Memories and hints of a travelling IT professional.
It looks like a flying saucer exploring Bratislava: the UFO (unidentified flying object). In fact it is part of the main bridge (Most SNP, bridge of the Slovakian national uprising) crossing river Danube close to the castle of Bratislava.
Continue reading “The UFO”
Slavín is a cemetery and memorial to the soldiers of the Red Army which freed the city in 1945. It is high upon a mountain close to the main railway station and can be seen from nearly everywhere in the town. Walking up there on hot summer days gives you the feeling of having smashed Nazi Germany on your own.
Continue reading “The Red Flag”
Close to Bratislava you can find a mountain range called the little Carpathians (Malé Karpaty) – a mountanous area filled with woods and grapevines. If you are comeing from Devín castle you can go northbound to Pernek and cross the Carpathians on a curvaceous road to Pezinok.
Continue reading “Malé Karpaty”
The castle of Devín (Theben) is some kind of national sanctuary to the Slovaks. It was the centre of power of the Great Moravian Empire, the first independent Slavian state. Today you can visit the remains of an old castle with a good touristic infrastructure.
Continue reading “Devínsky hrad”
A green Danube river, beautiful forests and swamps full of domestic animals – nothing at the point where river Morava flows into the Dunaj close to Devín could make you think about borders, escape and death.
Continue reading “The Iron Curtain”
Sarajevo is located in a nice valley between green mountains. To have a glimpse on the landscape you can get on top of the Avaz Twist Tower next to the railway station. It has been built from 2006 to 2009 and looks quite freaky with its twisted glass construction.
Continue reading “Avaz Twist Tower”
When coming to Sarajevo, people typically visit the old osman quarter (Baščaršija) first. Fair enough, because it might be the most beautiful part of the town and fascinates with its oriental atmosphere. A good starting point for this visit is the old city hall, built in 1892. You’ll find it close to the Miljacka river where Obala Kulina bana and Brodac streets cross.
Continue reading “The old city hall: A good starting point”
During the siege of Sarajevo especially the children became victims. Not only because they have been betrayed of an unburdened childhood but also, because often children playing in the streets where hit by shells and bullets. As stying inside was no guarantee for surviving, they tried to live a normal live, went to school and played on this unusual playground. The city of Sarajevo has therefore created a memorial in the Veliki park, close to Maršala Tita.
Continue reading “Memorial to the children of Sarajevo”
At the west-end of the Ferhadija a gas fire is burning. It reminds of the liberation of Sarajevo by the troops of Yugoslavia in World War II. It was ignited in 1946 and burned continous until 1992. During the siege natural gas was a scarce good and the termination of the fire was seen as a bad signal.
Continue reading “The eternal flame”
The old Osman quarter is the oldest and maybe the most beautiful place in Sarajevo. Here you’ll find narrow houses with all kind of shops, good restaurants and even the chance to smoke a waterpipe (Nagileh). The location was created in the middle of the 15th century as a trading spot. During the Osman reign it fastly became the central location for crafts and trading of different goods.