Bratislava, Slovakia

Another great card from a June Round Robin. When I was little, my father traveled a lot in the so-called (back then) Socialist block of countries. Then, it was Czechoslovakia, of course. I had a set of beautiful cards from there with old buildings, parks with huge trees and churches. I used to look at them and dream about going to see all those places one day. I was told that it might never happen... But look at me now, living in the States and travelling as much as possible! Nobody would have been able to imagine such a fortune back then! I think that is why lots of Russians like to travel. We were told that we wouldn't be able to... ever... Only "special", distinguished people had a chance.

Here is some info on the city: Bratislava — historically Pozsony and Pressburg — is the capital of the Slovac Republic and, with a population of about 429,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Most historical buildings are concentrated in the Old Town. Notable cathedrals and churches include the gothic St. Martin's Cathedral built in the 13th–16th centuries, which served as the coronation church of the Kingdom of Hungary between 1563 and 1830. (we can see it to the right on the card)

The square castle on the card is "Bratislava Castle, on a plateau 85 metres (279 ft) above the Danube. The castle hill site has been inhabited since the transition period between the Stone and Bronze ages and has been the acropolis of a Celtic town, part of the Roman Limes Romanus, a huge Slavic fortified settlement, and a political, military and religious centre for Great Moravia. A stone castle was not constructed until the 10th century, when the area was part of the Kingdom of Hungary. The castle was rebuilt in 1649 in the baroque style. Under Queen Maria Theresa, the castle became a prestigious royal seat. In 1811, the castle was inadvertently destroyed and lay in ruins until the 1950s, when it was rebuilt mostly in its former Theresan style."