Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, a pretty city on the
banks of Danube, only 60km from Vienna in Austria. It was behind the Iron Curtain, then it became one of the main centres of the ani-communist velvet revolution in tha late 1980's. It has emerged as a very prosperous and active commercial, academic and cultural centre. We loved the street sculpture, like this man emerging from the underground system.
Bratislava is the home of the famous fine Herend porcelain, which filled the windows of many of the enticing shops, in the quaint and colourful old town area. Swarovski crystal is also found here, although it originates in Bohemia. We could not resist some small crystal earrings here.
There has been much restoration and rebuilding of damaged buildings,but it is a bit sporadic, as this photo shows.
Throughout central Europe we saw groups of people begging. Often they are gypsies from Romania , or Albania. Some are genuinely poor and displaced but our guide spoke of organised Mafia style gangs . The people are being driven to 'work' the streets and picked up afterwards. This little family group were singing under an archway with great enthusiasm and people were happily giving them money. Another time, we saw a gang with a mother, two teenage daughters and a baby, going up and holding the baby out , and asking for money in a pleading manner . Later we saw them again sitting, eating and laughing. Once on a train, a gipsy left a scrap of paper on the table in front of each passenger. It asked us not to be prejudiced against gypsies, who are simply trying to make a new life in a new land. It is hard to know who to believe.
Bratislava is the home of the famous fine Herend porcelain, which filled the windows of many of the enticing shops, in the quaint and colourful old town area. Swarovski crystal is also found here, although it originates in Bohemia. We could not resist some small crystal earrings here.
There has been much restoration and rebuilding of damaged buildings,but it is a bit sporadic, as this photo shows.
Throughout central Europe we saw groups of people begging. Often they are gypsies from Romania , or Albania. Some are genuinely poor and displaced but our guide spoke of organised Mafia style gangs . The people are being driven to 'work' the streets and picked up afterwards. This little family group were singing under an archway with great enthusiasm and people were happily giving them money. Another time, we saw a gang with a mother, two teenage daughters and a baby, going up and holding the baby out , and asking for money in a pleading manner . Later we saw them again sitting, eating and laughing. Once on a train, a gipsy left a scrap of paper on the table in front of each passenger. It asked us not to be prejudiced against gypsies, who are simply trying to make a new life in a new land. It is hard to know who to believe. 
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