Bridge – Bonus

I’ve already posted my contribution to this Weekly Photo Challenge, however my fingers keep itching to add one more. I really need to talk about the most (in)famous bridge in my home town of Bratislava–the Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising. Most SNP in Slovak (most means bridge). It is also commonly referred to as UFO Bridge. You can see why.

This is a controversial bridge. Why is it controversial?

The construction of the bridge started in 1967. For the bridge to be built, a portion of beautiful Old Town, including a Jewish quarter and a synagogue, had to be demolished.

For one reason or another, they built it in such a way that a roadway had to lead onto the bridge and it was for this reason they deemed the destruction of historical streets and buildings, even a part of castle hill, necessary.

Well, that’s Communists for you.

Obviously it’s deeply tragic. As far as I know, no such sacrilege took place in any other Communist country (please, feel free to correct me in the comments if I’m wrong). But the way I see it now is, you can’t escape your history and so, the SNP Bridge is as much a part of Bratislava as all the nice parts.

That round spaceship thing at the top has a restaurant in it–I haven’t been there as an adult though, so can’t tell you what’s on their menu. Apparently there is also an observation deck–imagine the views! I really must go there on my next visit.

You can find more information on the UFO Bridge here, if you want.

Also, Girl Astray has a cool post about it.

That’s it for my Bonus Bridge post.

Bridge