Of Lamp Posts and Recycled Materials

I think it's no secret that I love lamp posts. I found the book The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis an absolutely delightful and witty read because it tells the story of how the lamp post in the land of Narnia came to be. My love for lamp posts has only been fed the longer I live in Europe and traveled about as many of the cities within the countries on this weathered continent have a treasure trove of absolutely beautiful and stunning lamp posts. While I was traveling in Bratislava and Levice a few weeks ago, I came across several that instantly caught my eye and I enjoyed inward moments of sheer joy at the marvel of them. 

This particular lamp post reminds me of several in Prague that line a particular street full of salmon colored houses and walls. 

This lamp post was in the back garden of a Youth Center owned by Cirkev Bratska (similar to the Evangelical Free Church of America) in Levice

Here it is again. I love the wrought iron detail of the bench that blend so well with the wrought iron details of the lamp post itself.

While visiting Bibiana Art Museum in Bratislava a few weeks ago, I found my senses being tingled with myriads of aesthetically pleasing sights... most of which amazed me because I had no idea there were so many practical uses for trash! (The focus of the exhibit was the importance of recycling and using recyclable materials in all manner of ways in order to save the planet.)

Paper origami shapes hanging from a ceiling fixture

I really loved this! One of my best friends, who lives in Idaho, makes her own earrings out of currency (yes, penny's and the like) and I instantly thought of her when I saw the soda can pop-top earrings. That's the type of thing she could pull off and make look so good, trendy and hip without even trying.

This I just found bizarrely fascinating. It reminded me of something that might decorate the kindergarten room where I went to school.

This is for my family. Notice the Kahlua bottle, guys? That's right, Christmas at Aunt Helen's. Enough said. 

In every room around the museum, there were pink boxes with a heart on the top. Every time I came across one, I instantly thought of sister one and her love of hearts.

Inside the boxes were different things. This one had marbles in it ...

... and another one had currency from all over the world in it.

This poster reminded me of sister one as well. Once I read the inscription on it, I instantly thought of sister one's daily ritual of making five cups of tea each morning, lining them up on the counter and then drinking them through out the day as she gets to them. So see, sister one?! You recycle at least two glass bottles a day, so you know you're saving plenty of energy to make your tea each day!!! I hope you enjoy it even more now!!!

This was just adorable. I love the rain drop on the top of the leaf.

 The museum was full of wrought iron railings. I loved the shapes and designs...

 ... especially this one with the heart ...

 ... which of course brought sister one and Lu to mind.

This one reminded me of peacock feathers and made me think of my best friend who lives in Dallas.

This picture, though I have no idea what it supposed to depict necessarily, reminded me of a cross between Narnia (from the book, not the school wherein I teach) and a really dark version of Snow White. 

When I went with some of the students to find souvenirs (for them, not me) there must have been some sort of art competition using barrels as a base because the street where we walked was full of barrels of all shapes and sizes and colors and depictions. I didn't have a lot of time to really inspect the barrels, but managed to get pictures of the two that really caught my eye. 

 I love the pink spring coils for legs!

While this picture really doesn't do this barrel justice, the lady inside said barrel was indeed created naked. She was surrounded by succulent looking (even if fake) red grapes complete with a wreath made from a grape vine crowning her head. Extremely creative!

 All in all, this trip helped me get to know Bratislava a little better...

 ... and I must admit ...

 ... my knowing it better ...

... has helped improve my opinion of it.

Before I close this post, I must share one more picture with you. Whilst it's hard to believe, this is what is posted inside the girls toilet stalls at the Narnia Elementary school in Bratislava.

Hands down the best entertainment I've ever encountered inside a toilet stall in my life! While it's completely hilarious there's also a part of me that takes pause when the laughter subsides. I have to ask myself is it a joke, and if not, what kinds of things are going on within in the halls and walls (and stalls!) of Bratislava Narnia that signs of this nature must be posted in the bathroom?! But then the moment of reflection passes (probably sooner than it should) and I find myself in fits of laughter again. It seems a hopeless business to try and figure it out. So I'll just enjoy it for what it is.

Musical Tour

I just got back from four days of touring with the third and fourth grade musical, called Robot's World, in the cities of Levice (LV) and Bratislava (BA). I didn't quite know what to expect, but it was better than I could have hoped for. As sick and tired as I am of musicals (I've helped teach five this school year, which included a region-wide competition with first and second grade and multiple performances for parents) I had a total blast spending time with the students seeing the sights and sounds of the cities. Many of them have never been to either city, so it was fun watching them ooh and aah over things, especially in Bratislava, the capitol. I heard more than one student exclaim, "Miss Emily, the buildings are so tall!" All I could think was, "If you think these are tall, I wonder what you'd think of the buildings in say Dallas or Chicago or New York City?" but I kept those thoughts to myself.

In between musicals we managed to go to Atlantis Science Center in LV (somewhat of a new concept here in Slovakia apparently); it reminded me so much of the Science Place, just on a much smaller scale. We also went to an Aqua Park in Senec (outside of BA), which was actually really nice; but then considering it is also a wellness spa, I guess it would have to be. The last day in BA we went to the Bibiana Art Museum for Children. The theme was recycling, so the place was full of all sorts of paper, plastic, metal and other things with information about recycling and being more ecologically friendly. The students had so much fun at all three places being able to walk around, touch, poke, prod, play, swim and learn. I enjoyed being able to get pictures and watch the students' giddiness overflow at things they didn't know could exist or be possible. It gives me hope for this country, that it will overcome and move forward in a positive direction from the effects of the repressive communistic regime that still linger.

 You know it's a good omen when the bus is an Emili Bus!

 I got to climb for the first time!