Further Cities of "Zoli" - Slovakia: Bratislava, Banska Bistrica, Kosice

Continuing our interest in "Zoli" - by Colum McCann
the novel roughly based on the 1930's Roma singer, Papusza *

Places in Slovakia mentioned or central to the book.
See section entitled "Slovakia 2003" in particular

Bratislava, Slovakia: Castle view, from the Danube

Overall country: see Slovakia Road Ways.

Bratislava.

Here is Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia. It is near Vienna - at the western section of Slovakia, just down river on the Danube, and tour boats stop here. See map at ://www.gov.mb.ca/trade/country/images/maps/lo-map.jpg. The tour boats' next stop is Budapest, Hungary. There is the castle on the hill. The old town is right there where the cruise ships are, with its warren of old streets and walls. Gypsies were resettled here, and other towns, in large apartment building blocks, canyons of them, outside the picture's range; and the wheels of their caravans burned so they could not move about any more. See Zoli p______ on the "Great Halt."

The Park Kultury here hosts annual jazz events - very successful. See mention of park, beside the Danube, at Zoli p. 94. And the Tatra Hotel, Zoli at 114, is still there. See //www.hotelclub.net/hotel.reservations/Tatra_Hotel_Bratislava.htm. The Carlton Hotel, Zoli at 115, is now a Radisson. See ://www.bratislava.info/hotels/hotel-carlton/

Banska Bistrica, Slovakia: Town Square

The town of Banska Bistrica, Square of the Slovak National Uprising.

Note the Marian or Plague Column in the center, in gratitude for being spared in the epidemics, especially I believe the dreadful one in 1715.

Zoli mentions this town at p.___. Have to get page.



Kosice, Slovakia: car show

Kosice.

Kosice, Slovakia. This is at the far eastern section of Slovakia. This street leads to the square with its large St. Elizabeth Cathedral. The town is at an old trade-route crossroads.

Here is a modern car show, girls, band and all. The Square and street connecting to a lower square are pedestrianized, and this was one of the features that day.








Kosice, Slovakia: St. Elizabeth's Cathedral

While we are here, see the splendid landmark cathedral in the main square. St. Elizabeth's Cathedral. Fourteenth Century, named after Elizabeth, the daughter of Charles of Anjou.

It is the largest Gothic Cathedral in Slovakia.
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* "Zoli" by Colum McCann, Random House 2007; Papusza lived in Slovakia, before and during the time of the Fascists. Some reviews stress the plot of the novel as a love story. To me, that was secondary to the life of the person. Here is a collection of reviews: at http://www.amazon.com/Zoli-Novel-Colum-McCann/dp/0812973984/

Sample Poetry, Old song bits, Thoughts of fictional Zoli - Are these quotes from Papusza?

Interest in Papusza and Zoli - from a blast of poems, words like these: "Zoli," by Colum McCann.

"We sing to sweeten the dead grass" Zoli 10
"From what is broken, what is cracked, I make what is required" Zoli 10
"I will not, o, never call the crooked finger straight" Zoli 10
"My grave is hiding from me" Zoli 105

"Zoli believed there was a life-spring that went down to the center of the earth and that it ran both ways but mostly it rose from the well of her childhood." Zoli at 93

"When I cut brown bread don't look at me angrily, don't look at me angrily because I'm not going to eat it." Zoli at 87.

"They broke my little brown arm, now my father he cries like the rain" Zoli at 31. A song bit.

"I will fill the empty cup, it is not so hollow any more, I will fill it with wine, it will come from the palm of your hand." Zoli at 30

"I want no shadow to fall upon your shadow, your shadow is dark enough for me." Zoli at 31

"The old horse is standing though he is not sleeping, he always has a watching eye, a watching eye." Zoli at 259.

"If you have the money you can think what you like." Zoli at 259.

Read longer works at pp.278-283.