It's my first weekend at Bratislava, solo. Summer is back, with a vengence, with temperature soaring to well above 30 C. The Old Town was a hive of activity, with craft stalls selling local craft. These stall holders are licensed, and many wear a badge with their name on it.
A woman in folk costume painstakingly decorating an egg. In Slovakia, this art form is called Kraslice, which simply means decorated Easter eggs. The eggs have elaborate geometrical designs in brilliant colours, the whole giving a sharp jewelled effect that is exceedingly decorative and attractive. All the eggs come with a ribbon, which make them ideal for hanging onto a Christmas tree. It was mesmerising watching her flicking her painting brush from the paint onto the egg, and the concentration she applied to her craft.
Mr Flintstone making objects with ropes, e.g. hammocks. This was a character to behold, a bulky man with bulging biceps, dressed in an eye catching outfit, and had installed in his stall a beautiful, blond assistant to keep him fed and watered. A child was nosing around and carelessly knocked the displays over. Without a word, girl Friday sprang to action, signalled to the child's father, and together put the show back on the road.
Not the knitting you know. The art of knitting with wire has been developed into an art form of a high order. From this lady I bought a pair of earrings which is shaped like a narrow hibiscus with stamens. Other wire knitters have produced fantastically elaborate designs such as hats, castles, animals, etc. Tomorrow I will go and fetch a pair of dragon fly earrings which I have commissioned, and whenever I wear them, I will remember my first solo weekend at Bratislava.
Beautifully decorated ginger bread. Decorated ginger bread has a long tradition in Eastern Europe. In Slovakia, they are called Medovnik. One American tourist bought a whole bag of them, declaring that she would distribute them to her grandchildren at Christmas time.
A woman operating her loom making table runners. She was just one of many stallholders using this technique to attract buyers. I must say that these street market stall holders, dressed in their folk costume and putting in a day's work in the hot sun deserve all the custom they crave. 