One Bike Ride, Two Countries

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

By Patti Stirk

First night with my new host Juraj Sembera revealed that he started and then sold his advertising agency to the same parent company that owns Sarah’s firm: IPG.   Thrilled that he invited me to an early morning bike ride (after a late night for an old team leader), I eagerly accepted an opportunity for some exercise.

  
Always fun getting the lay of the land in a new town first thing in the morning.  But as we turned the corner out of Juroj’s neighborhood, my eyes could not believe the view.  A very long, but narrow pedestrian bridge.  The bridge over the Moravia River was constructed where the former Iron Curtain used to be and connects Slovakia to Austria.  Upon completion citizens were asked to vote on the name of the bridge and the overwhelming majority voted to name it the “Chuck Norris Bridge”.   Wiser minds prevailed and it was officially named the Freedom Bridge or Most Slovoda.    Staggering and overwhelmingly sad to thinking how many had lost their lives along this small river trying to escape the iron curtain and make their way west.

   
  

  

The west side of the river is a UNESCO protected flood / agriculture area leading up to a castle named Schloss Hof.   Cycling around a castle in an entirely different country first thing in the morning was just awe inspiring.   Loved seeing horses, donkeys, giant rabbits, and then wait, what was that?  A trio of camels on the castle property?  Yes, camels, go figure.

         The east side of the river is a nature preserve unrivaled in Europe because it was behind the iron curtain and so untouched my humans for 30+ years.  The birds & fauna in the area are worth a bike trek to witness.  Pristine nature.

   
 Heading back east to the Slovak side of the river, we stopped in a small park area with playground equipment and made our way to a large slab of marble that contained a list of those who lost their lives on that very site.  Some of the causes of death were shockingly horrendous (electrocution in the water).  Some of the victims were 5 and 6 years old. We are so lucky to be living in a better time, but there is always more we can do to ensure everyone has the chance to lead a peaceful and healthy life.