Slovakia-2024

 

Photos - https://link.shutterfly.com/slFl7nIuIRb

The more I travel, the more I see the rest of the World watching America. America has such a huge influence on the rest of the world, both good and bad. For example, I see artwork of Marilyn Monroe. Or the famous WWII poster of a woman with her sleeves rolled up and the wording “We can do it”. I talk to the “person on the street” that knows more about our politics than does much of our population. They don't understand how the “orange one” has come to be. After many walking tours and cycling tours of former communist countries, it is now clearer how anarchists have come to power. It did not start with tanks rolling into a city and armies defeating the local town people. It happened with politicians that lied to the people and spread false promises. Let's hope the US does not fall, as this happened to so many other countries in our history. Each time, it started with corrupt, power-hungry men along with their selfish, self-interested colleagues and a thirst for power and wealth.

Slovakia, the size of Mississippi, with its beautiful capital of Bratislava is one of the smaller European capitals and situated on the Danube River. I could not resist using an app to rent a city bike and ride along the Danube. The well-preserved old town and its iconic castle looking over the Danube has witnessed many rulers, many as tyrants. As part of the dissolution of Austria and Hungary, Czechoslovakia was a relatively new country that was formed after WWI at a meeting in Pittsburgh! In 1939, Germany invaded and the Nazi’s ruled until 1945. Yet, Czechs were abroad fighting with the Allies against Nazi Germany. After WWII, with Germany on the losing side, Stalin’s Soviet Union backed the Communist party that had formed with Czechoslovakia. In 1968, the Soviet Union invaded with tanks to squash any effort of reform from Communism. Finally in 1989, the Velvet Revolution (relatively bloodless revolt), delivered them out of 44 years of oppressive Communism. Then in 1992 the democratic government voted to split Czechoslovakia into the countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Understanding this reminds me of playing a game of “who’s on First?”!