One never knows what can happen when travelling abroad, so when we arrived in Bratislava one sunny Friday morning, we had no warning that we would be joined by 27 heads of state and a flotilla of secret security personnel. Convening for the Bratislava Summit to discuss the present state of the EU following Brexit and to discuss a common future, we found Slovakia's capital city almost entirely empty as most were told to avoid the city centre while the conference was underway in Bratislava's Medieval Castle standing high on the hill overlooking the Old Town and winding Danube. In the midst of the temporary mayhem, Bratislava is charming with an old town full of narrow pedestrian cobblestone streets of pastel-coloured 18th-century buildings, lovely cafés and verdant bicycle paths that weave along the Daube.
Walking up from the waterfront there was a massive police presence
Tanks and security personnel were positioned throughout the core of the city
The city was closed to traffic and residents were given the day off to keep the area clear
As we strolled through the Old Town, there were more locals wandering around enjoying the warm day
Neighbourhood cafés, cobblestone streets and charming squares animate the Old Town
Bratislavian fellow watching activities in the square below
The market area in the town square
Portable coffee stand with modern espresso maker and old vintage radio
Wooden toys on bouncy springs in market
Slovakian dried fruit garlands in Hlavne Namestie, Bratislava's main square
Maximilian Fountain also known as Roland's Fountain, is topped by a statue of Maximilian II,
the king of Royal Hungary, to provide a public water supply since 1572
Detail of the fountain with peeing cherubs
Schokocafe Maximilian with mobile news posters decrying Erdogan's purges
Crazy water misters were installed around Bratislava to provide some reprieve from the heat
Čumil the Sewer Worker is perhaps the most photographed bronze sculpture in Bratislava
The clock tower of the Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall
Ornate carved wooden door of the 17th-century Holy Saviour Church
on the Franciscan Square in the Old Town
We walked through the old quarter enjoying the beautiful day
Movie Theatre on Hviezdoslav Square
Bridget Jones film in Slovakian
Ganymede's Fountain in front of the old National Theatre
Zylinder Café
The cousin of the French croissant, the Italian cornetto and the Austrian Kipferl, the Slovakian Rozky crescent-shaped pastry filled with walnuts or poppy seeds
Created in the 16th century, the Rocky is a popular mid morning treat with coffee
A shot of strong Slovakian coffee, and we're on our way
The pretty tree lined cobblestoned promenade of Hviezdoslav Square
The 9th-century Bratislava Castle, whereto EU Summit was taking place this day with 27 heads of state including Italy's Matteo Renzi, Germany's Angela Merkel and France's Francois Hollande
Police watching activity on the Danube and the area around the castle
A picturesque restaurant on the leafy square seems like the perfect place to have lunch
Little boy playing in the park across from the restaurant
Too sweet for words
The modern open air exterior of Kogo Mediterranean Restaurant in the historic centre of Bratislava overlooking Hviezdoslav Square
The beautiful outdoor tables of the restaurant on the cobblestone promenade of Hviezdoslav Square
The menu featured Italian and Mediterranean cuisine
Warm garlic bread twists, ciabatta and Slovakian rye bread
A Slovakian 2015 Pinot Blanc
Cold, dry and delicious
Carpaccio di Manzo with parmigiana, arugula and pine nuts
Grilled Avocado with Poached Prawns, Cherry Tomatoes and Basil Pesto
Grilled Spicy Shrimp alla Diavola
Tuna Nicoise Salad
Sautéed Spinach with Ricotta and Peperoncino
Salted Caramel Gelato
After lunch we were allowed to go back to the ship which had been blocked by the police for a few hours due to the EU heads of state taking a Luncheon cruise down the Danube
Police were stationed on and around every bridge in Bratislava
Security helicopters whirled overhead watching for suspicious activity on the Danube
Armed security speeding by watching our boat
Dozens of Zodiac inflatable rafts patrolled the water as the EU Summit boat with the heads of state approached and passed right in front of our cabin balcony
EU leaders aboard the Regina Danubia flanked by a flotilla of waterborne security
make their way ups the Danube and towards our ship
The ship pass right in front of us and they return from a two-hour working lunch cruise to discuss relations with Britain once it jumps ship from the European Union
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