Why is it that...?

Introducing a new segment of my blog! My mind is constantly racing with questions about a variety of topics. In an effort to possibly answer some of them, I am going to post them here so that you, as my loving readers, may share your insights or mutual confusion.

NUMBER ONE!

Why is it that when you introduce alcohol into a typically "unpopular" activity (according to personal standards) it immediately becomes much more interesting?

NUMBER TWO!

Why is it that minority groups in a country are usually the most brash in recognizing beauty in women on the street?

NUMBER THREE!

Why doesn't America just SUCK IT UP and create a universal COMPREHENSIVE sex education programme? Less illegitimate kids...less welfare, and celebrity nonsense.

More to come :)

Going to the Dark Side...

Last night my friends and I went to see the new Batman movie, The Dark Knight. I had been a real fan of the first instalment, Batman Begins, especially since it had come at a really dark time in my life where I wasn't really sure what I was doing and who I could trust.

I appreciate the cinematography and production of the film because it takes the story farther away from the hokey-ness of the other comic book inspired films like Spiderman, and tries to fully embody the original purpose and creation of the main character. Batman, a la Bruce Wayne, is a dark, twisted and haunted person. It is difficult for someone with these attributes to be a real hero. He is constantly battling his inner demons by attacking those that are present in his reality.

Ok, enough of my psychoanalysis of a fictional character.



THE MOVIE WAS GREAT!

I was constantly fidgeting in my seat, grabbing Anki's arm, and making mental comments like "My God, Christian Bale looks amazing with his shirt off". The late Heath Ledger also gave an incredible performance, completely embodying the disconnected and diabolical Joker. There were plenty of twists, and even some recognizable characters from the cartoon that I used to watch! The question is, who will be his arch nemesis in the next round?

Sand Withdrawl...

During part of my ongoing nomadic lifestyle I chose to live in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the weather is warm, the beach is public, and the bbq is always tasty. I was spoiled during my stay there. My condo development had a pool and my boyfriend lived STEPS away from the ocean. I spent the majority of my time soaking up rays and digging my toes in the sand (in between the 2 jobs I was working, of course). What a wonderful combo for self preservation in a time of uncertainty. I've discovered that I have always lived by a substantial body of water (some more substantial than others, but if it would take me awhile to swim across, or if I can't see the other side, I won't make a fuss). That is, until I moved to Bratislava, Slovakia.

"But, don't you have the Danube River?" you ask?

Have you SEEN the Danube?

While functional in terms of transport of people and goods, you DO NOT want to swim in it. Trust me.

However, the good people of the Municipality of Bratislava teamed with T-Com to create what is known as "T-Com Beach", which I have referenced before in this very blog. It rests on the Petrzalka side of the river in between Novy Most and Stary Most (literally, New Bridge and Old Bridge...man, those Communists were creative!) with a strip of beach, sand volleyball courts, exercise equipment, bocce ball courts, a bar, ice cream stand, and lounging areas complete with media. The only thing we are missing is the pool. There is nothing like laying your towel in the sand and watching the sun reflect off the water while you listen to the waves lapping at the shore. The Danube is way too murky to reflect anything, and the current is so strong that the water can't even think about getting cozy alongside the bank.



I do however enjoy lounging there. Not only is it a place for me to remedy my pasty pasty skin condition and need to feel sand in between my toes, it's also great for people watching! People of all different economic status, culture and nationality congregate there. Plus, unlike other modern European conveniences like public bathrooms, you do not have to pay to be there!

My next adventure will be to the lakes, like Čuňovo and Zlaté Piesky. At least then I will have the option of swimming.

Moment of Peace

Quote of the Day from Part 1 of the Triple Threat Leaving Party (Anders, Dom, Vaida)

"It tastes like Christmas!" - Anders, trying to explain to us what kind of herbs are used in making the Czech liquor, Becherovka.

One year later...

He still wants to be my boyfriend. Who knew?!?!?

As a surprise he sent me a bouquet of beautiful Oriental Lillies. Only some of them had bloomed when they arrived on July 10th, so I've been enjoying them ever since. I had put them in water in my kitchen before we had left for Prague that weekend, and when we returned I opened the door and BOOM. THE SMELL OF FLOWERS. It was great :)






Thank you Matthew. I love you.

Upon reflection...

I decided that ONE post for 2 WEEKS worth of touring is not enough. Therefore, I am devoting one whole post to the food we tried while there. Yes. That is very characteristic of me. I'm glad you've been paying attention.

This was my Ahi Tuna at Chez Marcel in Prague. It was SOOOOO GOOOOOOD. They also gave me hearts of palm, which are one of my favorite things.



In honor of July 4th, we went to a place called ALFA to get RIIIIIIBS. Look at this platter! They only came in 1/2 and full Kilos. Wow. There were lots of great sauces, potatoes, and bread too. We were all stuffed at the end. There were Americans, Danish, French, English, and Slovaks present. What a way to celebrate.



This is me buying some fresh veggies and fruits at the market that is right across from my house. The people are super nice, and were enthralled by the fact that we were American, and that I have been working here. They told me my Slovak pronunciation was good. Ultimate compliment, since it came from someone I didn't even buy goods from.



Preparing the food in my NEW KITCHEN!



At Hotel Sacher, looking forward to what was coming...



And we have!!! Wieners with house-made horseradish and dijon mustard. Spare me the jokes please. They were good, and we will leave it at that.



The famous Sacher Torte. Imitated, but never duplicated. It has been enjoyed by 4 generations of my family in that very spot :)



Gnocchi (self explanatory)



Grilled Goat Cheese at Mezzo Mezzo. The had run out of Bryndze...which is completely inexcusable since we were IN SLOVAKIA, and they could have just gone to TESCO. I may write a strongly worded email...especially because we were sitting there for 2 HOURS for a LUNCH. Ridiculous.



Satay. Tasty.

Picture Tour!

So! I have finally come down from the amazing visit from my parents. I know I wrote about some things, but I didn't have a chance to go too in depth because they had the camera! Therefore, I have downloaded all of the photos, and we are back in business. Below is a brief overview of what we did. If I put in anymore, I think I would go over my limit, and you would have to scroll too much. If would like to inquire as to the bulk of the trip, here is the list of things we did/places we went in no particular order:

-Prague
-Vienna (twice)
-Bratislava
-Piestany (which already has a post, but more pics are now available)
-Eat
-Trains trains and more trains

So, let's begin!

Where I work!!



All of the presents that they brought for me. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSS! TRISCUITS!!!!!!!!!



The "Lunch Crew" at Bagel Friday



This picture is for you, Uncle John.



The customary food pictures...

These we had at the Hotel Sacher (which happens to be famous for their chocolate torte...which we also had)



Food out of copper pots! It's a soup, and then an entree! The broth is the 1st course, and then there is a whole bunch of goodness at the bottom that you dish out. I wasn't there for that one unfortunately. Jon and Ed seem to be enjoying it though



Yum. Chocolate. That is all that needs to be said.



Good, cheap food in Prague, with accompanying beer. duh. and oh yeah, i eat like a european now! Take THAT international spy network!



Dad in front of Charles Bridge in Prague



The astrological clock!



Momma :)




Yurch (as my father would say)



Playing around on our way to the classical concert at the St Martin in the Wall church



The view of Devin Castle from the Danube River



photo op in Vienna




Mozart, with the appropriate landscaping



Thermia Palace!!!! We love Piestany :)



In front of the National Opera in Bratislava

Moment of Peace

Lying on a blanket in the Presidential Gardens, looking up to the sun and the sapphire blue sky, and seeing the outline of a hawk gracefully gliding through the air

Summer time in Piešťany

As I said in my post yesterday, my parents and I arrived in the spa town of Piešťany, greeted with colorful gardens, laughing children, and more amenities than anyone could ever wish for when they are away from home.



(me enjoying the comfort of a bed larger than twin size)

Piešťany is about 1 hour northeast of Bratislava, but the change in scenery is pretty stark. That may be because we are on a SPA ISLAND being treated to some of the most STELLAR SERVICE I have ever experienced. Upon arriving, we each receive keys to our room, which is on the 3rd floor overlooking the front courtyard. We unload our bags and head over to the IRMA spa complex where we are getting a free doctor's consultation and scheduling the 3 treatments included in our package. When we return to the room, we see that there is a bottle of wine, 2 bottles of sparkling water, an assorted goodie tray, and a personally signed letter from the hotel management. Oh right, I forgot to mention...I have the hookup with the main man of the Thermae Piešťany Spa complex. He is a member of the British Chamber of Commerce. I look to my parents, smirking, and say "Stick with me, kids. I'll take ya places". This obviously gets a laugh, since it is usually my father who is connected enough to get us personal recognition and treatment, and then there is my mother who is notorious for making friends wherever she goes.

Our experience thus far has been incredible. It is no wonder that there are more than 5 hotels in this one complex. The place is POPULAR, and for good reason! The staff is very obliging, the meals are put together nicely, the beds are comfortable, and....the treatments they offer are sinfully luxurious. As a part of our "Taste of Piešťany" package, we get 2 nights, half board (meals and stuff) and 3 treatments. A dip in the mineral bath, called the Mirror Pool, a massage, and a mud pack. We had the mud pack today :)

You walk into a room and sitdown, then a staff member knocks and politely asks you to strip and follow her to another bed, where she has rolled in two 5 gallon buckets of this dark brown, chocolaty looking mud, which she scoops out of the bucket and "slops" down on to the protective sheet. She smoothes it out and then tells you to park your keister right in it. Oh yes. It's warm too...and slippery :) So, you lay back into this wonderfully warm muck (muck doesn't do it justice, its like laying back into a dense frosting, enveloping yourself like a pastry) and she packs more around your hips, then wraps you up tight. For 20 minutes you are left to meditate, take a nap, and sweat like there is no tomorrow. I loved every minute of it! Then, you take a shower, trying to rinse off as much of yourself as you can without being able to see, and then she leads you back to the original room where you are left to soak in your experience while wrapped up tight like a burrito. Amazing.

After all that, my parents lounged by the pool and I got a haircut! It's been more than 6 months since my last one because I've been too nervous to get it done in Bratislava, for fear of a language barrier/international incident. I know that hair grows back, but the potential humiliation you face in the mean time is not something I'm willing to mess with. Needless to say, I am happy with the results. Just a trim to update my style, and get rid of the dead ends. That is what this trip is about...getting rid of the crap.

So, now my parents are back and its time for our 3:00 gelato break!!! I shall return tomorrow with more news.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles....

So for the past week I have been graced by the presence of my wonderful parents, Stuart and Kimberly. I find myself with a brand new enthusiasm for life when I have visitors from the homeland. It is so exciting because I get to experience things right along with them. As an employee in Bratislava, I don't get to do the touristy program, so when people ask me questions, I often don't know the answer. I have been extremely lucky however, because my boss has been generous in giving me time off while my parents have been here. She even gave me Tuesday and Wednesday completely off...and isn't counting those days towards my total!

Here are some things that I have discovered since the 'rents have landed:

-Flowers are cheaper in daily markets
-Slovaks are uncharacteristically friendly when they notice you speak/teach people Slanglish
-Trains are some of the most stressful and stress free modes of travel
-Food tastes better when you order it a la carte
-Jokes are funnier when someone (who is a native english speaker) is around to understand them
-International incidents make for great stories
-Mineral baths are more fun when your Mom is young at heart
-Sharing breathtaking views with people you love makes them that much more magnificent

We have been all over the Central European region. They arrived on the 3rd, then on the 5th we went to Prague for 2 days, then on the 8th we went to Vienna (we took a boat up the Danube!!!), then on the 11th we arrived in Piestany (a spa town 1 hour NE from Bratislava) Each place has represented new and exciting sights and a different experience. I've been to all of the places where we toured before (except Piestany), but I feel as if I got to see a completely different side of each place because my parents were with me. They are interested in a different type of program than my travel buddies are, and while there is some overlap, the ground covered is mostly new terrain.

Some of my favorite time with them is spent just lounging in cafes and restaurants, talking and observing the world around us.

Funny Story:

So my parents and I go to a place called Umelka, which is right on the edge of the river on the Bratislava side. They have different kinds of live music during dinner hours, and someone told us that Country Music was on Thursday, so of course we went because my parents have this thing about line dancing. (they are really cute together) Umelka specializes in grilled items so we got ourselves some kielbasa, cold cuts, salad, bread, and BEER. So far, during the course of the visit we have tried: Zlaty Bazant, Plzen, Krusovice, Starobrno, Gambrinus, Pilsner Urquell, Saris, and Kozel. Quite the different kind of tour around Central Europe. So, back to the story.

We are enjoying our food, and the band, which has 4 guys in it singing Country songs in Slovak (who knew they had country music?) We are swaying to the beat, and then my parents decide that they want to try out some of the dances they learned in their classes back in the US. I of course encourage them because I love watching them. They're just so good together :) It reinforces my belief in true love. So, they dance a couple of dances, then return to the table beaming from ear to ear. We are getting ready to go when a middle aged couple approaches us. Their English is limited, but between my pitiful Slovak and their attempted English, we find an understanding. They are complimenting my parents on their dancing, and are asking them to write down the steps to the dances so that they can do it too! Only to Stuart and Kimberly would this happen. In general, Slovak people are reserved towards people they are not familiar with. By doing a couple of line dances in front of a crowd, suddenly my parents are friends with everyone! My parents take them out of the dance floor, and start instructing :) They even switch partners so that they can show the other how the step goes. At this point I am in hysterics from joy. This is one of the best bridging of international differences I have witnessed.

Afterwards there is thanks all around, and they ask how much longer we will be in town, and we regretfully inform them that Wednesday is the end of the road, and we will be in Piešťany for the weekend. They are sad, but have their steps written down, and then they join my parents for one more dance, showing us some of their own steps that they learned in classes in Bratislava. That was one of the best nights I've had in Slovakia thus far.

Time flies...

WHEN YOUR PARENTS ARE IN SLOVAKIA!!!! I have been negligent..but the time that I have spent with them has been so refreshing! I love having visitors, because I get to explore the world around me.

In other news,

I HAVE INTERNET IN MY APARTMENT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An (early) Independence Day abroad...

So, last Saturday I went to AmCham's Independence Day party! I know it was a week early, but it was on the Castle grounds, so they might not have been able to swing it on the actual day. It was SO much fun. I was really proud of my heritage that day, watching them perform all of our usual festivities. I was actually able to get in for free because I offered to help with the set up!

Here is the old Western town that they set up. A couple of their Patron Members set up shop in these, handing out promo materials and providing games and things. It was a really cool concept.



Ha! As if! Although, that is almost what the prices are here in Slovakia ;).



This was my main duty...helping to put the signs on the cars for the parade! There were 18 different vehicles, plus a couple of motorcycles (Harleys of course). The drivers were really nice, and so excited to be receiving their candy to throw during the parade. There were classics, and even some modern cars, including a Jeep Wrangler, Grand Cherokee, an Escalade, and a red Corvette (please, don't refrain from breaking into song...you know you are a closet Prince lover)



The Excalibur :). It had Florida plates!!!



A row of hogs. I watched the guys ride in. Very noisy, and full of bravado. I guess that is what happens when you buy one of these things...instant machismo



The FIREWORKS! The company who AmCham contracted was called Pyra. How fitting! They did a great job on the display.



Uncle Sam on stilts! He spoke English and Slovak! Who knew that an American Patriot could be bilingual??



It was also Napoleon Day when I was helping pass out flyers and programs, so we could see this show going on right on the river! There were cannons and gun blasts, very dramatic. The best part though was the picture below. I have never seen anything like that...4 guys being taken away on ONE rope in a heliocopter...IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY! Daring, for sure. I don't even want to know what kind of permits you have to get.



Wow Dom, that is a BIG bite! He and I certainly enjoyed all of the food that was available. There were burgers, tacos, hotdogs, salads, fresh fruit, chili, mashed potatoes, grilled chicken...just to name some. I also indulged in some popcorn and cotton candy, something I haven't had in years!



Here are some photos from the parade! It was full of classic cars, majorettes, drummers, and CANDYYYYY!









Look out! It's the Po-lice! How they got an NYPD squad car, I'm not sure. I tend not to ask questions in these matters, because it might turn out badly for me.



Old School Fire Truck! It even had the tank of water in it! So cool :)



Any parade would not be complete without the Cheerleaders and Football team (we didn't have a band...too bad)



This one is for you Uncle Steve! It's the biggest John Deere combine I have ever seen. The guy who drove it was really nice, and Dom was asking all kinds of questions because his family is getting ready for the harvest back home soon.



This is our US Ambassador to Slovakia, Vincent Obsitnik. He was a good public speaker, and sounded much younger than he looks in all of his photos. He had on the cowboy hat, jeans, and boots to celebrate the day. He was born in Slovakia, but then moved to the States, so his appointment was seemingly appropriate. The jury is out as to whether people here are appreciating his efforts (from what I hear, his efforts include a lot of "family visits")



CAKE!! Just another form of temptation for me. It was delish too :). The frosting had banana and pineapple in it, I think. At the very least, it was very patriotic.



ABBA revival group! They kept saying weird things like "costumes, just like ABBA, 10 members, just like ABBA", but, there were only 9 people on stage. Sorry guys... but counting is pretty basic in all languages. The music was great though! I was even singing some of them in the shower this morning because I can't get them out of my head.




My friend Eva and me enjoying the festivities...right before the line dancing!!! Yes, I did it, and I dragged Dom up there with me. It was so fun! We did the Tahoe Kick. Anyone who wants to learn is welcome to ask ;).



Eva and Dom right before the FIREWORKS!!!! We staked out a spot on the blow up rock-climbing wall. Perfect for just laying back and enjoying the show.



Of course after the fireworks were over we had to revert back to childhood and play around. Do you know me at all?



The whole day was fabulous, and I even got to meet some more Americans! It was great to see how other people interpret our celebration style, and I think they combined all of the best parts!