Bratislava Thoughts

K. M. Schenk
Jul 28, 2017 · 3 min read
Bratislava Skyline

The winds move the water briskly. All over the surface there are patterns of water as it seems to fold upon itself. Once the water gets closer to the shore it spins around some of the rocks. The water appears like silk flowing through the air.

Only once a bird appears and flies just above the surface does the speed become clear as it fights to fly one way and is swept away another.

The sun as it sets illuminates the buildings of Bratislava gently, a blanket of warmth that slowly disappears, giving only the highest of buildings attention. Across the river are various boats and one blares vague and interchangeable techno beats from its surface.

It appears incredible that the city moves at all, it seems so peaceful at every place. Granted, it’s a Saturday, but if the tram even slows down for you, it’s as if the city itself is saying:

“Why the rush?”

A good question.

Even as I walked through the park, the arrangement of benches each facing another seemed odd. Why would you set it up like that, facing each other? Most of the time benches face outwards, towards no other. Few parks have benches facing another bench. They are like little islands, dotted around the place. But not here, not this little square of benches. No one was sitting on them, but there they were. I imagine they are great for families, you sit around one area and the kids frolic in between. A good overview.


The sidewalks were interesting, near the train station. University students tried to immortalize themselves on the concrete by putting their names on it. Celebrating their graduation. It is nice to see. A walk through the graveyard nearby seems on par in activity with the rest of the city. A man sitting on a bench, another runs through for a jog.

Everything is calm and peaceful on a weekend in Bratislava, all the locals leave. The rents are too high in the city, so the majority live in the suburbs, or even Vienna. Slovakia doesn’t have a lot of Slovaks, and they will become less. The majority leave for greener economic pastures, and with comparatively low Euro wages, and few young people at all, many leave. I liked the city, with the families and leisurely pace of living. On the surface of course. How it really moves, breaths and pulsates I will never really know. I only see a snapshot of the city. A brief moment in the 24 hours I am there.

No rush of course. Why would I? A lovely city.

Fox graffiti made during the Bratislava Street art Festival a year prior (?)
K. M. Schenk

Written by

https://www.facebook.com/kevin.matthew.schenk; @kmschenk; Writer, Artist, Corporate Lackey

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