Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia in which pessimism and negativity are absent.
1) Airplane wrap designed by a Slovak
Éva Kerényi, director of the Gemer-Malohont Museum in Rimavská Sobota. (source: SME)
Éva Kerényi, director of the Gemer-Malohont museum in Rimavská Sobota, achieved a remarkable feat by winning a worldwide competition to design the exterior of an Airbus A321neo for Wizz Air. She was one of over 500 designers, both amateur and professional, competing for the opportunity.
She was inspired by leaves.
Her unexpected success came as a surprise, as she initially believed that only experienced professionals with extensive graphic design software knowledge would win.
Read more in Slovak.
2) New sauna next to Slovakia's oldest sauna
Demova bath - the first sauna in Slovakia. After restoration, it serves as a museum from 2022. A new functional forest sauna will be located nearby. (source: SME)
A new sauna is set to be built in the forest under Kráľova Hoľa, central Slovakia, offering relaxation to both locals and visitors to the Horehronie region.
This initiative revives a long-standing tradition of sauna bathing in the picturesque village of Šumiac, where stands the oldest sauna in Slovakia, built by local builder Michal Demo in 1919.
Known as the "little bath house" (kupieľka), it was frequented by famous Slovak photographer Karel Plicka. This oldest sauna serves as a museum today. The new sauna will be located close to the old sauna.
Read more in Slovak.
3) Kysuce gardeners present their harvest
Fruit and vegetable exhibition in Raková, northern Slovakia. (source: SME)
The Slovak Horticultural Union in Raková recently organised a successful fruit and vegetable exhibition, despite a challenging harvest season. The gardeners showcased an impressive array of exhibits, particularly vegetables, at this event, which holds significance as a small harvest celebration and social gathering for the village.
The exhibition, which has taken place in the village for 60 years, drew both local residents and visitors from nearby municipalities. The mayor of Raková expressed admiration and respect for the local gardeners, highlighting their contributions to the village's beautification and community spirit.
See the photos and read more in Slovak.
Here's 7 pieces of good news published by The Slovak Spectator:
Kenyan won the 100th edition of the International Peace Marathon in Košice (MMM) with a track record of 2:06:55 h.
Instead of gems, a Slovak finds a 3.6 million-year-old toe in southern Slovakia;
How a Slovak maths student grew into a YouTube star;
Her crying baby led this mother to a new hobby. People love her for it;
How does it feel to live in Manderlák, Bratislava's first high-rise building?
English words that don't have satisfactory equivalents in Slovak;
The extensive restoration of the Western Palace of Beckov Castle has ended. The palace was made available to the public;
Austrian pensioners come to admire Slovak lakes, including a romantic lake;
How I narrowly missed summiting Rysy in the High Tatras;
Czech hikers bring a neglected mountain chalet back to life.
FUNNY MEME FOR THIS WEEK
Paw Patrol
Translation: "Foreign media" (top). "Election results in Slovakia" (l). "A dog behind the wheel." (r). (source: zomri)
In a rather unusual case, the Slovak police fined a driver for speeding and having a dog on his lap. The incident from last Thursday occurred in the village of Šterusy, Trnava Region. The driver claimed that the dog had suddenly jumped onto his lap, but the police's recording did not support the driver's claim.
The dog story went viral very quickly. Many media outlets reported on the dog behind the driver's wheel, from Australia to the US.
The incident happened less than two days before the parliamentary election. Zomri, a popular satirical Instagram page, shared the picture above to compare the foreign coverage of and interest in the election and the dog.
You can send me your tips on positive news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: yehor.zhukov@spectator.sk. Thank you!
