Holy cow, I can’t believe it’s been just over 5 months since we crash landed here. Some days I absolutely love being here; on a perfect Bratislava spring day when I realize we are “Living In Europe”. Have I mentioned how gorgeous their spring is!? I know it sounds crazy, how spectacular can one season be somewhere else? I can’t quite explain it either, but something about the sunny, 70° weather in conjunction with the overly lush vegetation makes for very happy Slovaks. Not quite happy enough to smile about it, but I know it’s under there somewhere on days like this.
This is my morning commute to the bus stop.
I am beginning to understand their ways too. In Utah, people are polite and courteous to others getting on the bus (elevator, etc.) because there is plenty of room on the bus for the No You Go Ahead gestures. Here, you snooze you lose. On rare occasion, if you’re lucky enough to be on first, you can grab a seat of an off-going passenger. More though than just getting a seat for the bumpy ride (since the bus drivers here must all be new and not accustomed to their brakes), you could actually not make it on the bus because it is so full. Hey, I’m not afraid to admit I pushed over an old lady with a cane, I did what I had to do!!
Sometimes I forgot that I’m even in a foreign land. I am used to not knowing what any of the signs mean and I don’t hear the language babbling as much either. It’s actually quite shocking when I do hear someone speaking English and I know what they’re saying. The little things bring it all back though, like when someone asks if I want ketchup on my ham and cheese sandwich or spaghetti (and I though I loved this divine condiment), or if I want corn on my pizza. For the most part, they are a very fashion forward culture (must be the close proximity to Paris), but some of their fashions just kill me. Nylons and tights are HUGE here. Not just tights with skirts, actually, that’s quite rare. Usually though it’s either Daisy Dukes or just-below-the-knee rolled-up pants, both, with some type of leg wear; black, fishnet, bright pink, nude, those jazzercize ones that are kind of shiny… you name it, they wear it here. And it’s not the teenage kids trying to be different, it’s the professional women.
I know it stands without saying, but I love how central our location has been for traveling. Compared to Vienna, Budapest (and I can tell by the looks of Prague, which we are going to next weekend), Bratislava is the ugly runt of the group. It’s a beautiful city, but it really pales in comparison to it’s neighbors. It is the one trying to keep up with the Jones’. I wish we could explore some of these cities more, but at least we get to have a little sample of each one. Except for Vienna, it is too close and amazing to only go there once.
OK, so then what is so terrible about being over here? Nobody else is here.
What a beautiful walk to the bus stop – don’t be in such a hurry that you don’t enjoy that every day Chelsea. It is beautiful. I want to see your picture in the Daisy Dukes and hot pink !!!!!!!!! that fashion just sounds too funny. I guess to each their own.