This is a time of real change in Bratislava. Not just the change as spring comes, the trees bud out, it becomes warmer and we spend more time outside enjoying the sun and flowers and trees blooming, although that is certainly part of it. No I am talking about the change in everyday things we see in the neighborhood.
One example is the food stall which was just outside the door to our apartment house. We passed it several times a day every day as we came and went. It had a sign saying, in Slovak that it was open 24/7. We rarely saw anyone eating there and we never did ourselves, for good reason. It was a dingy, dirty, greasy little hole in the wall, with a glass window through which you ordered. It had a hand written sign saying, in English "hot dog, hot cat, hot horse". I never knew if that was a joke or a menu and did not want to find out. Well, about three weeks ago it closed, all of the drinks vanished from the softdrink machine and it looked deserted. Shortly thereafter, a group of workmen came in and ripped everything out, including the walls, floor and front window. Then men who looked like architects came in, with plans in hand and had long consultations with others. Shortly thereafter, wiring went in on the bare studs and lots of stainless steel and white formica came in followed shortly by lots of new stainless steel ovens, grills, refrigerators. A new glass front and glass door arrived. It is not operating yet, but they are moving quickly.
That is true of most renovation in Bratislava. The workers start early and stay until late at night.They work 7 days a week. Christmas was the only day when work seemed to stop on some construction. Tomorrow is Easter, a huge Slovakian holiday and I will watch to see if work continues. [Easter addition: yes, workmen were at work at about 8:30]
On my five to six block walk to the University, I pass four or five buildings which are being renovated. Workmen seem to be working all the time but little progress is being made and then suddenly, things are done and buildings start to be occupied. Last week a new Billa (a European supermarket chain) went in about three blocks from us. Some of the buildings being renovated, although terribly dilapidated, were at one time beautiful art deco buildings which hopefully will reflect the original beauty.
It has been a very busy time over the last month. We have had a lot of very welcome visitors and done a lot of traveling. Rachel and Casey were here until a few days ago. Nancy, Susan's sister was also here and Lelia and Grady, my sister and brother-in-law, are arriving tomorrow. We went to Budapest twice in a week, once with Rachel and Nancy and again the following weekend to visit Hungarian friends who had invited us to visit and see a concert with Nigel Kennedy during the Budapest Spring Music Festival. We went to Budapest on Saturday, returned to Bratislava on Sunday, grabbed different bags and went to Vienna with Casey. I had an invitation to participate in a moot International Arbitration, which had 179 law schools from all over the world participating. Back to Bratislava on Monday, and then I returned again to Vienna again on Tuesday. Whew!
