The morning started in the best hostel I’ve ever been to.

It happened to be located in Vienna.

It was there that I met Coco Chanel, a vibrant character from the Netherlands who you’d put your money on in a fight against a stingray.

Not that she’d be caught throwing hands with one, but that she has enough sassiness to dispel even the most sassy of creatures.

The travel day kicked off as it often does, in the embrace of a FlixBus chair – glorious.

1 1/2 hours later, Bratislava was all mine.

A quaint, quieter, and less pristine version of Prague. Apologies for the comparison Bratislava.

After buying my second bottle of water that day from the bus stop, and trying once again (and failing) to say thank you in Slovak, it was time to climb.

45 steps later and I was sat on a patch of grass recovering from the heat and backpack induced exercise.

The castle had one or two English descriptions placed around the grounds.

Enough to flame the inattentive garrisoned solider who caused a fire that destroyed the castle.

Nice.