Bratislava 2 – Day 10

When we checked the forecast last night, it was showing a high of two and a mix of rain and snow until mid afternoon, and given it dark here a little after four, you can’t get a lot done after mid afternoon in the daylight. However, after sleeping in, and having a leisurely breakfast, the sun had come out and we could see Kamzík clearly from our hotel room, so we decided to take the bus to the bottom of the chairlift and go up the tower.

It was two buses, and the first came just as we arrived at the stop, and we only had to wait eight minutes for the second, so the total trip was just under 40 minutes – about the same time that it took me to do it by a few days ago.

The Chairlift from Železná studienka to Kamzík is the only existing two seater cable car produced by the former TRANSPORTA Chrudim, an elevator company. It has never had a single malfunction that prevented passengers from reaching the stations. It has an elevation of 186 m and can move 342 people in one hour. The lower station is reached by foot, bike, or public transit. People can drive to the upper station.  The ride took just over eight minutes. It first began operation in 1972. Bicycles can be transported, rather than a second person, by hanging them off the back on the safety bar.

There were footprints on the ground, where we were meant to stand to prepare to sit as the cable car came around. They had foam pads which they put on the seats just before we sat down, which made them much warmer than they otherwise would have been.

I learned just after taking this picture that Michael wasn’t thrilled about riding up a mountain on this type of vehicle. I, on the other hand, enjoyed it immensely.

The Kamzík TV Tower is a 196 m tall television transmission tower sitting on top of the 437 m above sea level Kamzík hill, which is part of the Little Carpathians. It has a restaurant and observation area reached by elevator. Unfortunately, upon our arrival, we learned that the elevator wasn’t working. They didn’t know when it would be back in service. This was Michael’s fourth trip to the tower and the fourth time he failed to be able to go up it. It was my first.

So we took a short walk around the area, and then took the chairlift back down. Michael was less unsettled on the way back down. We got to see somebody riding up with his bike, as we went down.

The bus to take us back to a transit hub from the park runs four times an hour at this time of day on the weekend. All of the buses and the streetcars we took today were quite busy, and some of them were standing room only. We bought a 24 hour pass for €4.40, about $6.50 – a great deal.

After transferring, we decided to take  the next bus to the main bus terminal at Nivy shopping mall, somewhere I had yet to visit. We were dropped off here next to the mall. I was interested to see the two green wall panels on the end of the building.

We decided to go up to the third floor for coffee and snack. After my spring trip here, during which I ate a lot of hard boiled eggs taken from the breakfast buffet on my bike trips, many of which were quite smooshed by the time I ate them, I bought these cute little boiled egg cases.

Then we went out on the green roof, which is a public park with a playground, workout stations, gardens, coffee shop in nice weather, and many places to linger, as well as a 500 m rubberized running track. It was truly impressive, and I had trouble deciding which of the many photos I took to share here.

Indoors, it was bright and airy with lots of interesting lights. It also had an exhibition space. We saw an exhibit by this artist at the Toronto Science Centre years ago.

The bus station in the basement was very impressive. It’s reached by an underground roundabout, and has more than 1100 international and regional connections daily.

There is a cycle track in front of the building.

The beer bikes, of which there were many when I was here in the spring, are still running, but this is the first I’ve seen. Unlike in Toronto, you actually drink beer while pedalling the bike.

We headed over to the main square, and the Christmas market, at twilight. It was much more crowded than it was last night.

Tonight we ate and drink at the market. There was a great variety of food and drink, and it was all delicious. 

There were many tables to stand at upon which to place your food and drink, which have covers over them in case it rains, or snows.

After we ate, we wandered a bit more around the area, and it did start to snow lightly, not enough to stay on the ground, but enough to wet it, and make beautiful reflections.

It was a wonderful evening, and I look forward to a few more there over the next week.