*Euroskop

Perhaps because it is one of the smaller capitals in Europe, we didn’t know anyone and couldn’t find anyone who knew someone in Bratislava. However, through aggressively approaching people in the streets we had plunged into the young art scene of this laid-back city three days later. On our first evening, we could not be bothered to check in a too expensive hostel (although getting a shower for free) and preferred to stroll through the streets – maybe someone would provide some square meters of their floor for our sleeping bags? We first ran into a gallery with a group of art students exhibiting their jewellery; then, we got to know some musicians studying at the Bratislava conservatory; painters were to follow the next day. The building of the Bratislava conservatory that we visited is a modern and well-equipped building. Surprise, surprise: It has been co-financed by the EU. Certainly not only because of conservatory buildings, Slovaks are considered one of the most EU-enthusiast peoples around; Still, it was the Slovakian parliament that blocked the bailout of Greece in November 2011. How come?