Bratislava (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.
Two Irish celebrities visit Bratislava
An adrenaline walk on a narrow window ledge around the UFO restaurant on the SNP Bridge, a speedboat trip, as well as a pottery class in Modra, wine tasting in Svätý Jur and a mud bath in Piešťany.
These are just a few of the attractions that two Irish celebrities – Mateo Saine and Neil Kenna from TV show First Dates – experienced as part of the High Road, Low Road travel show broadcast by Irish public broadcaster RTÉ. In the TV show, the two celebrities travel to the same location, but have different experiences: one has a luxurious five-star stay, and the other travels strictly economy.
“My first thought was like: wow, amazing,” Kenna, who received the high road golden ticket, told RTE Lifestyle after his trip. “Absolutely. 100 percent. Very lucky is what I thought, to get an opportunity like that.”
Saine said he “really enjoyed it”. “Every little thing that I did over here was magical I have to say – it really really was,” he added, as quoted by The Irish Sun newspaper. His favourite part was the walk around the UFO restaurant.
The show was watched by nearly 400,000 people, and the episode gained a 36 percent audience share in prime time. The episode was prepared in cooperation with Slovakia Travel, the national tourism promotion organisation, and the local tourist organisation, the Bratislava Tourist Board.
“Ireland is one of our target markets,” said Václav Mika, head of Slovakia Travel, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “Bratislava and its surroundings are attractive for tourists, and this is the way to catch their attention.”
A unique piece of history
British Ambassador to Slovakia Nigel Baker came to see the remains of the Mosquito aircraft. (source: Facebook/British Embassy in Bratislava)
British Ambassador to Slovakia Nigel Baker travelled to near Piešťany, western Slovakia, to see a unique piece of military history.
He came to see the remains of a de Havilland Mosquito, a British combat aircraft introduced during the Second World War that flew with the Royal Air Force. Part of 418 squadron, it was shot down over Piešťany in October 1944. The crew survived, and were then hidden by participants in the Slovak National Uprising (SNP). The crew later returned home safely.
The ambassador was accompanied by local historian Bohuslav Ferianc, who also mapped the event, the British Embassy in Slovakia wrote on Facebook.
Dogs save lives by giving blood, too
Dogo Argentino, illustrative stock photo (source: Pixabay)
Not only people can save lives with their blood. The same goes for dogs, which can also donate blood to save the lives of other dogs.
One such donor is Diba, a Dogo Argentino, who already saved five other dogs.
“Diba was an unwanted dog,” said her owner, Peter Kovalčík, as quoted by the TVnoviny.sk website. “Somebody just threw her out, probably because she is deaf.”
About 115 dogs have been registered at the Canine Blood Donors website. It contains a database where vets can find a suitable dog donor since there is no canine blood bank in Slovakia. The website also provides information on suitable donors and how blood donation operates.
“We believe that together we can create a community that will help save dogs’ lives,” the website reads.
Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:
Iryna Zinchenko had to communicate with Slovak people almost from her first day in the country. Her Jack Russell terrier, Pablo, is a great help.
Learn how to make strapačky, i.e. traditional potato dumplings with sauerkraut and bacon.
How to enjoy the Tatras in winter if you are not a keen skier? Our colleague has some tips for you.
Milan Kováč has spent more than a decade and a half on expeditions researching Mayan civilisation. One of his team’s latest finds fundamentally changed our understanding of Mayan history in the early classical period.
Softec, a Slovak consulting and technology services company, has created a unique solution that enables companies and their clients to sign contracts with the highest possible legal acceptance – quickly and at low cost.
Political meme of the week
(source: Zomri.online)
Caption: When even you don’t know who is the bigger danger to the interpreter.
Satirical site Zomri.online published this meme in reaction to a speech given by Slovakia’s Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová (SNS nominee) to a UNESCO conference in Abu Dhabi. It quickly set off a flood of reactions because of her somewhat shaky English. Andrej Danko, leader of the Slovak National Party (SNS), is known for mangling the national language with non-standard syntax and grammar. And other Slovak politicians, including then economy minister Ľubomír Jahnátek and former prime minister Igor Matovič, have previously had run-ins with the English language.
You can send me your tips on good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
