
Wednesday we catch the 9:40 am train from Budapest's Nyugati station. Before boarding we have a few minutes to share a langos with garlic, sour cream and cheese. Mmmmm.
It's a direct train from Budapest to Bratislava, which then continues on to Prague. For a while the train parallels the Danube and we see old towns on the riverbank and restored citadels on the top of hills. After 2 1/2 hours looking at the countryside through a light rain, our train pulls into Bratislava Hlavna Station.
We can't check into our hotel for 45 minutes and it's supposed to continue misting for an hour more so we find a small nearby restaurant for a beverage and relax until check-in time at the ApartHotel Virgo. We have a two bedroom apartment with a balcony looking over a courtyard. We don't plan to cook in the apartment, but it is nice to have the frig and kettle as well as the separate living space.
After climbing up cobblestone streets we arrive at the restaurant, Modra Hviezd. It is charmingly small, just a main bar / dining area and three small rooms which are really alcoves build with stone walls and curved brick ceilings. We're shown into an alcove. Fall is the season for duck, and roasted duck with buttery pancakes and red cabbage is a special. I can't resist but William is in the mood for beef and chooses a steak for his entree. After sitting and relaxing over a beer and glass of wine our entrees arrive, the duck with incredibly crispy skin and meat below that releases steam as I cut into it. William loves his steak with a delicious mushroom sauce and dumplings served on the side.