Bratislava - a 3h capital city

Having three days of break between exams, on Friday I decided to visit Bratislava.
As it was a rather spontaneous decision, I took a train without a map or any idea where I will go once I arrive at the train station.


Having arrived in Bratislava it actually took me about 15minutes to leave the station. Not that it was so big, but it turned out to be a rather hard task to find someone who could tell me how to get to the old town. To a question "do you speak English?" people were shaking their heads and leaving in another direction. When I tried in Polish (Slovakian and Polish come from the same family of languages, so in theory we could try to communicate like that), then the lady in the information asked me if I was from Czech Republik... and then in half-English/half-Slovakian added that she's the train information and she claimed she didn't know how to get to the old town. But frankly, I think she just couldn't be bothered to explain...
Finally, I found a girl who to my question answered hesitantly: "little" and she told me to catch a tram number 1 and showed a direction of the tram station.
I went there, but it was completely empty with a note which, I'm guessing, said the trams are not operating at the moment.
But I decided to follow the tracks down the hill and ask for more directions later.


Luckily I found the sign showing which way was the historical centre, which also told me how to say it in Slovakian, so that later I could ask for it without scaring people off...
Having caught a bus I arrived to the President's Palace, had a lok around and found another sign with directions to a castle and the old town. I decided to see a castle first. Unfortunately, this was the only sign on I've spotten, even though there were many crossroads on the way... But common sense was telling me I should keep walking straight and finally I reached the castle.


Behind it there was a little terrace with a beautiful view on the river, the bridge with an UFO-like structure above it and the other side of the city. The weather was brilliant for pictures - the sun was shining and there were absolutely no clouds. The only minus of that day was that the temperature was on minus too and therefore my fingers were freezing to the camera.







Having seen the river, I walked through a gate in defensive walls and into the castle's grounds. There was another terrace there with a little park and a playground full of children. It all looked really nice and you could see the old town below you. I must say this park by the castle is my favourite place in Bratislava.

I enjoyed walking around, listening to music and taking pictures there.


I walked down the hill to the old town (thanks to directions of a woman who's dog was trying to attack me... and directions were crucial, otherwise I wouldn't think about going THROUGH a construction site) and then around it. Nice, really small. When I thought I've seen enough I found a tourist information point and went in to ask what was the shortest way to get to the train station from there. The lady working there gave me a map and showed a way.

Having checked my train's timetable I decided to have a cup of hot chocolate which was truely delicous and then I went back to catch a train home.
Interestingly, I've managed to have a closer look at that map in the cafe and it turned out that my 3h walk covered basically all the most important features of Bratislava!
And I've managed that even though in the morning I had no idea where I was going.


As you can see, Bratislava is a pretty intuitive capital city.
I can recommend visiting it. Or just having a 3h walk ;)

Do YOU want to be part of history?

I cannot tell you how many times have I heard from my friends (young and let's-change-the-world people that we are) that they would like their names to appear somewhere in the pages of history. And here is an idea how you could make that happen (regardless of age!)  =)

In October 2010 I went to Barbican, London, to a concert by LSO and LSC performing Eric Whitacre's compositions under his conduction. Little did I know how many consequences this will have on my free time... ;)
Eric Whitacre is a modern composer, conductor and lecturer and during this concert he presented a project that he was working on - and everybody was invited. The charismatic person that he is, I was immediately convinced that this was something that I could put on my one-of-a-kind-experiences list and, therefore, should definitely try to participate. And so I started practicing, even though I had had a little break from singing...
 
A year ago I took part in the second edition of Eric Whitacre's project called "Virtual Choir".

And believe me, this was one of a kind experience.
Over 2,000 people from 58 countries has recorded and uploaded their performances of "Sleep" and after months of work all the tracks have been put together to create, as the name suggests, a VIRTUAL choir.

When I saw it... when I heard it... I had goosebumps:) I had taken part in something very unusual and beautiful: Everyone was united.
The day it was released also became a day when journalists were messaging me on Facebook asking about the project (as I was one of only 13 people who took part in Poland) and my mum informed me that some people approached her with an "I saw your daughter on tv" news.

And as nice as this all is, it was only this semester in Vienna when I realised those who participated are part of the history ALREADY.
I'm doing an exchange programme at University of Vienna and one of my courses deals with a part of modern history of music, namely music videos.
Dear Mr.Whitacre and Virtual Choir 2.0 participants, let me tell you that we are part of the curriculum of Universitӓt Wien!

I have exam coming up next Wednesday, but this is the first time in my life that I'll be writing, amongst other things of course, about something I was a part of. Now how cool is that? :-)

And to those of you who might've not heard about Virtual Choir until now: if you haven't seen it, you definitely should! Here is a link: Virtual Choir 2.0 - 'Sleep'

Eric Whitacre and Virtual Choir 2.0 performing 'Sleep'; Source: ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir 

To sum up this little choir story of mine I would like to notice that there is a Virtual Choir 3 project running and you can still record your videos! It's very simple and there is a lot of material to practice, so do not worry. 
Furthermore, this time it's going to be different, it will not only appear on YouTube, but there will be an audiovisual installation with surround sound and people will be able to visit in cities all around the world.
What are you still thinking about? Go! Practice! Record! 
Write your name in the pages of history.


For more info on the project and how to participate go to: Virtual Choir 3

And if you liked what you read do not forget to pop back in, next I'll be writing a manual on how to see a performance in the world's most famous Opera in Vienna for the price of a small coffee in Starbucks... and survive it. :) Coming up soon!

quick note on inspiration

I find it amazing how many different things can be inspiring, if we only let them. I was asked today how I feel when some kind of inspiration ‘hits me’. And with me it’s like that… I almost always immediately start making plans, I see those things happening with the eyes of imagination and I wonder how exactly I would want it to be. And so yesterday I watched a movie ‘2 days in Paris’ and I’ve realized that I haven’t spoken French in 2 years and I feel like I’ve already forgotten everything I ever knew... And with that thought, I started planning a trip to France for September. Let it be! =)

Portets (near Bordeaux), where I lived in 2008, June-August

University of Vienna...

...as the whole city, has woken up in snow today.  :)

Luckily Austrians know how to deal with it, so we're not paralysed ;)

London's sleeping

Last week I went to London. And although I've been there many times before, this time surprised me in a way...

It was 2 A.M. and it was pitch dark outside. We were just outside of London, near Gatwick Airport. And right there, on top of a hill I could see all the London’s lights in front of me. There was this amazing orange-redish glow above the city. Above our heads you could see the stars and there was a group of rabbits running around. 

And this was the only sound one could hear there at that time. Well… maybe an occasional bird that couldn’t sleep. But the rest… There was just silence.

And if people say New York is the city that never sleeps, as Frank Sinatra used to sing, then I must say that I saw London sleeping. And it was amazing… 

the godly law of Austria

It's Sunday in Vienna. Shops are closed. BECAUSE it's Sunday - the day of rest. And yes, we're in 21st century, I'm not talking about some old, old times...

With time I've learnt to accept that with almost 2millions inhabitants, when it comes to the 7th day of the week there are only 3 shops open - 3 exeptions from the rule.

For example, there is BILLA on Praterstern - the train station not far from where I live.

And so I went to BILLA to buy just a couple of things that I really needed. (It's not worth trying to do proper grocery shopping on Sunday, because there every week feels as if Christmas was to come tomorrow and the store is full.)

To my surprise, some shelves turned out to be totally hidden behind the bars.

I've never really noticed, but today - here is what I read on a note on one of such shelves:

The 'store opening hours' refer to all other stores, I presume. But as someone who's not a true Viennese I was most surprised to see this:

So, according to the Austrian law, not only do I have to spend plenty of time queing on Sundays (as a punishment for not having bought whatever it is I need on Saturday?), but also I should tell my runny nose to wait for Monday, because apparently it's against law to buy Kleenex. (!!!)

Oh Austria, Ich liebe dich.

something to think about

This short video from a Pixar movie made me incredibly happy and, eventually, unavoidably sad.
Watch it if you ever think about what happiness is. Do you think that someone to share our life with is a condition for it? Like... if we wanted to be.... deliriously happy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GroDErHIM_0

absitively positutely

Listen to this: Gotye - I feel better

And welcome in 2012 :)

Happy New Year everyone!

I hope this year will be, for everybody, a year of dreams coming true and goals being achieved.
And remember the old saying that "Even the longest journey must begin where you stand". So don't be afraid to take the first step.
I have one resolution that I can share (if anyone cares to listen ;P). I intent not to blow problems out of proportion. It's so easy to do it without even realising... Let's stay positive! :)

ABSITIVELY POSITUTELY. I like 2012.