There is admittedly not much subtle about it: nigh-on m of steel and glass jutting out of an already prominent forested ridge that itself sticks up another m above the city, and visible from pretty much everywhere in Greater Bratislava — oh, and Eastern Austria too. But engaging in the obvious never seemed to be a problem for the majority of people — and certainly not for the majority of tourists — before. Well watch me. I have. And even for those visitors that would not go quite so far in their commendation, heading up here is well and truly cemented in the top ten best things to do in the Slovak capital — quite possibly the top five.
For a full year of living under its steely gaze, I had known, pretty much, what there was to see and do there.
I had jogged around it. I had embarked on some great hikes from it. But at best I had viewed it as, well, the way most people tolerate TV masts in beautiful forests, with reluctant tolerance and a faint wish that it had either not been constructed or at least been constructed in a nobler architectural style.
The TV mast stands on the highest natural point around: a tree-coated m-high hill which would not — were it not for the m-high tower on top of it — afford any views whatsoever.
And even the brasserie here — poised m up the tower — is at m without contest the best viewing point for a very, very long way. A pretty waitress tries to tempt you to stay and have a drink here, but there is no real reason to succumb. You want to go to the lift straight ahead. Press C to go to the Altitude Restaurant which revolves, Goodamnit, brilliant! Not because its food or drink are significantly better than at the Altitude Restaurant or the lobby bar.
