We are finally in Bratislava, Slovakia, after two tedious days of travel, three flights, and two bus rides. At 4:30 AM, we departed CSS to Denver International Airport and a flight to Atlanta. After a 3-hour connection in Atlanta, we flew to Paris, and were pleasantly surprised to find a vast selection of movies in our headrest screens. Our 8-hour flight was thus no trouble at all. After sprinting through Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris, we boarded an 3-hour flight to Vienna, Austria. Upon landing in Vienna, we took an hour on a bus to Bratislava, Slovakia, our final destination.
We checked in at the Hotel Astra, where we are staying, and proceeding to tour Bratislava. Assisted by our incredibly helpful high school guide, Sasha, we visited the city's central square as well as the Danube River. Small shops lined the plaza, and a small, beautiful park full of fall-coloured trees provided valuable relaxation after our journey.
The juxtaposition of communist history and modern economic development seems to be present everywhere in Bratislava, where Warsaw Pact concrete architecture frequently gives way to modern malls and business centres. The fascinating pre-Cold War historical buildings contribute to an interesting balance in the atmosphere.
Visiting the Danube River, we were all impressed by the level of historical significance the mighty river possesses. The former boundary of countless empires, it is the longest river in Europe, and now serves as a major trade corridor for Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria.
Tomorrow we begin council! We are all very excited.