A chilly day at Devin Castle

Following a slower start than planned (thanks to Travis Head’s 100 being entirely too entertaining in Perth), my morning was happily hijacked by cricket. 🏏 Go the Aussies! 💚💛 Once the Test was wrapped up and victory secured, I finally pried myself away from the screen and headed out for the day.

My plan was simple: get myself to the Danube River and catch the no. 29 bus to Devin. And that’s exactly what I did. Soon enough I was wandering around the grounds of Devin Castle, perched right where the Morava River meets the Danube. Standing there, with Austria just across the water, felt a little surreal. As an Aussie, being able to see another country simply by looking over a river still feels like magic - back home, the nearest border requires hours in the air.

The castle ruins were fantastic to explore, full of atmosphere and history, and the exhibitions were surprisingly engaging. But the wind? Arctic. Truly the kind that slices right through you. 🥶 I lasted as long as I could before seeking refuge at the Devin Hotel, where I warmed up with a hearty traditional Slovak meal - something like gnocchi meets risotto.

Back in Bratislava, I drifted into a couple of local pubs to catch the afternoon Premier League matches. I even had my first Guinness of the trip, which felt like an important milestone. And just as the day was winding down, the city offered one last moment of wonder: a light dusting of snow on my way back to the hotel. 🤩🤩🤩

Bratislava has been great fun - but tomorrow, it’s onwards to Budapest for a whole new adventure.Read more