Igor popped his head out from his office, “Pat, you have a phone call.” The 20th anniversary party for the Music Forum was hitting full swing. It didn’t occur to us that no one knew we were at the music shop in… Read More ›
“Home”
Places we have lived.
A Bratislava, Slovakia New Year’s Eve
Slovakia is a city of inexpensive booze and readily accessible fireworks. On New Year’s eve, this was a troubling combination. Leaving Tesco in the afternoon, a very loud boom exploded near my head. I nonchalantly reached up and covered my right ear to ensure I could… Read More ›
The Slovak Symphony performs Shostakovich: The siege of Leningrad
A few weeks ago, we attended a performance in the Reduta Hall with our friends, Igor and Vlasta. The Slovak Philharmonic performed Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony. I was a bit concerned when Igor mentioned it was a “powerful symphony which told a vivid… Read More ›
The Bratislava Christmas market
As autumn draws to a close, Christmas descends upon Bratislava. It does not barge into the mall. The mall trees tend to be no taller than me. Nor does it make its appearance as houses adorned with lights, a single… Read More ›
The resilience of Slovakia and Eva Lipakova
Eva Lipakova is a spry octogenarian. Her eyes twinkle as she spins her yarns of a life in Czechoslovakia. She spent the prime of her life in a communist country – studying English and awaiting the day when free travel… Read More ›
The World In Between 