Sign in with Facebook
5 Stars - 152 Opinions
Cajovna Pohoda - Bernard Beer (2010)
Central Square, Bratislava, SK
shopping the booths
Bratislava
I would like to know more about the different languages which were or are still spoken in Slovakia and Bratislava and maybe something about the history, why it's a multilanguages country. Thanks :-)
This is not a question one can answer without ugly political fight breaking out instantly.
Let's skip the full answer - for the sake of VT remaining peaceful.
Let's be positive. I like to drive all over Slovakia, it's a nice place to drive. My car has U.S. license plates (not Hungarian ones), the Slovak police is very polite and helpful. I always use American passport if in Slovakia, it does states that I was born in Russia - and that makes things even better.
My wife also has American passport, she was born in SouthEast Asia (while her Hungarian parents were on diplomatic service). We do NOT like to mention in Slovakia that any of us has any Hungarian roots at all. For them we are a Russian-Indonesian couple from America, makes many things much better than if we would tell the true story :(
Have you tried checking out a good encyclopedia?
Nice one Gyuri! :)
>>>Nice one Gyuri! :)
:(
And since our kids were born in the States - in presence of any Slovak official we just speak English... you never know, better safe than sorry... :(
You can find some info on the town's history here, for example:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bratislava#History
Hi Judith, national language in Slovakia is Slovak language of course. But not only Slovaks live in our country and so Hungarian, Ruthenian, German, as well as Romany is spoken here. Most people living in Bratislava before WWII were multilanguage - they spoke Hungarian, Slovak, German, and I guess some of them Jewish too.
It is not a rule today. Hungarian and German are not too widely spoken now. Younger people can usualy speak English.
"something about the history" :-) Bratislava territory has been settlemented almost continually since prehistory, first Slavic tribes have come to our area in 5-th century. Slavics were not alone who came here and so the history is full of fights. Squabbles with Hungarians have still been hanging on - fortunately without guns.
... oh yes Gyuri - roots - I do have Hungarian one too :-)
i am an american living in bratislava and yes, a half day is plenty enough to visit here. Although the old town is very charming and quaint, the rest of the city is hideously ugly in that communist style of architecture. Getting here by train from vienna is very easy. If you need further tips on where to go/what to see/what to do, let me know, i'd be happy to help out! ciao mike
This is the main information office in Bratislava. you can get all kind of informations from here. They also arrange accomodations for tourists. They have contact with Bed & Breakfast people and they charge you 50 K their comission.
I got a a B&B but did not like it and the money gone in the bin.
Old town is a pedestrian area, with lovely colourful facades, broad squares (especially the main square), but also narrow, charming streets.
It's a typical Austrohungarian architecture style of the city.
I have put the tips on the sights in the order of reaching the Old Town Square from the east, heading north after the seen the square, following the streets towards the direction of the castle. If you want, you can then take a bus from the Novy Most (New Bridge) bus station.
I walked the itinerary in a slow pace, sitting in the sun both here and there. That way it took just over half a day, including lunch.
Just up the street before Hlavné námestie (Main Square) is another statue, this one of a goateed, smiling man waving his top hat. This is Schöne Nazi, which means "Handsome Ignatius". He was a real person who was locally famous for strolling the Korzo (a promenade stretching from Michalská brána to Hviezdoslav Square). He appears quite friendly and jolly, but he was actually somewhat disturbed because of a trauma he experienced. He had a fiancée before German troops came in World War II, but the fiancée was deported to a Nazi Concentration Camp where she died. He never recovered mentally from this and he never married. He just strolled the Korzo and smiled and ate his cake in the shops, and then died completely forgotten.
Latest Bratislava hotel reviews
Sponsored Links
Comments