The Travel Diaries -- Bratislava -- Feb 27, 2016

So, I've been feeling a bit cooped up in Vienna for the last while. Our trip home for Christmas was not as relaxing or as decompressing as I had hoped. I haven't found European living to be what I expected (posts on this to come!). During one of our recent conversations about how to alleviate these feelings, Chris and I decided we would take a speedy day trip to Bratislava, Slovakia. From Vienna, it is a short 1hour 6 min train journey, which costs as low as €10.10 (I still use the period between the cents and euros) per person each direction.

As this was rather spontaneous, we booked tickets for Saturday February 27, on the Wednesday before. But in reality, we could have purchased the tickets at the train station with no problem for seating. More than half the seats were empty both directions but it is also not tourist season yet.

Another option for getting to Bratislava from Vienna is to take a boat down the Donau River (Danube in English, for reasons I cannot fathom). Unfortunately, the riverboats do not run during the winter so we were not able to take this option. I think it is definitely going back to Bratislava in the Spring/Summer/Fall months by this option because it gives you an idea of the landscape. We will probably do that at some point in the next few years.

A quick internet search later, we discovered that the main attractions of Bratislava are: the quaint Old Town which is within the old medieval city walls, the Bratislava Castle, the Devin Castle ruins, and the Blue Church. Not speaking Slovakian and not really knowing much about the history of Slovakia, I searched for a free walking tour in English.

They actually have these in almost every major city in Europe. I used them a lot when I was traveling around Europe in Summer 2012. The concept is that the company hires tour guides who lead you on a walking tour of the city and tell you stories about the various monuments and locations around. It gives you a more complete understanding of the city and the tour guides are locals so they are familiar with the areas and topics on which they are describing. The idea is that they work for tips, so the tour itself is free and as a result the guides are motivated to give an engaging, informative, and fun tour. Usually each group is at least 30 strong so if each person tips a few Euro, the guide still makes a good sum at the end of the day.

Anyway, I found a free walking tour for Bratislava offered by Be Free Tours. We took the 11am tour and had Dominika as our tour guide. She was a really good tour guide and we walked around basically the whole of Bratislava. The tour leads you around the whole of Old Town and then brings you around to the new town areas. All the while, we learned about the history of Bratislava, Slovakia and its time(s) as Czechoslovakia. It was interesting to hear about Communism from someone who's country was Communist until very recently. In the end, we saw everything there was to see in Bratislava on the 2.5 hour walking tour. We did not actually visit the Bratislava Castle grounds but were given good directions on how to get there. We did, however, see the Blue Church, which is definitely definitely worth going to see. It is beautiful and whimsical in a way that the rest of Bratislava is not, especially the buildings from the Communist era. This is something that we might have missed out on if we hadn't gone on the walking tour. The church itself is a bit out of the way, and if you are going by yourself, I highly recommend seeking it out.

Jewish Memorial

The bell tower of the church.

This guy is called "The Watcher." Supposedly he is just waiting for the day's work to be done and watching people pass by. 

The original outer wall of Medieval Bratislava. See the holes where the chains for the drawbridge used to be?

SNP Square -- This is where many public protests have occurred throughout the history of Bratislava. Its also a popular meeting point for the locals. 

The Blue Church 

This is actually a secondary school directly across the street from the Blue Church, built in the same style.

Can you spot us? (Hint: back, leftish :) )

Entering back into the Old Town. The floating gate is where one of the Medieval walls used to be located.

This is now a museum, but it used to be their Old Town Hall. I liked the building because it had various types of architecture in one building. 

This is St. Michael's Gate, which is one of the inner gates of the medieval Bratislava town.

After the tour, we went through Old Town again, to shop for a trinket. Chris and I try and find a small trinket from each place we visit together so that we can have something to remember the place by. In the end we found this little fella. He reminds me of the medieval-ness of Old Town Bratislava and I just thought he was too cute not to take home.

This is Bertie, our little fella to remember our Bratislava adventure. How cute is he?!

We then went up to Bratislava Castle, which, if I'm honest, doesn't look like anything super special. The view was pretty nice, because you can see the Donau river and the "UFO Bridge" but on the other side of the river is just endless lengths of Communist block housing. This is an architectural style that I really do not appreciate. And I suppose that Bratislava Castle has a similar feel to it. Its so utilitarian and rather boring. It seems like it could just be a large, sterile hotel from the outside. On the front of the castle, however, was hints of what the style was originally. There is a stone arch and window that seems to recreate a peek into what it may have looked like years past. Evidently, the Castle was only reconstructed and finished in 2011, after it was burned to the ground by Italians cooking dinner. And the fact that it was finished in 2011 seems to be reflected in how the building now looks. In any case, the grounds around the castle were very nice and well maintained, and it definitely provided a nice view of the Old and New Towns of Bratislava.

After that we went to the Bratislavan brewery recommended on the tour, Bratislavský Meštiansky Pivovar, and had a house beer and the Slovakian soda, Kofola,  as well as sharing the traditional garlic soup in a bread bowl. We both liked the drinks pretty well, but the garlic soup was a bit too garlicky and rich. The whole bill came to €9 including tip. Eastern Europe is so much more affordable than the West. Its something we are aware of, but I just didn't realize how inexpensive everything actually is in Eastern Europe.

We then decided that since it was just before 5pm we would go for a jaunt around the city before heading to the Bratislavská Reštaurácia, another recommendation from the tour, for dinner. We decided, we'd try and find some of the green-space shown on the map, since the whole city seemed to be largely concrete and stone (much like Vienna). This is where we went wrong, I think. We basically started walking around and in the end started to feel really uncomfortable because the fact that we had seen no real locals in the city all day was massively amplified as dark was approaching. It honestly felt like a ghost town once you walked outside of where tourists normally tread.

For contrast, in Vienna or any U.S. city, at night there would still be locals going about their normal nightly or evening routines. Going to the shops, eating out, going to bars, etc. In Bratislava, we had noticed, during the day, that we saw many more tourists than locals (mostly working in places that service tourists) and at night, when most tourists were gone, the town was just empty. It was an extremely weird experience and it made us rather uncomfortable because it seemed like there might be a reason why nobody was out and about at night.

A little candy shop that had this window display on our evening walk around Bratislava.

In the end, a short hour walk later, we went to Bratislavská for dinner. We were told to try the Bryndzové halušky so slaninkou (potato dumpling with sheep cheese), which Chris tried. I had Naše domáce zemiakové gul'ky plnené údenym mäskom, podávané na sladkej dusenej kapuste so slaninkou (potato pierogi with meat and sauerkraut). We ordered Lokše (latkes) for dessert and they were super buttery and fatty. Overall, the meal definietly seem like traditional Slovakian food but we didn't really enjoy it all that much. Including tip, it only cost us €20 so we were happy for the experience of having traditional food.

After dinner, we felt we had seen all there was to see in Bratislava. We had sort of already discovered this while looking on the map at the brewery earlier and decided that we would take a slightly earlier train home. We arrived back in Vienna a little before 10pm a mere 13 hours after we had left around 9am that morning. All in all, Bratislava was definitely worth visiting but it doesn't take more than 12 hours to essentially see it all. Unless you plan to enjoy the bar and nightlife that is offered, night time in the city is weirdly ghostly.

The one thing that we missed on our trip was going to see Devin Castle ruins. This was a conscious decision after we noticed that all the dirt areas were rather muddy. We'll probably hit it up when we go by riverboat to Bratislava next time.

If you go to Bratislava, definitely go to the Blue Church and walk around Old Town. Climbing up to Bratislava Castle is also probably worth it for the views.

The Current Project -- The Elliston Scarf

When it comes to knitting, I'd say that I'm proficient but also enjoy having instant-gratification. As a result, I really like using Super Bulky yarn like this one (Lion Brand Hometown USA yarn). I especially like this specific type of yarn because it is so super soft, in addition to its chunky properties. Eventually, I plan to delve into using thinner yarn and more complicated patterns, but currently, because of the state of our life, I need the gratification of having easy and quick projects.

Currently working on The Elliston Scarf. I found the pattern on Ravelry. Here is the pattern page (Elliston Scarf); it is a paid pattern at $3.50 but I find that I am okay with paying for patterns because they represent people's creativity and I want to give them some credit for coming up with the pattern.

The yarn I am using for this specific project is the Portland Wine color. Each skein has 81yds and the pattern calls for 270 yards. I purchased 5 skeins because they were $2.97/ea on Amazon (and still are, at time of writing this post). I wanted to do a scarf in deep plum/purple because it is my favorite color. The color wasn't as deep purple as it looked like online, but it is a beautiful color and it is super saturated and super super soft! I'm about 3 skeins in, and I think I'll go through half of the 4th skein and make the fringing. It has taken me about three nights of 2-3 hours of knitting in front of the TV to get this far.

...

So its nearly a year later and I have yet to finish and publish this post. In any case, I did finish the scarf and it is warm and beautiful. One downside is that I used about 4.5 skeins and that made the scarf a bit long (see picture below) but I think that I can still wear it and the pattern itself is really unique.

With this post, I am hoping to get more regular into this blog. I have a few other posts that are in various stages of completeness and I will push those out even if they're not terribly timely anymore, because I'd like to have them as something to look back at this time period in our lives.

Anyway, below are some pictures that I took. Forgive the awkward angles, I will try to get better at photographing things.

This is a fair representation of the pattern and the fringing. Color is a bit more cool-toned than in reality. 

Here you can see the difference between the front and back of the pattern. 

This photo is more true to color. Its a bit more berry and less plum. 

And finally, a photo of me wearing the scarf. I made it a bit long, so I have to wrap it three times and then it falls to around my hips. 

 Anyway, like it mentioned earlier in the post, this project was actually finished a long time ago (nearly a year!) and unfortunately, I haven't had a ton of time for new crafty projects. I've recently started getting into handwriting and sketch notes, so maybe I'll show some of that on here soon!  

Meet Our New Addition! --> Earl

So, I have a ton of posts in the pipeline. Some written but waiting on others before I will post them. To help with my feelings of not stagnating too much, I will do a quick and easy post about our new addition!

For our first wedding anniversary, Chris got me a nice leafy indoor tree. We've named him Earl. He is a Schefflera Gold Capela and he is about my height (5'3" or 160cm) and he is so happy looking! 

Our cats are getting on with him great. A bit of over-interest at first by Tango but she's now realized he doesn't do much else but stand there and be happy and green. 

We're thinking that as the weather warms a bit we'll put him outside on the balcony since it doesn't get much direct sunlight but Schefflera plants need bright indirect light. We'll see how he fares out there and when it gets cold again, he'll come back inside to brighten the space. 

Isn't it amazing what a few green plants in your house can do to brighten up a difficult season? Do you have a favorite indoor tree or plant? 

Our Family Vacation -- Sint Maarten Island (The Travel Saga) Pt 2. Those Island Days

This post is months late but I still wanted to put up some pictures from when we were there, so we can have the memories.

This is the happier (not nightmare-ish) post in which I share some pictures and details of our trip.

It was a beautiful trip, the part that we really got to relax and enjoy. One of my favorite memories is snorkeling near the island. I found the calmness of the giant sea turtles very majestic and beautiful. They seem to float along and have very little care in the world, so relaxing to watch.

Below is a panorama view of the ocean and the villa where we were staying. It was super picturesque and idyllic.

We arrived Monday night, August 3, and on Thursday morning (the 4th), the whole family went on a hike to Peak Paradise, the highest peak on the island. The day was hot, sweltering, humid but also overcast (as you can tell from the pictures). The view was pretty nice

Here we are with Chris' dad, Joe (top). The lovely lady in pink is Nancy, Chris' stepmom (bottom). Joe and Nancy very generously brought the whole family together on this trip. We are so thankful for the opportunity to visit such a tropical locale. :) 

Me, Chris and Joe (Chris' dad)

Nancy and Joe. :)

The other units of the family that came are as follows: (top) Chris' brother Jeff and his wife, Mara; (middle) Chris' stepbrother Griffin and his partner Cassandra and their son Ryker; and (bottom) Chris' stepsister Betsy and her husband Pedro and their sons Vincent (back) and Jonathan (front). Such a good looking bunch!

Jeff, Chris, Joe and Mara

Griffin, Ryker, and Cassandra

Pedro, Vincent, Jonathan, and Betsy

That night, we went out to dinner with the family to celebrate Chris and my recent marriage. We went to a French restaurant. The food was really yummy and it was a fun night. I don't have many pictures of it but I really loved the dress that I wore that night. On a side-note, this is where I got several mosquito bites that got super inflamed as the trip wore on. Tropical mosquitos are no joke! I have always had stronger reactions to mosquito bites than many others but they bit me on the top of my left calf (near the back of the knee) and something about that location made it get super irritated. Always wear bug spray people! 

Chris, me, Joe, and Pedro at our fancy wedding dinner. 

On Wednesday, Aug 5, a group of us went to one of the public beaches on the Dutch side of the island, and we went jet-skiing. Chris and I were on one jet ski and it was pretty fun, but Chris and Jeff (Chris' brother) love to go faster on those things than I like. Anyway, the morning was spent doing that and walking around the downtown region. We went back to the villa for lunch.  

In the afternoon we visited the Butterfly Farm with Nancy, and Betsy (Chris' step-sister), Pedro and their two boys, Vincent and Jonathan. The farm was cool! Had so many different types of butterflies. We learned that each type of butterfly lays its eggs on a specific type of plant which its caterpillars feed on and grow until they form chrysalis and then emerge as butterflies. There were many types of butterflies and moths there and it was such a nice experience. Because butterflies require a humid environment, the farm was actually netted-in and they were bringing the humidity up by spraying all the plants with water regularly. As a result, we were all sweating buckets. If you end up going there, definitely bring water and snacks to replenish lost electrolytes and liquids. Otherwise, I highly recommend The Butterfly Farm. 

Here I am with a giant moth on my hat. I look terrified, but really I just wanted to stay still for pictures. :) 

They collect a lot of the pupae/chrysalis and pin them in a box to protect them. 

A closer look at some of the varieties of chrysalis that were at the Butterfly Farm. 

We even saw some mating butterflies. Apparently they will do this for almost a full day!

In this next series of pictures, can you spot the chrysalis? It is incredible how much they are able to camouflage themselves!

I couldn't see it from this distance either, until it was pointed out to me. 

If you are looking for it you can now see it; if not, look at the picture below!

Holy moly! It blends in so well, doesn't it? Nature is amazing, sometimes.

We had an amazing sunset that night. Since moving to Vienna from San Diego, I have really missed sunsets, especially those that go over the horizon of the ocean. This was such a treat.

On Thursday, Aug 6, a group of us: Chris, me, Jeff, Joe, Cassandra, and Griffin went on a snorkeling tour around the island. It was truly majestic but I don't have photographic proof because electronics and water are not friends. We went to three separate locations and on the second one, we saw a bunch of sea turtles. It was honestly one of the most beautiful experiences because they just seemingly float but you have to try really hard to keep up with them. And they were just nonchalant about humans so they often just surfaced in the water very close to you. It was an experience that I am so happy I had the opportunity to have. I have never done anything like that before. It makes me so happy, just thinking about it. I think we were pretty pooped when we got back to the villa afterward and mostly just napped or lounged around the pool area.

Friday, Aug 7, was our last full day there. We went to a private beach in the morning as a family, which was super peaceful and beautiful.

Chris, off exploring. 

In the afternoon, we went in search of some ice cream and a carousel to entertain the boys. This place was a bit like walking back in time, and a bit weird but it had ice cream and was air conditioned so we enjoyed it nonetheless. 

Ryker wasn't too sure about the carousel, but he had also not been napping well/at all the whole vacation, so he was a bit out of it. 

Chris having secret conversations with Vincent. 

On Saturday, Aug 8, we had the morning to sort of gather and pack. We took these pictures and they are a really nice group of pictures to finish the vacation off with. :) 

Chris and V: such a pair. They got really close on this trip. :)

Overall, it was such a nice vacation, despite all of the hassle and nightmare of us trying to get there. In fact, both of the families with kids had trouble getting back home too. Air travel is just so fickle when you want it to be easy and straight forward. I'm so glad that Nancy and Joe were able to coordinate such a cool once-in-a-lifetime vacation for all of us. Our next one is slotted for Banff in Summer 2017. If it happens, that will be so cool! Crazy that the boys will be two years older by that point. Hopefully, we'll be able to see them at least a few times between this vacation and then.