5 Months in Bratislava

I arrived in Bratislava mid-October, at night, and waited in the empty bus station my brother to pick me up. He led me straight to an underground bar in Hviezdoslavovo Square, where I was warmly welcomed by his friends over dark Saris beers.

The first days, taking advantage of the distance which allowed me to see some things more clearly, I tried to put my thoughts in order, especially when it came to what I want to do with my life in general. Then, I started meeting people, I visited Vienna and Prague and read some books I wanted to read for a long time.

After Christmas, I returned to Bratislava ready for some action. The weather did not help a lot, though. It was snowing every two days, until I got sick of it and then I re-appreciated it when I realized that it was actually less cold if it was snowing. The lake in the park next to my house froze, it was the first time I saw something like that, let alone walk on it!

Maybe the consumption of Slovak drinks would have helped to live more succesfully through the Slovak winter, but I didn't dare approach them, after my first experience which included all of them and I hardly remember how it ended...

My brother had adapted as well and, after his exams were successfully over, we started spending time together. Before, I had been afraid that if we continued living together without actually communicating, we would lose any kind of contact, so I was more than relieved when I saw the situation improving.

Mid-February, I got the opportunity to move to Italy and I decided to grab it. Then, it happened exactly the same that had happened in August, when I decided to leave Athens: I started having an amazing time! It seemed that my everyday life in Bratislava was becoming exactly as I wanted it to be: friendship, romance, drama, all was included and in the most balanced way.

The last day, I sent half my stuff back to Greece, went for dinner in my favorite restaurant, drank a bottle of wine, packed whatever had remained unpacked, gave someone to keep a few things for me -as a guarantee that we would meet again in order to take them back- and off I was, excited and sad at the same moment: excited for the new beginning, sad for leaving at its best moment, when everything had started working out. Even the sun had reappeared and the snow had started melting!

My first days here, I searched flights for a weekend visit - with no result, as all Ryanair weekend flights till April are booked. I see my friends' photos on Facebook and get jealous for not being there to share those moments with them. One of them is visiting me in some days and, hopefully, the others will follow, sooner or later.

I do not regret leaving though. I like it in Bologna: I love the city, I feel at home and, the people I know, I feel as if I know them for years. Most important, I am doing exactly what I wished when I left home: I live my adventure. Yes, I miss Bratislava but I do not complain and, to be honest, in a way I am happy it turned out like this: Bratislava's goodbye was the sweetest it could ever be.