Christmas present ideas from The Slovak Spectator staff

Even in under-commercialised Slovakia, Christmas "shopping madness" is a fact of life in December. With only ten days to go before Christmas, most shops are open until the late evening hours. Some are even open on "zlatá nedeľa" ('golden Sunday'), December 19th, which means that everything you still want to buy will have been sold out an hour ago.
To help protect readers from such disappointments, The Slovak Spectator has prepared a list of Christmas gift ideas and where to find them. Good luck!
Jelka, art director, sour milk lover. "For my mother I will buy a nice silk scarf, hand made. I want it be very special."

Even in under-commercialised Slovakia, Christmas "shopping madness" is a fact of life in December. With only ten days to go before Christmas, most shops are open until the late evening hours. Some are even open on "zlatá nedeľa" ('golden Sunday'), December 19th, which means that everything you still want to buy will have been sold out an hour ago.

To help protect readers from such disappointments, The Slovak Spectator has prepared a list of Christmas gift ideas and where to find them. Good luck!

Jelka, art director, sour milk lover. "For my mother I will buy a nice silk scarf, hand made. I want it be very special."

Ivan, staff writer and jazz fan. "Actually, I don't like mundane, daily use presents such as shoes, coffee machine or silver. I rather prefer presents which have a special meaning, remind you of somebody. A good book or a CD or a sex-toy is what keeps your relationship special. What kind of love do you feel in a pair of shoes?"

Alica, graphic designer and connoisseur of bananas in chocolate."A couple of my friends will be getting nice old books and old city drawings from a second hand bookshop or small sculptures from Dielo art shop."

Jozef, financial assistant and peanut-butter lover. "Last year I bought a toaster for my parents. This year it will be a microwave oven and for each of them one copy of the Spectacular Slovakia 98 travel guide. Then I don't have to worry about it any more."

Tom, editor-in-chief and this year's Scrooge. "Christmas is a drag without something to drink. New Year's is a drag with or without. But with alcohol on your breath you can at least pretend you're having fun."

Soňa, culture editor and sun worshipper. "My sister will get a simple silver ring from designer Daniel Brunovský, from the Dielo art shop. For my boyfriend's nephew, it will be cute toys made from coconut wood - animals and fruits from the Alena decoration shop and children's cap from Benetton. For my grandmothers I will buy a decorated English-style pillow at Anna &A."

Rick, publisher and chocolate fiend " This year Iwanted buy small presents as I will be flying home and it's very difficult to keep big presents safe. So I bought some small paper and wooden presents from the In-Vivo decoration shop. Also, I managed to buy some beautiful crystal glasses in Trenčín for my girlfriend."

Slávo, staff writer and coffee maniac. "My small son Matúš for his third Christmas will get a Lego backhoe."

Raluca, sales director and flower lover. "I would be surprised not to get some nice golden earrings or a ring. I love such presents."

Nataša, financial director and choir singer . "Perfumes and designer accesories are always a good choice."


* Twiggy(alternative clothing store), Klariská 7, Tel.: 5333-806, open Mon-Sat 10:00-14:00, Sun 14:00-19:00.
* Art Fórum (bookshop), Kozia 20, Tel.: 5441-7232,
* Ex Libris (bookshop), Michalská 4, open Mo-Sun 10:00-18:00,
* Bonton Land (music megastore), Michalská 25, Tel.: 5443-1985.
* Steiner Antiques, Ventúrska 20, open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00,
* Dielo, Nám. SNP 12, Tel.: 368-648
* Dunaj Store(electronic equipment), Nám. SNP, open Mon-Fri daily 10:00-18:00, Sat-Sun 10.00-16:00.
* Vínotéka of St. Urbán, Klobučnicka 4, open Mon-Fri 10:00 to 18:00, Sat 10:00 to 14:00
* Dielo(see Alica)
* Anna&A, Ventúrska 14, open Mon-Fri 10:00-18:00, Tel.: 5441-1654,
* Alena, Panská 13, Tel.: 5441-9126,
* Zerodorici of Benetton, Laurinská 9, Tel.: 5443-3282
* Peac, (crystal shop in Trenčín), Mierové námestie 24, Trenčín, Tel.: 0831-430-293, * In-Vivo, Panská 13, Tel.: 5441-9534, open Mon-Sun 10.00-18:00.
* Dráčik toy shop, Poštová 4, open Mon-Sat 8:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-15:00.
* Sheron Jewellery, Laurinská 19, Tel.: 4432674, open Mon-Fri 10.00-19:00, Sat 9:00-18:00, Sun 11:00-18:00.
* ICC Parfuméria (thirty world brands including Esteé Lauder or Yves Saint Laurent) at the Dunaj store (see Jozef),
* Lea Fekete, Michalská 7, Tel.: 5443-3220, open Mon-Fri 11.00-18:30, Sat 10:00-13:00, Sun 15:00,
* Christie, Michalská 7, Tel.: 5441-3978, open Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00.

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