Christmas market stalls on Bratislava's Main Square. (source: SME)
Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.
British newspaper recommends visiting Bratislava's Christmas markets
Christmas markets on the Main Square in Bratislava. (source: TASR)
Bratislava has appeared among the top 10 destination recommended by The Times of London to people seeking the best Christmas markets in Europe.
Ranking eighth, the newspaper highlighted in particular the wooden toys and culinary treats.
“Christmas in the Slovakian capital is a time of childlike wonder,” reads the website. “Fairy lights are draped around Christmas trees, while market stalls sell traditional wooden toys and handsome Christmas decorations. Foodie treats include pancakes, sausages and cakes.”
Cloud spectacle over the Tatras floods the internet
A lenticularis cloud over the Tatras (source: Facebook/Stanislav Yi)
The setting sun combined with an incoming flow of warm air brought an unusual spectacle to the High Tatra mountains on the evening of December 17.
A lenticularis cloud was visible over the Popradská Kotlina basin for several hours, formed on a wave generated by a northwesterly air flow through the Tatras, the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ) wrote on Facebook.
The cloud could be seen changing shape but remained anchored above the mountains throughout the evening. In combination with the evening setting sun, it turned red and created an unusual atmospheric theatre. The resulting images flooded social networks.
At the same time, fine visibility allowed people living in southwestern Slovakia to see the peaks of the Alps which, together with the surrounding clouds, cast a silhouette against the western sky after sunset, SHMÚ wrote.
Famous snow Nativity scene is now on display
The Nativity scene near Rainerova Chata. (source: Facebook/Peter Petras)
Visitors to the Rainerova Chata mountain hut in the High Tatras, not far from the Hrebienok resort, can once again see the local Nativity scene carved from snow.
Built by hut manager Peter Petras, it has become a traditional winter attraction. The very first one was built in 1998.
Work on the Nativity scene began in late November, but was complicated by warmer weather over the past few days. Still, Petras said he is glad they managed to complete it before Christmas, the TASR newswire reported.
The block of snow framing the Nativity scene is four metres high and 4.7 metres wide, while the arch containing the main tableau is 2.7 metres high, and the sculptures are about 1.8 metres high. Petras said he would like to add more snow sculptures during the winter season.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Medovníky, small biscuits sweetened with honey and a blend of spices, are everywhere in Slovakia around Christmas, from fancy decorated ones on sale at market stalls to simple treats in grandma’s kitchen.
Photographer Anton Sládek has been taking pictures of the Slovak capital for decades. He not only knows the streets of Bratislava by name, but he also knows when the light is best in them for photography.
John Boyd’s life is a reflection of his remarkable journey of self-discovery and impact. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, he moved to Slovakia over three decades ago.
Idona, a family business of the Zajko family, has produced furniture for several large hotels in Paris and throughout Germany. They even produced furniture for the iconic Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg.
A new tourist attraction has been created in Banská Štiavnica, using state-of-the-art technologies to visualise a long-defunct mining castle.
Political meme of the week
(source: SME/Rosie Naive Art)
Caption: Come on, let's go to the forest to get a tree, the penalty rates are favourable.
With this picture, artist Rosie Babicová, whose works can be found on the internet and social networks under the name Rosie Naive Art, comments on the proposed changes to the Criminal Code that would significantly reduce sentences for economic crimes.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
