Bratis-WHAT!?

Wednesday, August 7th: Today officially marks one month since I first arrived in Europe, and each day continues to amaze me, with new experiences both positive and negative! I am on a train bound for Krakow right now with the realization that one week from today, I will be back in Berlin for one last day before flying home.

So, I arrived in Bratislava, capital of the Republic of Slovakia, on Monday August 5th, and like so many other of Europe's capitals, I fell in love with this city. It is very small, only slightly larger than Ljubljana, and sits in the shadows of two European bohemeths, Budapest two hours down the Danube to the east and Vienna, 45 minutes up the Danube to the west. Because of this, the city can be very easy to overlook and that would be a big mistake!

First off, Bratislava is really cute, very laid back, and people are incredibly friendly and self - deprecating. I told so many Slovakians how much I loved their city and they questioned why I would even visit. The old town city center has the feel of a small Prague, with people lining cafes at all hours of the day and night. Food and drink are FANTASTIC and CHEAP as well. Bratislava is known for a type of soda called Koffola which is basically a combo of coffee and Coca Cola and it is easy to find it on tap as frequently as you can find beers. Bratislava also has a beautiful castle overlooking both the Danube and old city center and the city is a mixture of old anx new.

When I was here, I just walked around and strolled though some cafes and restaurants. I managed to get a 7.5-mile run in as well before the thermostat hit 95. Finally, I did take a day trip back to Vienna just to walk around again, knowing it was only an hour away.  It was in Vienna where I had my worst experience with another individual as an Austrian openly trashed the United States, to the point it was insulting and offensive to me! I consider myself to be very progressive and not really patriotic, while also being open to a variety of opinions. However, this person accused me of being brainwashed and for brainwashing students I teach, ripped Secretary of State John Kerry, showed very little respect for American World War II vets, and was very dismissive to my opinions. Look, I know the US has its flaws, but it is still a fantastic country and I am grateful for the opportunities I have. Needless to say, between the conversation and the stifling 98-degree heat, I was ready to go.back to Bratislava.
Last night, I just stayed at the hostel, talked to people, did laundry and kept it low key. The reality is, today I start the part of my trip that is most important but one I have also dreaded.  By visiting Krakow, I am going to be doing a ton of Holocaust history, seeing Auschwitz and Schindler's factory, the old Jewish Quarter and then going to see where my grandfather, who is a survivor, grew up and then went into hiding and was ultimately almost killed near the end of the War. Krakow is also supposed to be one of Europe's best cities so this should be a real eye opener.