Bratislava, Slovakia. Remember when Czech was in front of Slovakia? The old Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 and with the chaos of the breakup of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Under Hitlers stint pre WWII, Jews were deported and taken to labor camps. Then came the Soviets to liberate the "Checks" and as our tour guide noted...they forgot to leave.
A new President was sworn in a couple of days ago- Andre Kiska. The leader to the 5 million Slovaks, worked for several years in the US and returned to Slovakia as an entrepreneur. Started and sold 2 companies. I am sure he will bring much to the table in this country of determined young people.
Throughout its torrid history, Bratislava has been home to Celts, Romans, Germans, Hungarians and Slovaks. Prior to WWII it was a centuries home to a thriving Jewish community.
Just 10 years ago, visitors arriving on the luxury riverboats were required to present their passports to sullen post-Soviet agents at the Customs House. 
Once you were permitted to enter the city, you found streets badly in need of repair, beautiful Baroque facades buried under decades of grim and neglect and few of the famous pastry shops.
With the fall of the Soviets in 1989, a new world opened up to the "Czechoslovakians". They gained independence but the Slovak people longed for their own state. In what was known as the "Velvet Divorce" they broke into 2 distinctive countries- the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In 2004 Slovakia joined the EU.
This little gem of a capital city was quite active. This is one of Europe's most energetic and fasted growing capital cities. 60,000 students go to school here...I think we bumped into most of them. Pleep suggested this place looked like a good place to take a break...
Many restaurants, cafes and bars spill out onto the pedestrian walk ways
The city's cultural scene is thriving. Nice to see the kids enjoy their cultural heritage in this day and age of cell phones, Facebook and MTV....they also enjoyed teaching Pleep some of their moves...
While the city is still in need of a make-over and lots of paint Bratislava rocks with a lot of energy.
With many of the young people wanting to stay after graduation from uni you can bet this will happen sooner than later. Perhaps, this fella had one too many brewskies....
Pleep thought the t-shirt offerings were unique.....
This place is attractive for foreign investments- low wages, low tax rate and well educated labor force.
Good luck new country!
Pleep says the hot babes add to the culture too...
