Family, Emperor, Peeper and Photographer
by CardinalBorusa
There are many statues in Bratislava, some serious and some not.
In namestie [square] SNP are three statues - a cloaked man and two women, in dramatic poses. Only from the front did we find that the man was brandishing a machine gun. This is the “Angry Family”, a monument to the anti-Fascist uprising which gives the square its name. Apparently, huge crowds assembled here in late 1989 for the collapse of Communism, and Slovak nationalists also gathered here in 1992 before the “Velvet Divorce” of the Czech and Slovak Republics.
On a lighter note, a Frenchman with a disturbing resemblance to Napoleon leans nonchalantly on a park bench in Hlavne namestie, the main tourist square. Elsewhere in the Old Town are The Photographer, a paparazzo forever frozen in the act of waiting for that perfect picture – he is cunningly hidden behind a pot plant – and The Peeper, a helmeted man peering out from under a manhole on Panska.
THOUGHTS FROM AN IMAGINATIVE MIND!
by lmkluque
Arriving at the Slovak boarder in an Austrian Taxi, a Mercedes, I was amazed to see the boarder guards with sub-machine guns! (Living in San Diego, I’ve crossed the USA/MEXICAN boarder many times and have never seen a gun toting guard on either side.) I was a bit nervous traveling into a Communist country as it was, and the heavy guns didn’t help calm me down!
The agreement with the taxi driver, was that she would procure a Slovak taxi for me—since I didn’t speak the language—and I would walk across the boarder so neither taxi driver would be subjected to a search.
I set my bag on a short wide wall in the inspection area and while the Customs Officer searched the car a head of me, I went to the Boarder Guard’s Booth to make the mandatory change of money. Just as the officer finished searching the car, I returned.
First thing I realized, he didn’t speak English—and I don’t speak Slovak. Hummmm—I opened my bag for his perusal. His kind, professional manner helped me to relax. His search was quick and competent and I was free to go. I got into the Slovak taxi and we drove off. My fondest of Bratislave was scary, exciting and pleasent.
It was five in the evening and my flight would depart at six, nothing to worry about, the airport was about five minutes away, the driver said.
I was enjoying the lights of the city until we turned into a dark side street! The taxi driver stopped in front of a Hotel type building with red banners hanging out side and a red carpet in the lobby, it reminded me of Nazi occupation I’d seen in WWII movies.
My imagination kicked in! Visions of being arrested and thrown into a gulag whirled through my mind and I wasn’t sure what would happen next.
Of course, the only thing that happened was that the taxi driver returned with his changed traveling papers and we drove straight to the airport.
We arrived and once outside of the taxi, I tried to ask the driver—in a-kind-of-sign-language—which way I should go to catch my flight.
He began to explain. Stopped. Picked up my bags and took me to the boarding desk. He went in front of the line of waiting passengers and insisted that the attendants take my bags—we were late and all the other bags had been loaded on the plane. He guided me to the departure room door and handed me his card, to call him upon my return for a ride back to the airport in Vienna. I gave him a very big tip and my heart felt thanks for his kindness, beyond the call of duty.
I was the last person admitted into the room. I took the very last seat left on that flight and flew off in that rickety plane to Kosice.
Architecture
by acemj
Outside of the Old Town, I noticed that the architectural gems are few and far between. Standing on a hill or in a tower, you can look in the distance and see a lot of Communist-era construction. The drab, block-shaped buildings don't do a lot for the eye, but once you turn your focus to the Old Town, you will be rewarded with a lot of beauty and charm. From the Primate's Palace to St. Martin's Catheral, you'll have plenty to choose from when it comes to interesting architecture.
Cokolada
by macicka
This is the place where you can have delicious hot or cold chocolate or just buy some bonbons...
They offer many types of chocolate, e. g. hot chocolate with chilli or with coconut or with many kinds of liquers...
It's not a pudding but a real chocolate. it's the only place in Bratislava where they offer "real" chocolate. That taste will make you want more and more...:)
If you want to taste it, go to Michalska street and look around:)
Trinity Church
by Skipka
Trinity Church or The Church of St. Mathe is another nice sightseen worth to see. Parish church of Trinity in Bratislava is the piece of architecture that belongs to the nicest and most valuable dominants of the city. The construction of it was in the hands of monks - trinitars. The first brick was laid down in 1717 and in 1725 it was ordinated. The idea of design comes from the Church of St. Peter in Vienna projected by Lukas Heidebrand. The distinctive are mainly three arcuat turned towers.
Nowadays there is also a small pastoration centre right next to the church, the olders (like me) remember that durign the socialistic period there was a bookstore where you should buy Russian books.
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Old Town, Bratislava, SK
Blue Church, Bratislava, SK
Bratislava (2010)
Bratislava
