A Note from Bratislava

Full moon over the Dunaj (Danube) on Friday night… 5 May, 2023

I have been a little remiss in posting as I am embroiled in my visa application. It appears that everything is in place except for the required FBI background check. In the mean time I have been working on my papers and enjoying the Spring here in Central Europe. The days have been very pleasant, in the high teens/low 20’sC (60/70F). Rain from day to day, has made the weather nice and cool. I have been enjoying time with friends, and have made a few new ones. My walks always begin or end along the Danube (Dunaj- pronounced “doon-eye” in Slavic) and I was fortunate to get the above photo the other evening.

It is 9:30 am here on Sunday (2:30 am CST/US), and I am getting ready to go out for some coffee, and to do a bit of grocery shopping. My front room is filled with near-dry laundry as I washed yesterday after cleaning and tidying. I love this small space; easy to tend to and just enough room to keep neat.

Our weekly dinners at Zlaty Jelen have become a high point in my week. This past Tuesday I was asked by my dear friend Prof. Homza to aid him in editing the last of his YouTube videos regarding Slovak history. He speaks in Slovak with subtitles in English. There have been a few “cringe-worthy” moments for me, while watching them and I’m incredibly honored and privileged to have been asked. Martin Homza is THE pre-eminent historian on all matters of Slovakia and Central Europe. It has been a godsend to have met him and to count him among one of my benefactors here. I acquired a greater understanding of our past, and in the process I have gained a clearer picture of my own ancestry. I would encourage anyone with Central European ancestry to watch his videos. They can be found under this title: Dejiny Slovenska (I. diel)/ The History of Slovakia (Part I). I’m not proficient enough to do the link, so this will have to suffice for the time being.

I have been doing research on my own papers; it seems as though I will publish them on Academia.edu. Prof. Homza has been a major contributor to the study, and he keeps me focused as my mind tends to run down “rabbit-holes” when I get a new idea. He is also among the many helping me to learn Slovak.

It has indeed been a very busy two or three weeks for me and I am hoping that I can return to posting once a week again. I look forward to any comments that you have and will use them in earnest while writing my blogs. I’m sorry this is not full of my exploits or deeds… it has been very quiet. When I am awarded the visa, I plan on taking a few trips inside of Slovakia, and perhaps to Prague early this fall. I thank anyone and everyone for following me, and I wish you peace. Until next week, please take of each other.