Bratislava Update

So it has been a while since I gave you guys an update so let me begin. I have been in Bratislava for over a week now and I am still having a great time. I have gone out on my own a few times and I haven't had any trouble with the language barrier, must people here speak some English. I have taken the bus a few times but I find for the short distances I need to go I can walk or take a taxi. I can get a taxi to the main shopping mall for about 4 bucks. I could take the bus for a about a buck but I have to take two buses to get to the mall and it takes about 15-20 min. In the taxi I am there in 5, so needless to say I take taxi's most places I need to go. I am still trying to find a bookstore that sells English books but I have found a few English magazines so far. I also picked up a prepaid mobile phone so if I need help I can call one of my roommates for help with getting around or what ever.

In my attempt to learn Slovak I found a U.K. company that sells software that teaches you with interactive games and what not, I ordered it and should have it by next week, I hope it helps. I am picking up words as time goes by and I would say I know about 30 words so far. I can say the basics like hello, thank you, please, etc. plus some not so polite things to say. Why is it you learn the bad words in a new language first?

The food here is very good and cheap. I also found a great place for pizza that delivers. I can order on-line to avoid any language issues. The bread here is very good and every 2 days we get a fresh loaf for about .70 cents. Most of the time we snack on a slice of bread with some soft cheese with tomato or green peppers. Breakfast for me is 2 eggs and some fried salami on bread. It's not pork roll but it's close. (I would kill for a pork roll, egg and cheese on a hard roll from the O.B. Diner)

I am still trying to get cable TV with some English channels and I hope to have it taken care of by the end of the week. The Internet has been the only way I can watch TV. If you know where to look you can download shows a day or two after they have aired in the US. I am keeping up with some of my favorites like "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Weeds" and "Survivor". I was able to download the Giants/Redskins game from last week and I should be able to get this weeks game also. The great thing about getting them from the net is no commercials, the game was only 2 hours without commercials. I did bring my external hard drive stuffed with movies and TV shows so if all else fails I can watch one of those. I can't wait to see the Giants game from this week.

We went out this weekend to the "Old Town" and had a great time at the bars. I need to go during the day for pictures but with everyone at work or school during the day I may have to go on my own. It is a stark contrast between the look of "Little Brooklyn" and "Old Town". I would love to live in "Old Town" but the rents there are twice what they are here so that's out. While Bratislava is the most expensive place to live in Slovakia I still think it is cheap. I also think the real estate market here is only going to get better and I am looking at ways to get in on the ground floor. Most Slovakians think that 100k for a 2 bedroom flat here in Petrzelka aka "Little Brooklyn" is very expensive but in 5 years it will look very cheap. The economy here is good and getting better. Slovakia is really focused on the automotive industry, they are doing a lot things to attract companies to build automotive and parts factories here. I am going to work on a short video of the flat so you can get an idea of what it is like to live here. I should have it done in a week or two.

Thanks to all of my fans who read my updates and I will post more in the future. (yes that is my way of saying, when I feel like it.) Oh yeah, Henry and Kelly, the Redskins still suck! Go Big Blue.