Last Days Sunday, November 7 and Monday, November 8

Sunday was a glorious warm fall day in Bratislava.  We attended church with Bill Bagatela, our new friend who teaches at the University and lives in our dorm/hotel.  He had been investigating the church a few years ago and was happy to come along.  We went for a nice lunch afterward at the Tulip Hotel.  We spent the rest of the afternoon packing and getting ready to leave for the states and home.  We had decided to drive into Vienna and stay at the NH airport hotel overnight.  It was my idea, and after we got there Stan thought I was brilliant, as the hotel was literally right across the street from the terminal.  We were able to check in our car and bags and go back to the hotel to relax before the flight.
As we were leaving Stan decided to evade the police (it seems like we were always stopped on the border by the Slovakian police) by going the "back way" into Austria and then getting on the freeway.  Success.....we slipped across the border undetected and made it to the Vienna airport without incident.   We did encounter a problem at a gas station near the airport that evening, however.  We filled the car with gas and then parked the car in the gas station parking lot while we ran across the street to the grocery store to get some snacks (just one more package of butter cookies, chocolate, salami and cheese).  We were shocked to go back to our car and discover a tow truck ready to tow our car!!  There were other cars on each side of us, but he was going to tow us, saying (in German) that we could not park there.  Stan shocked him by telling him in German that we were customers who had bought gasoline there and to get the tow truck out of the way so we could leave.  They did comply.  I think that they were circling and looking for tourists with rented cars to tow and increase their revenue.  Our flight home was long, but smooth.  We flew to London, had a 2 hour layover and then took an11 hour flight straight to Las Vegas.  There were only about a dozen Americans on the flight so our line at customs was short.  The rest were Europeans headed here for holiday.
It was a wonderful experience living in Slovakia for the time we were there.  We have fond memories of the students, the Druzba Hotel, the food, the autumn landscape, the Danube River, the history, and our daily walks though town.  Farewell Bratislava!

TEACHING AT COMENIUS UNIVERSITY

Nov 5th and 6th Friday and Saturday

The last two days of our stay in Bratislava have been magical.  I was able to finally teach my class and meet some of the students and professors.

On Friday we met for breakfast with the two professors we have come to know, Bill Bagatelis and Dave Reichart at the Druzba Bufet, the dinning room at the dorm.  We had a wonderful conversation about teaching and Slovakia.  They both have been here for over ten years.  We also had some nice discussions about the church.  Dave is a very active catholic and Bill is searching for something.  He has talked to the missionaries and is going to church with us on Sunday.

We went to my class in the afternoon.  Carol and I prepared an idiom game, that was successful.  The students enjoyed learning some idioms.   I taught about american civil procedure and criminal procedure and then made assignments for our activies (the trial of William Penn) and the trial of John Wheat.  All 36 students came to that class, it was surprising to see eveyone there.  At the prior class I assigned essays, so I had recieved essays from many of my students on the Advantages and Disadvantages of the American Jury System.  The essays are excellent and well written in english, very impressive.   I am blessed with a wonderful class.

After class in the evening Carol and I had dinner at the Rivera Restaurant which is down the street from the Hotel.  It was our third time at the Restaurant and the waiters now recognize us, so they were very nice to us.  The food is very good.  I had Halusky for the third time (Carol calls it Slovakian Macaroni and cheese, but it small dumpings and sheep chesse), I like it.

PICTURE OF ME AND PROFESSOR PATAKYOVA

AT THE MARROL HOTEL ON THURSDAY NIGHT

PICTURE OF MICHAL LUJENCVISKY AND
TOMAS MASZAROS ON THURSDAY NIGHT

Today, Saturday, we started class at 9 AM.  Carol and I were alittle early.  Mentally, I had prepared myself for something to go wrong.  I had a feeling that something would be wrong with the room.  Sure enough, there was another class in the room we were assigned and that class would go until noon.  Fortunately, my students were able to talk to the building manager and get us another room assigned.  Ironically, we went back to our original room.  We had a drama, the trial of William Penn.  The students had been assigned their parts and they did very well.  The narrator was Mira Kober, Sonia Ondracikova was the judge and Tomas Gasparovic was William Penn, they were wonderful.  It is a play about the trial of William Penn in England when he was 21 before he came to America. 

We then had mock trial, I was the Judge and we made assignments the night before.  It was very well done and we had a great time.  It was about the theft of bread by John Wheat to feed his family.  The jury found him not guilty even though he clearly stole the bread.  The Prosecutor, Katarine Hodalove, was not too happy with the verdict.  We then had a great discussion about the American jury system.  

I then gave some advice about life (Fatherly Advice) especially about families and priorities.  I was surprised because the students then gave me a book which they all signed.  They wrote, "Dear Mr. and Mrs. Parry,  Thank you so much! We greatly appreciate all the efforts you have put into this course.  This was the best course we have ever had!"  It was so nice they all liked Carol very much and really appreciated that she had come.  I gave them an Old Irish Blessing which was actually emotional.  I was able to shake everyone's hand and wish them well in life and say good bye.  I was so pleased that I learned everyone's name, it really established a bond and a sense of trust and respect.

After class some of the students stayed and helped fix the room because we had rearranged everything for the trial.  So I invited them to lunch.  We then went to lunch at the Bratislava Restaurant which interestingly enough is the same restaurant that we went to with the missionaries.

Carol and I then went back to the room for a little while.  We did some laundry and gave the bottle of wine we had received from the college to the building attendant that had been so nice to us.  I thought that she was going to cry she was so thankful for the gift.

THEY CALL THEMSELVES THE FABULOUS FIVE

(Backrow- Kamila, Zuzana, Natalia and Kristina

 front- Katarina H)

Off to lunch- Kamila, Katarine J, Tomas, Kristina,

Carol, Miro and Frank)

Lunch at the Bratislava Restaurant- Filip and

Miraslava joined us and Katarina Hodalova and

her Greek boyfriend, Demetri came later.

On Saturday night we went to the ballet at the new performing acts theater.  The ballet was Giselle which is about a peasant girl that falls in love with an aristocrat who disguises himself as a commoner.  He is engaged to be married so when Giselle finds out she takes her life and becomes a Willi, maidens who have suffered unrequited love.  However, she acts unselfish regarding her former lover who is extemely sad about what has happend, so you can say it has a happy ending.  The ballet was excellent and the new  performing acts theater is wonderful.  There was a live orchestra.  We then spent some time at the new Eurovia Gallery Mall.  It is a great mall, very attractive and modern.

Carol said that she was sad to have to leave Bratislava.  She could stay longer.  We have had a wonderful experience, and some unforgettable memories.

November 4, 2010 in Bratislava

Our day started by going to the office Stan uses at the university to prepare and print out some English idioms for a game we are playing with the students tomorrow.  We bought a bagette at the student store and headed to Old town to check on the Christmas tree and decorations.  They were assembling a Christmas village and the tree was up............so, we are hoping everything will be lit this weekend before we head home.  While there we went to the chocolate cafe for our hot chocolate fix.  Today Stan ordered Cokolada bielas karame lom (white with caramel) and I walked on the wild side with Cokolada horkas cervenym kore nim (dark with chili pepper).  Yum!
This evening we were able to meet Maria Patakyova, a professor at the law school, for dinner. She is a very impressive woman and dedicated to her career, but also married and the mother of two young adult children.  She told us that she has received what amounts to tenure and was very pleased about that.  She is the person who coordinated Stan's teaching assignment here, along with her assistant, Veronica.
Later this evening we went to the Havana Club, a bar here at the dormitory, where we met Michel Luvidjansky and Tomas, students in Stan's American Law class.  They had wanted to interview Stan and so had some questions prepared and recorded the conversation. 
Stan especially enjoyed this evening as he got to talk about American Law and Slovakian Law and how they are so different and yet the same.  I have been happy to tag along and listen to the conversations without contributing too much, but I have very much enjoyed meeting these fine people who are the future of this country of Slovakia.

Schloss Hof

November 3, 2010 Wednesday

Today we traveled across the Danuba to Austeria about 24 Kilometers to Schloss Hof, the hunting palace of Eugene of Savoy and later a Palace of Maria Theresa and Emporer Stephen.   It was originally built in about 1725 by the military hero of Austeria, Eugene of Savoy.  He was famous in part for having led the miliary conquest that freed Austeria and Hungary from the Ottoman empire in the early 1700s.  He became wealthy as the military leader of Austeria and wanted a hunting lodge to go with his several palaces including Belevdere in Vienna.

When he died in 1735 the castle was left to his niece who at 54 married a handsome not well to do 34 year old Prince.  They did not appreciate the art of the castle and sold many of the valuable pieces.  When they divorced he received the castle and needed to sell it.  So he planned a hugh party and invited Maria Theresa and Emporer Stephen to the feast.  It worked, Maria Theresa liked it so much she purchased it and gave it to Stehphen and they used often with their family (13 children).  After Stephen died Maria Theresa used it but not in the same manner, there was only one magnificant event the wedding of her favorite daughter, Christina.

The Castle fell into ruin over the next two hundred years.  The restoration of the castle started in earnest in 2002 through the creation of a special society.  It is now used for celebrations and is being restored.  Unfortunately for us it is only open April 2 to November 1, so we missed the tour by two days.  But they allowed us on the grounds and we had a great time walking around.

We went to the Gausthaus for some lunch, it was open but unbeknowns to us only for a special group of visitors that day.  But we unknowingly joined the group and ordered our traditional, what else but hot Schokolade and torte.  The waitress knew immediately that we did not belong to the group because we spoke english but she was nice and got us our schokolade and torte, very good.

The palace has many animals and special animals for that locations.  They even have camels and shetland ponies and walachian sheep.

Later in the day we drove to the community near the schloss, Hainreich.  We went to some old roman ruins but the museum was not open, being restored.  Then we had a wonderful dinner in Hainreich, Carol had sweinebraten with knodel and I had gurken salat (cucumber salad, afterall what is a day without cucumbers) with vegetable knodel.

Lovely day in Austeria.  I was disappointed because I thought I had an appointment in the evening to meet a student but apparently my email to him did not connect and so we did not have the meeting.  I hope to meet him again.   

SCHLOSS HOF

CAROL AT THE PLAYGROUND OF SCHLOSS HOF, YOU WOULD THINK THAT SHE LIKES CHILDREN AND PLAY

THE PARTYING CRUSHING TORTA AT THE SCHLOSS

Bratislava Danubiana

November 2, 2010

As you can see by the photo above, we spent a couple of hours today at the Danubiana Meulensteen Art Museum.  It is built on the edge of a penisula jutting out into the waters of the Danube River.  The open-air scuptures were interesting.......inside was an exibition of the works of Jozef Jankovic.  I do not pretend to understand modern art, but the setting was wonderful and we enjoyed our time there.  We did have an 'incident'  as we traveled to the museum.  Once again we were crossing the Slovakia/Hungary border and were pulled over by the police.  This time we were chastised for buying the required Slovakian travel
stickers by the week, instead of one for the whole month, thereby paying too much!  Then he let us go.
We started out the morning in Old Town purchasing some crystal that I have wanted and I am proud to say that we resisted having hot chocolate at the Chocolate Cafe next door to the shop.  We have been regulars there and have just about tried everything on the menu.  We will go again this weekend, for while we were in the old town square we saw them putting up the giant Christmas tree and so we will go back to see it lit up.
We had a 3 hour lunch with 2 professors from the USA who live in our building, Bill Bagatelas and Dave Reichart.  Stan had a great time discussing with them a variety of subjects. 

Bratislava

Monday Nov 1, 2010

Carol would not get up, she was so tired.  We went to Bratislava Castle, but the Country is still on vacation (4th day) so everthing is closed.  Then we went down town to buy Carol some crystal but the stores were closed, but we were able to get our European chocolate.

We went back to our room and Carol had a nap.  She thinks that because the whole country is on vacation that she should be on vacation.

Sunday, October 24, 2010 in Bratislava

Because I didn't realize that day light savings time ended today, I was up and ready for church extra early, and wondering why Stan was still in his PJs....his Blackberry had changed automatically.  We went to the small Slovakian branch where Slovakian, Russian, English, and German were spoken.  One of the missionaries, Elder Melling, translated for us.  Elder Melling is soon going home to CEDAR CITY and will once again be a student at SUU.  Small world; he is the nephew of Cory Huntsman Melling, Stan's cousin's daughter.  It was a wonderful meeting with talks on covenants (in English given by a woman from Sweden) and dispensations (in Russian, translated into Slovakian, and then translated into English for us.) The 5th Sunday joint meeting was a lesson on temples given by the branch president.  The church is in its infancy here, the Book of Mormon has not been translated into the Slovakian language yet.  But there was a wonderful spirit in the meeting and we were grateful to be there among the members, the missionaries, and the investigators.

There is a bridge that crosses the Danube River that has a tower and looks like a space ship.  It is called the UFO.  We walked there, and took the inclinator up to the top to enjoy the view and dine at a fine restaurant.  Of course we didn't know it was a fine restaurant until we got there and certainly were not dressed as well as we should have been  (Stan editorial comment- I told Carol to be sure not to spill on her levies), but we stayed anyway and had a lovely dinner with a view of the whole city with it's lights.  The castle looked especially beautiful as the lights came on while we watched.

In the elevator as we left for dinner we met Bill Bagatelas.  He is an American from the Chicago area who has been teaching at the university here in Bratislava for eleven years.  He was on his way to meet someone and we were on our way to the bridge and dinner but we decided to meet later, and so we did.  We met him at a pub in Old Town and had a very interesting conversation.  At first it focused on the health care problems in America, taxes, the economy, why we were here, why he was here, etc. and then religion came up and Stan was able to tell him that we are Mormon.  He lit up and told us that for about a year, in 2008, he had been studying with the missionaries as a result of going to a international folk dance performance by BYU students.  He asked us several questions about Joseph Smith, Nauvoo, Carthage, the first vision, etc.  He may go to church with us next Sunday. 

It has been a full and wonderful Sunday.  We are looking forward to our final week here in Bratislava and continue to enjoy our experience here.

UFO Tower

Bratislava Castle at night from the UFO tower

Kosice to Krasha Horka to Nitra to Bratislava

October 30 Saturday

We drove back to Bratislava from Kosice, we had intended to go through Hungary but me and the Garmin (?) ended up going through Southern Slovakia.  It turned out to be interesting.  Once again we saw castle ruins every few miles.  Near the Hungarian border we went to Krasha Horka Hrad (Castle) but it was closed.  It has an interesting history being part of the famous Andrassy (Count Andrassy of Sissi fame) family of Hungary.  It is also one of the best preserved castles because of its location, it was not destroyed by the Germans or the Soviets.

We then drove to Nitra which was for me a pleasure.  It is a city with a 6,000 year history.  It has an interesting importance to the entire European and Christian history.  In about 860 AD the King of the Land invited the Emperor of the Byzentine church to send missionaries to help teach his people.  The missionaries selected were two brothers, Cyril and Methodius.  They learned the language and wrote the gospels into the language of the people and developed the Glagolitic alphabet, which is the precedessor to the Cyrillic alphabet which is still used in Russia and other euro-asian countries.  There was a wonderful small museum in the Nitra Castle which had many old manuscripts from the work done by Cyril and Methodius. (see picture below)

KRASHA HORKA HRAD

STATUE OF CYRIL AND METHODIUS

ANCIENT MANUSCRIPT IN MUSEUM

KOSICE

October 29 Friday

We are staying at the Munz Hotel in Kosice (Ko sheets ca).  It is unusal in the sense that it has an Andy Warhol Museum as part of the Hotel.  His mother was born near Kosice and so that is a natural affinity to him.  So the Hotel is a attribute to him and his art and there are some rare prints in the museum room including a Marilyn Monroe print that has unusal lighting.  See picture below of a statue of Andy Warhol on the soup can.

Kosice is the second largest city in Slovakia on the eastern side near the Hungarian border.  It is about 250,000 people.  It has a nice and well preserved city center.  We had a unique experience, as we entered the city center main street (Hlavna) we ran into the missionaries including Elder Smith who we met in Bratislava, he had been transfered this week to Kosice.

We spent the day walking up and down the main street and went to a couple of museums which were more like a museum of a museum, they were old museums so it was like seeing what a museum would have been like in the 50s.  We did some shopping.  We actually walked 7 km (4 1/2 miles), okay Cristina we understand that it nothing compared to your marathon.  There is a major marathon in this community, see the picture of the statue,

So Carol wants me to add that the best 5 euros we have spent the entire trip was for the taxi back to the Hotel which is 3 1/2 kms uphill.  We had a nice day and have a deep appreciation for this wonderful land.  We have felt God's love for his children by providing a beautiful earth.  We have felt saddness as we have learned of man's inhumanity to one another in this land.  We have added our prayers for the missionaries and the Church.  What a marvelous story about the church being established in this land. 

Road trip to Kosice, October 28, 2010

It was suggested to us by an attorney in Bratislava, Peter Vollant, that we might enjoy traveling the northern route to Kosice from Bratislava, that the charm of the small towns and the landscape were something to behold.  Boy was he right!  Everything was especially beautiful on this sunny autumn day, breathtaking, really!  We passed by many castle ruins perched high on ledges, the snowcapped Tatra Mountians, rivers, and a lake, where we stopped at a small lodge for lunch.  Dumplings, goulash, cabbage soup, or potatoes, anyone?  Those are the sides served with nearly everything. It was a long trip because it was only freeway part of the way and driving through small towns on two lane roads' road blocks because of accidents, etc. held us back a bit;. that and Stan's excitment and need to see and take pictures from all angles of the Tatra's.  He was like a kid from Kansas; never having seen a mountain before.  We drove up close, far away, across the road, etc.  But we arrived in Kosice safely at around 6 p.m. Stan is busy planning our itinerary for tomorrow.  I am sure it will include waking up earlier than I would like.

PIESTANY

October 26 and 27

On Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Stan and I decided it was time for a road trip.  With no definite plans and no reservations we got into our little rented Mercedes and headed north and east, hoping eventually to end up in Kosice....at some point.  Stan had read a little about a town only a little ways away called Piestany, which has warm mineral baths and and someplace called 'spa island' by theVah River.  While Stan had climbing castles and ancient churches in mind for this town, I heard the word 'SPA' and headed straight there.  Stan tried to talk me into visiting other places and then perhaps coming back, but I had the power (the keys to the car) and I parked and marched into the lobby to book a room somewhere, anywhere in this complex.  I immediately made appointments for mineral baths, massages, and a pedicure.  Stan was in agreement once he found that he could golf the 9 hole course the next day.  AND we had a big bed with a feather bed cover for each of us.  Now, I told Stan, I am totally on vacation.  We went to the lounge last night after dinner where they had live music and dancing!

Wednesday October 27, 2010

We stayed an extra day in Piestany (Pee esch stan ee).  We went to breakfast which was included with the room.  Carol had quark and yogurt with her fruit.  When she asked what quark was made of, I told her wall plaster as best as I could tell, she agreed that is now it tastes, but you must say it gives the breakfast substanance.
Then I went golfing at a 9 hole course, too many trees, I hit one ball that actually struck three trees and the parking lot behind us.  Carol walked with me for exercise.  It was a beautiful day about 50 degrees and sunny.  After golf we had a nap, I fell asleep in the bath tube and Carol started calling for me and woke me up, otherwise, I could still be asleep.  We then went bowling at the Victoria lanes in Piestany.  They were actually very nice.  We did okay after we got the feeling for the ball and lanes.

Then we went back to our Hotel, the Balnea Grand, and skyped, Karen, Eric and Ashtyn.  It was fun to see them.  We then had dinner in the Prague room.  I made the mistake of going to the Warsaw room this morning, a bad mistake, waitress not too happy.  No dancing tonight, too tired.

Carol at the Golf Course

Stan making a putt after one of the few good shots

Carol at the bowling lane

Monday October 25 ?

I believe that today is October 25 either in the USA or Slovakia.  I looked at the calender so I know it is October 25, Monday.  We have power, it took the head maintance man but we apparently are not the only ones to blow all the power to a room so he knew what to do.  Next time we need to not do it on a weekend.

It was been rainy and cold all day, but we have been inside so it has not effected us.  We met and took the missionaries to lunch at the Flagship Restaurant on Postal, an Elder Wilson (Sandy Utah), Smith (Sandy) and Taylor (Brigham City).  They are enjoying their missions, they recognize that they are pioneers.  There are about 70 members 30 to 35 active, but they have a nice facitlity in the middle of the city at 4 Grosslinger.  We will meet them again at Church.

Then we met with a local attorney, Peter Bollant with Cechova & Partners.  We had a nice conversation about the comparative laws.  He suggested that we go Kosice and so we are traveling to Kosice.

We then went shopping at a new grocery store, Lidl?  Nothing special to report, maybe we are finally beginning to become natives.

Touring tomorrow- Piestany, Zilina, Proprad and Kosice then around through Hungary and back to Bratislava.  We are planning a three day trip.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Still no power...Our adventure continues with Stan waking us up bright and early to attend church.  He failed to call and confirm that church would actually be held in Bratislava today.  It turns out that there was a district conference and no local services were held.  Still no power... So we spent the day walking on the Promenade by the Danube, having a nice brunch at Hotel Devin, taking a guided tour of the old city, and driving to the Castle Devin.  Now the Castle Devin is only about 5 miles away, but becaause we failed to make the necessary left turn (it was not marked)  we made it into a 25 mile trip.  We hiked to the top of the castle and enjoyed a spectacular view of the Morova River as it merged with the Danube.  Still no power.... We had a lovely dinner at the Riviera Restaurant just up the street from where we are staying.  Still no power.....Stan called the missionaries and we are meeting them for lunch tomorrow.  Because we still have no power we went downstairs to the study center in the dorm and read and charged up the computer and phones, etc.  (No wonder we blew a fuse.)  Thankfully we did not shut down all of the lights in the study center.  We were delighted to receive a telephone call from Cristina and Mathis while we were there.  They thought it was unusual that Stan answered the phone with a whisper instead of a big HOWDY.  We explalined our electrical problem and how we were hanging out in the study hall.  It was so good to get their call and chat!  We have experienced a bit of a roll reversal.  Carol has spend years ignoring the fact that Stan wears his houseslippers out in public, everywhere.  Today, with tired feet, Carol wore here pink slippers to the study hall, while Stan looked dapper with his Dress Loafers.

Comenius University

October 23, 2010


Fianlly the day of teaching begins.  On Saturday Oct 23, 2010 we attended the last session of the Conference then in the afternoon I had my first class session. 

But in the morning when we were getting ready, my dear wife with my help blow all the electricity in the room with her blow dryer.  We tried to explain to the person at the desk but on the weekend no one seeks english at the desk and the Hotel is closed, we left the room hoping that we had communicated our dilemma so we would have power restored by the end of the day, but apparently we did not since when we returned after dark, Carol had to shower to the light of the blackberry backlight, really cool.  Then we played cards to the light of the computer.  When our batteries are exhausted I am not sure what we do, Carol says we go to real Hotel.

When we tried to leave the parking lot we were surprized to discovery that for some reason the parking lot was closed with an iron gate that had not previously been there all week.  So we had to maneuver down the ramp to the garbage dumpster and around it across the lawn.  No police so we escaped on our way to the University.

My class was marvelous, wonderful and inspiring.  If these students are the future of Slovakia then this country has a good future.  I had to teach five hours which is difficult especially when you have planned to teach in smaller segments but the students were great.  Carol took individual phots of them so we can learn their names, at least the first name.  There is a picture of the class and some of the students below.  We have been treated in a wonderful way by the University.

They were good sports are about taking their picture, there were a few who did not participate and a comment about the mug shot picture.

Friday October 22, 2010 in Bratislava

Today, the Law seminar continued at Comenius University.  Stan wanted to attend the criminal law portion as we had met a young law professor from Croatia who was presenting.  I tagged along and found it quite interesting. The Euro Union still hasn't figured out how to handle criminal cases that cross borders, among other things.
Tonight I bought tickets to Tancovali (dance) nasi vasim, SL'UK.  It was delightful folk dancing while telling the story of the wedding of a country boy to a city girl.  There was no dialogue, which was good for us, but lots of music and dancing.
We are doing well and enjoying this opportunity to be here. We have been companions 24/7 and still like each other...of course it hasn't even been 2 weeks yet. 

BRATISLAVE OCTOBER 19th, 20th and 21st

We are now residents of Bratislava, we can find our way to the Grocery store but not back, at least not easily.  (Carol loves Billas because the sign is yellow).  She was so pleased that she had figured out how to shop in Europe.  She has her bag, but just when she thought she it all figured out she learned for the second time that you must weigh your own produce.  So the line of people watch in semi-disguest as the clerk very nicely rans back and weighs our produce.  Nice but embrassing., nobody yelled at us.  Of course, at night some fellow yelled at someone on the telephone at 11:30 at night for 45 minutes, it was hard to sleep with his yelling and the college kids signing.

On Tuesday, October 20th, we met with my helper, Veronic Uzakova, a 35 year law professor, and the Assistant Dean, Maria Patakyova who set up my schedule.  Which is posted on the door of her office. (see picture below). I have 35 students.  It turns that because of the Legal conference this week and next week being a holiday, I will need to teach only three days but I will need to teach, 4 to 6 hours a day on Saturday the 25th and Friday and Saturday the 4th and 5th of November, so Carol and I now have about two weeks of open time, so we will travel some more.

Carol found a favoite place:  a European Chocolate Cafe:



We tried to book a boat trip to Vienna but we discovered that one company only goes from Vienna to Bratislava this time of year and the other company only goes from Bratislava to Vienna but they leave from different docks.  Okay maybe we did not understand but we asked several times, nobody ever explained why the boats go back empty.

On Thursday, we had the wonderful experience of attending a major European Legal Conference sponsored by Comenius University Law School for its 90th aniversity.  The Conference is entitled Law as a Unifying Factor of Europe Jurisprudence and Practice.  There are 12 different programs with many presentations from professors and professionals from Europe.  The Opening included remarks by the President of Solvakia and the President of the Court of Justice for Europe, it was held in a splendid hall in the University.  See the follwing pictures:

We attended a reception at the National Council of the Slovak Republic.  See photo of Stan with Vassilios Skouris, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

We had dinner with a wonderful couple from Croatia, Barbara Herceg and her friend Ivan Paksic.  She is a law professor in Croatia and he is a federal organized crime law enforcement officer.  Needless to say we had a great conversation.  It was somewhat sad because of the corruption that they feel exists in their beautiful country.

Bratislava is a beautiful City, once the capital of the Hungarian Empire including while Queen Maria Theresa of the Habsburg was in Vienna but also Queen of Hungary when Budapest was under conquest by the Turks.  The City was called Pressburg.  Bratislava has a colorful history and many beautiful buidlings.  (but also some ugly apartment and office buildings, residue from the Communist era).

 

Carol suggested that I describe how I saved us from picket pockets (sham artists).  At night while we were walking to the reception (slightly lost) a person played like he was from Greece and asked if we could tell him how to get to the Opera.   I suggested he go into the Hotel for help but he refused.  Then another man came and claimed to be hotel security and told the man he could not exchange money and asked to see his money, the man showed him his wallet and mnoney.  Then he asked to see our money, I went to get my wallet then I realized that something was fishy and I got into attorney mode and they ran away.  Carol may have a slightly different story but that is the way I remember the incident.

Looking forward to tomorrow.  Is anyone following the blog.  Add your comments.



Trip to Bratislava from Budapest, October 18, 2010

Our trip from Budapest to Bratislava was, fortunately, uneventful.....no stops by the police.  It rained a bit but the roads are good and we traveled and found our dormitory hotel room just fine.  The dormitory buildings are rather old and plain but our building is located on the street that runs parallel to the Danube River and our room is located on the 5th floor in a wing seperate from the students.  We have a view of a hill and it is very pretty with houses and buildings lit up at night. We have access to very cheap cafeteria meals located just one building over and we ate there tonight.  We took a drive and located the University, circling it several times in trying to avoid one-way streets.  We have decided that the trolley that runs right down our street will be the most efficient and safest way to travel there as parking is a big problem.  Stan is very disappointed that there is no subway.  He loves going underground.

BUDAPEST October 16th and 17th

Our travel by car from Prague to Budapest took us through beautiful forested countryside and farmland.  The soil is black, quite different from the Mojave Desert where we reside.  We drove on a well maintained freeway the whole way in our rented grey mid-size Mercedes.  We thought we fit in quite well with the European traveler..............but apparently not.  We were stopped twice by the police, once in the Czech Republic for not having purchased the sticker required to drive in their country and once on the border of Slovakia and Hungary.  We still don't know why we were stopped there, but we did produce every form of identification that we had and we DID have the proper sticker purchased so we are not in jail at this time.

Stan in Europe is like a kid in Disneyland.  We hit the ground running as soon as we checked into our Marriott hotel by taking what was supposed to be a 30 minute walk to the Chain Bridge, getting lost and arriving at the Chain Bridge which stretches across the Danube River about an hour and a half later.  It was lovely once we arrived and we strolled across the bridge, had dinner, and started back.  Stan and the Garmin again disagreed about the best way to get back to the hotel, and we were once again lost.  He had lost all sense of direction and even I knew it.  I told him that there would be a taxi ride from now on if he wouldn't listen to the GPS.  He made up for it today by taking me on a guided Parliament and City Tour.  Before we did that, however, we found our way to a chapel for Sacrament Meeting at one of the local wards.  It was high council Sunday.  The missionary there found a member who knew English to translate for me.  The message was forgiveness, having a loving heart, and missionary work.  We visited many sites today and the Hungarian Parliment Building is my favorite of all the castles and buildings I have ever visited in Europe.  It was magnificent and tasteful and practical at the same time.  Very beautiful!  We also visited Heroes Square, Mathias Church, and the Royal Castle area.  We ate stuffed cabbage, cucumber sour cream salad, crepe stuffed with paprika chicken and pork tenderloin with potatoes at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the Danube then walked back to the hotel with no wrong turns.  It did, indeed take about 30 minutes!



Vienna

Vienna

Vienna Austria was our first stop on our autumn adventure.  British Airways managed to get us and our luggage here on time, but unfortunately, the baggage handlers must have tossed our bags a little too roughly.  We discovered our camera was broken in flight, after we had climbed a really steep hill at Shoen Brunner Castle gardens to get that perfect shot of the castle with Vienna in the background. Bummer!!!  Of course we could have shot a photo with Stan's Blackberry device, but neither of us thought of that until later in the day when we were in a camera shop purchasing a new camera.  It is very bad when our 'senior moments' coinside.  Other highlights of Vienna were St. Stephen's church, the Hofburg palace, the beautiful white Lipizzaner Stallions, Belvedare Castle and art museum. 

Today, October 14, 2010, we drove from downtoen Vienna to Prague, Czech Republic.  Stan and the Garmin GPS were fighting over who was navigating, but in the end we arrived timely and in good shape. Just about half way through the trip I realized that the speed signs posted were for minimum speed on the Autobahn, not top speed limits.  (No wonder everyone was passing me!)  The second half of the trip I like to think that I was driving like a European.

Prague

PRAGUE  (Thursday and Friday)

Carol and I are now sure that Prague is another most see City when you travel to Europe.  I think that Walt Disney must have designed the City, it is enchanting.  The Czechs have been able to maintain the traditional European elegance and add the modern comfort.

We think that every couple should stroll along the Charles Bridge at night.  We went across about 9 oclock at night.  There were many others with the same idea.  You have this wonderful feeling going over the bridge with the water, the lights and the city lit up in the background.

We recommend the food but are now afraid that even though we have probably walked 10 miles in Prague, with the pork, potatoes, bread, pudding, gravey that we have eaten we are still gaining weight.  We have now resolved to order one dish of food and only eat half.

I had to stop Carol from from shopping at every store.  There was something she wanted at every store.  Of course when I pointed out that the cystal cost 5,000 ck per glass she was more restrained.

We went to the Ceske Filharmonie and watched a performance of Beethoven.  It was marvelous, the Conducter was a woman named Marin Alsop.  They also had a pianist named Rustem Hayroudinoff.  It was a lovely evening.

I have included a picture of Carol's Mercedes, not quiet the Mercedes that you dream about, but okay.

Below is the program for the concert:

15. října 2010
pátek Dvořákova síň
19:30

Cyklus D1-10 L. VAN BEETHOVEN: Leonora III., předehra op. 72
L VAN BEETHOVEN: Koncert pro klavír a orchestr č. 5 Es dur op. 73 "Císařský"
D. ŠOSTAKOVIČ: Symfonie č. 5 op. 47
Česká filharmonie
klavír Rustem Hayroudinoff
dirigent Marin Alsop

Charles Bridge (650 years old) 

Carol's Mercedes

Picture from the Bridge over the Vltava River

On the Charles Bridge at night

One of many beautiful buildings in Old Town

Tomorrow Budapest, we are sad to say NA SHLEDANOU to Prague