For four decades, Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, lay behind the Iron Curtain, closed off from the West and ruled by the Soviets under a strict and oppressive Communist government. What is today known as Slovakia had yet to stand as its own, rather forming part of the larger Czechoslovakia. After the fall of Communism … [Read more…]
Located on the Danube River, reachable within a day from Vienna and Budapest, I found Bratislava to be the biggest hidden gem on my trip to the former Eastern Bloc. Packed full of history and less frequented by tourists, the capital of Slovakia allows you to have a certain intimacy with the city and its … [Read more…]
As an American, the world has seemingly pointed West my entire life. At home, news from the East is contextualized to its impact on the United States. The majority of my studies in history growing up were inward focused, and even global topics such as World War II were usually centered on my own country’s … [Read more…]