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Capital: Bratislava
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I was particularly interested to visit Bratislava because the Slovaks opted out of Czechoslovakia in 1993 because they felt that Prague's centralizing tendencies were threatening their distinct cultural identity. That past situation was very similar to that of Quebec in Canada today, where the federal government's increasingly centralising policies cannot, in my view, lead to anything else than a rupture. For me the real question is weather the parting will be negotiated in a civilised manner as it was here or weather it will be violent as most national liberations have been. Time will tell... |
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Home away from home, the YMCA where I had a very small room for 23 US$ per night, which is still quite cheap for Europe.
The Slovak National Theatre on Hviezdoslavovo námestie (square) named after Pavol Hviezdoslav a popular 19th century poet who contributed to the emergence of a Slovak (slav) national consciousness after 900 years of Hungarian (finno-ugric) domination.
Amusing bronze sewer cleaner called "Cumil", on the corner of Panská & Rybárska brána (streets).
Another interesting sculpture on Rybárska brána.
Old Town Hall and Roland's fountain on Hlavní námestie.
Courtyard of the Old Town Hall.
Below, Michaelska street with Michael's Tower on the left and on the right, the narrow Frantiskanska street (whose name was provided by a helpful Slovak viewer by e-mail because I had not noted it).
Further down, Church of the Holy Trinity on the left and quaint house between the narrow Mikulasska street going up to Bratislava Castle and the broad Staromestka avenue leading to the new bridge.
Bratislava Castle.
Below on the left, the east bastion of the castle's defences looking over a lovely bronze that had no nameplate and a view on St Martin's Cathedral from the castle's garden.
The new bridge (Novy Most) built across the Danube in 1972. There is a restaurant on top of its central tower.
The houses lining Staromestka Avenue are quite new but they have been built in the same traditional style as those that had to be demolished to open the avenue to the bridge.
The Slovak National Parliament, it is modest but nevertheless the pride and joy of a nation finally free to determine its own destiny after centuries of foreign domination.
