MY LATEST TRIP: MOMENTS, TASTES, SCENES, ARCHITECTURE, PEOPLE AND MORE... #7

Introduction to Bratislava series that will be posted as soon as possible

# 1. BRATISLAVA: THREE VISITS, EACH ONE AT A DIFFERENT AGE

Last July, I visited Bratislava for the third time. I was there in 1968, at a time of great turbulence, as the city had been occupied by Warsaw Pact troops, after the unsuccessful Czechoslovak attempt to liberalise the Communist regime. Shortly after, it became capital of the Slovak Republic.

                                       

                                 

Many years later, in 2008, I went to Bratislava again, but Slovakia hadn't joined the Eurozone, yet. Of course, hardly could I recognize the city, apart from a very few spots. Everything was tremendously different for much better...

One year later, the country became full member of the European Union. Since then, I started being interested in observing the impact of the Euro currency both in the city and its people's daily lifestyle.

In July, I noticed the enormous and evident effects... far and beyond what I had expected... The face of the city has changed drastically. Luxury towers have sprung up throught the city's more affluent areas, a stroll down the Danube river revealed high-rise buildings, a very big shopping mall, hotels, etc., all seeming to be giving a big hug to the Old Town. For better or for worse? I don't know... perhaps still early to know... the future times will give me the answer...

The newest shopping mall

Slovak National Theatre (1986-2007) by architects Martin Kusý, Pavol Paňák and Peter Bauer has a capacity for 1700 spectators at a time in its three sections - opera and ballet, drama and studio. Its construction was interrupted for several years after1989. Some years later, leading red necks have even considered the possibility of its transformation into a mall.

Hotel and office/appartment buildings

Academy of Science block houses and Riverpark

It reminds a ship, doesn't it?

The polemical "Gloria" designed by architects Peter Gal and Juraj Furdik- one of  the tallest (100 m) apartment buildings in the city

The eccentric Hotel Spirit - according to AOL Travel Guide it is one of the fourteen ugliest hotels in the world - is certainly spirited and would make even Picasso roll over in his grave...

 Bratislava has a multitude of cafes, bars and restaurants of all kinds. On warm days, many of these have an outdoor seating section in the street that bustle with life and give Bratislava city a unique and cozy feeling.

The sculpture I had seen in 1968, I found it, by chance, at a small square in the Old City.

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~~ Have a great weekend ~~