European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 20, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Slovakia life is slow and lifestyles Are simple in Central Slovakia. Is Peter Jaeger Sawwa by Theresa Bujnoch nervous about going to a country to one you know has visited unsure about what to expect relax. When you think about it relatively few people had the Chance to visit Slovakia since it broke away from its czech neighbor in january of 1993. Even the slovaks Aren t sure what to expect. V Anna Toth and her brother Milan Marek returned to their native country last november. The two immigrated to Canada 20 years ago but have always maintained ties with family members in Bratislava. But now they find themselves claiming a nationality that no longer exists. Our father is czech and our Mother is slovak. We be always called ourselves czechoslovakian but we cannot say that anymore Marek said. Semantics Aren t the Only problem. As canadians the two needed visas to enter Czechoslovakia. Now separate visas Are required to visit both countries and both sides of the family. When informed of this while trying to Cross into the czech Republic officials told them they were not yet set up to Issue visas at the Border. So that meant a trip Back to the slovak capital of Bratislava to get visas to travel into the czech Republic. It depends on whom you ask said Mereck when asked about Public opinion of the czech slovak breakup. Everyone will Tell you something different. I Don t think it was a Good idea. But the two countries have always had very different  his sister sees a country still reeling from the break with the soviet Union and communism in 1989. Like the other former East bloc countries Slovakia is struggling with High unemployment. Some people Tell me that at least with the communists they were assured of a Job Toth said. The past still haunts the landscape of Slovakia. Loudspeakers used of r government messages hang from Telephone poles in the smallest villages. Smog heaving from Industrial plants scars one Beautiful Valley after another while castles churches and Villas still imaginable in their regal states waste away in disrepair. But for Good or bad roads Are widening in places and Brand new hotels Gas stations restaurants and Camel cigarette signs show up in the most unexpected  rooms Are much easier to find now that More tourists Are coming. And the old world Charm survives. On sunday morning in the very Catholic Slovakia sturdy women wearing White shawls and thick Soled shoes can still be seen peddling rusted bikes toward the Village Steeple. And below their dark sweaters brightly coloured full skirts Rustle against Wool stockings. In front of dilapidated Homes with unkept gardens stand whimsical wrought Ron fences Many seeming to be freshly painted in color schemes of Orange and red Blue and Green or even purple and yellow. Get out to take a picture of one and no doubt you will attract stares. In fact expect stares and questioning eyes wherever you go. But most of All expect contradiction. A trip through Slovakia is full of surprises. Along the slalom course highways that rarely allow Drivers to reach a sustained Speed of 100 Kilometres an hour 62 Mph look out for men pulling carts of thick Sticks Down the shoulder less Road or the Shepherd grazing his flock a few feet from your speeding car. Trawlers tips what to know before you go get a Good guide Book. Information is hard to come by in English and understanding czech and slovak words with their Vowel less syllables is difficult even with a dictionary. The real guide czech and slovak republics is easy to use and fairly up to Date. Study some German although More in the czech Republic than Slovakia German is a common second language. In larger hotels restaurants and at information desks employees routinely speak German. Hungarian is common in Southern Slovakia. Currency the czech Republic and Slovakia have separate currencies that can be purchased Only upon arrival. At this writing the Exchange rate was 32 crowns or Koruna abbreviated pesto the . Dollar in Slovakia and 28 crowns to the Dollar in the czech Republic. Travel arrangements the state run Zedok the former czechoslovak tourist Agency became Satur slovak Agency for tourism in january 1994. Despite the name change the office locations there Are branches in most towns will remain the same. Like the names of the tourist agencies much of Slovakia is undergoing change so try to get the most up to Date information available before going. Theresa Bujnoch Tara National Par czech republics a january 20, 1994 stripes Magazine 11