Our guide this week: Peter sells Slovakian street paper NotaBene in the centre of Bratislava. Vendors are typically older unemployed men in insecure accommodation who have slipped through the cracks of state support.
Why I like to live here
In Bratislava there are good people I love and there’s always something going on. Tourists can enjoy castles with excellent wine cellars or the lookout tower from where they can admire the whole of Bratislava. You can see Petržalka, which was one of the largest communist settlements in Central Europe. I have lived in Petržalka for 13 years. Here we have Draždiak Lake (right in the middle of the housing estate). When it’s hot at weekends I go for a dip and get some vitamin D. There is a power line that runs over the lake. This gives the swimmers an extra dose of adrenaline! On the hill above town is Slavín, another relic of the communist past; a memorial to the fallen Soviet soldiers. From there is a great view of the city.
Don’t miss
At the end of September, White Night is a most beautiful night walk through the illuminated city. The streets are full of people and art. It is the largest and most visited art festival in Slovakia. The Good Market on Panenská Street is also an experience every September 15. You will find there quality homemade products and pleasant people.
Where to eat
Have lunch at Štefánka, where you can eat very well. It is an iconic place where bohemian artists and writers met in the past. Lunch is about six euro. Accommodation is recommended at the Pension Petit guesthouse, near my pitch, where they also have a good breakfast and lunch at great prices. For coffee, go to Panenská.
