Our bus driver stopped to pass out the sparkling wine when we crossed over the border to Slovakia (his home country)

National Council of the Slovak Republic

The castle in Bratislava, Slovakia. Not much to see here as this is a soviet reconstruction done in the 1900s

Statue of king Svatopluk in front of Bratislava castle

Another view of Bratislava castle

Looking across the Danube River from Bratislava castle

Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Slovakia

A view of the more modern side of Bratislava, Slovakia from my hotel room window

An interesting mailbox found near my hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia

Random photo from Bratislava, Slovakia

Plaque found on the ground near St. Michael's Gate in old town Bratislava

St. Michael's Gate in old town Bratislava, Slovakia

Random street photo from old town Bratislava, Slovakia

Random street photo from Bratislava, Slovakia

The plaques on this building in Bratislava commemorate Adolf Frankl, a Jewish artist who was deported from here to Auschwitz

Bratislavské rožky is a famous pastry in Bratislava, Slovakia.

St. Martin's Cathedral in old town Bratislava, Slovakia. Sorry no peek inside as there was a Catholic Mass happening while I was here

Random street photo in old town Bratislava

Jewish Memorial in old town Bratislava, Slovakia. On the site of a Synagogue that was razed by the Soviets, but also a remembrance for WW2 as well

Above the trees you can see the UFO Tower (flying saucer) which is an observation deck above a soviet era bridge across the Danube

This monument is called Morový stĺp. I think it is supposed to represent the holy trinity

Opera house in old town Bratislava, Slovakia

Old town square in Bratislava, Slovakia. Here the clock tower isn't a church, it is the old city hall

The Primacial Palace in the old town Bratislava

KGB Pub in Bratislava, observed in passing as I didn't have time to go inside

Looking up at the UFO tawer

A view of Bratislava castle from the observation deck of the UFO tower

Another view from the observation deck of the UFO tower in Bratislava

A view from the vineyard outside of Bratislava where we had a wine tasting

The ruins of Heidentor (Heathens' Gate) just outside Carnuntum, the roman era city site in Austria

Another view of Heidentor (Heathens' Gate)

This is Carnuntum in Austria. Part archeological site, and part rebuilt representation of a Roman era fort/city

Roman ruins at Carnuntum in Austria

Reconstructed roman era building at Carnuntum in Austria

Statue of Karoly Kisfaludy in Györ, Hungary

Random photo from Györ, Hungary

Saint Ignatius of Loyola Church Györ. They were setting up for some kind of festival in the square in front of the church, but did not stay long enough to see what that was all about

Random street photo from Györ, Hungary

Ark of the Covenant monument in Gyor, Hungary

In Györ, Hungary. I think this is supposed to be a notable religious college

The Carmelite Church in Györ, Hungary. I was told there are supposed to be other churches in eastern Europe that exactly resemble this one

Sunset as seen from the rooftop bar at my hotel in Budapest

Another view from the rooftop bar at the hotel in Budapest

Heroes Temple & Graveyard Memorial for Jewish soldiers in WW1 in part of the Jewish ghetto in Budapest during WW2

Budapest eastern railway station, a site from a few movies including Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol

Heroes Square in Budapest, Hungary

Random statue from Heroes Square in Budapest, Hungary

A glimpse of the "eye" Ferris wheel in Budapest. Nestled in a park with trees & surrounded by taller buildings, locals refer to it as the "blind eye".