soup and a hearty main dish of duck, dumplings, and cabbage at a microbrewery. I washed it down with craft lager beer—yum!
- Honey Wine and Honey Tasting: At a local shop, I sampled sweet honey wine and tried different types of honey.
- Kofola and TatraTea: Daniella introduced me to Kofola, a local herbal cola, and TatraTea, a strong herbal drink with 52% alcohol!
- Traditional Desserts: We ended the tour with a plate of Slovak desserts, which were the perfect sweet treat to finish the evening.
Daniella told me lots of cool facts about Slovak food and culture as we walked between stops. It was like a delicious history lesson!
Christmas Market Lights and a Cozy Hotel
The tour ended near the Christmas Market, where I had time to enjoy the sparkling lights and festive atmosphere. The market was even prettier at night, with all the stalls lit up like a winter wonderland.
After soaking up the holiday cheer, I headed back to the hotel for a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow, I’m excited to explore Bratislava’s history and landmarks on a city tour with Daniella.
What I Learned Today
- What is Halušky?
Halušky is a traditional Slovak dish made of potato dumplings. It’s usually served with cabbage, bacon, or cheese and is super tasty! - What is Kofola?
Kofola is Slovakia’s version of cola, but it tastes different because it’s made with herbs. It’s a popular drink in Slovakia!
This blog post was created collaboratively with the assistance of ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI, to help structure and document our journey.
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