A Few Facts

Dogs are the pet of choice. Lots of Yorkies and small to medium dogs - most people live in flats in these 7-10 story cement buildings. Pet owners are seen walking their little pooches in the morning and evening. I've seen dogs on the bus, but they always wear a muzzle and are leashed. It always makes me smile to see a dog outside a store with its leash hanging free but obediently waiting for his master to return. Not all pick up after their dogs, even though the city provides special bags just for this purpose. Here's a scan of the special doggie bag. It even has a piece of cardboard inside the bag which can be folded into a scoop......

Gasoline - Gas stations are just like we see in the US, with drinks and snacks available for purchase. Gas is sold by the litre and calculates to about $6.00 per gallon. Cars are smaller, for obvious reasons! Large SUVs are for the very rich or those with large families. Many "petro" stations have car washes attached.

Our neighborhood is typical of the middle-class in Bratislava. To many of our friends in the States, it would look like the inner city of Anywhere, USA, but our flat would sell for about $200,000. You could get a 0% mortgage to buy one, however. We have met nice children on the playground outside, mommies are strolling their babies on the sidewalks that are all around. The apartment buildings are typically surrounded by lots of "green space" - trees, large boulevards and frequent playgrounds for the kids. If only all the dog owners would pick up after their dogs!

Bus/trolley/tram transportation is also for the middle class. The buses come frequently and are rarely empty. We are paying about 75 cents for a one-way trip to downtown Bratislava which takes about 20-30 minutes. Justin rides for 1/2 price and Anya is free. They are comfortable most of the time, except when they are overcrowded. I hear the winter can be difficult riding on the bus because they are terribly overheated.

We are continuing to settle in. Many things no longer seem strange and our daily activities are becoming routine. I have successfully lit the oven, purchased bus tickets from the ticket window while speaking no Slovak, and taken a leisure trip to the Mall and Ikea with Anya. I feel comfortable walking around the neighborhood and the surrounding area. We took a trip to the mountains last weekend and visited a high mountain peak and another castle. I'll send a link to more photos in the next day or so.

For now - Ciao from Slovakia!
love,
Carolyn, Doug & kids