Last night, we had to leave our romantic anchorage late—Gabčíkovo lock insisted.
Luckily, we found a small, deserted marina nearby—most likely still empty because the boating season hasn’t really started yet.
But all these little stories pale in comparison to the Danube itself. The way the river changes after Austria—and even after Vienna—is astonishing. In Bratislava, the river pulses with life: restaurants, cafés, clubs line its banks. While natural access to the water is rare, the river still feels present in the city.
Beyond Bratislava, a new dimension opens up. The Danube suddenly has so much space and strength. We see an abundance of waterbirds, and it feels almost oceanic here. In less than 100 kilometers, the river has transformed completely—making the Austrian stretch feel small and tamed.
But later in the day, the landscape shifts once more. The Danube narrows, the wild expanse fades—but the impression of its vast power lingers.
