Why Košice?

We have returned to Kosice for a second visit, our third to Slovakia. We love visiting here. It has become a bit of a joke with us that whenever we converse with people here, we get the same question. “Why are you here?” Even people in the tourist industry wonder about it. “I don’t think Americans know about Kosice.” Why would anyone ever choose to visit Kosice?

I get it. As a child of the rust belt, I understand a city where the largest employer is USSteel. When you can visit anywhere, why here? There is a disdain for the familiar, an inability to acknowledge the charms of your surroundings. When we are asked where we are from, we talk about New York, the state. We understand that they may picture us from Manhattan or Brooklyn. New York City is as exotic to us as Kosice. Would Kosicians find Oneonta exotic?

The cafes and wine bars are cheaper here than in Vienna. We really haven’t ventured out from the center city. We have had no need to figure out the public transportation. Our Airbnb is right in the middle of delightful historical buildings and cultural activities.

There is a downtown mall which seems thriving. But at the other end of the center core, near the museum, we have noticed that the Tesco, a department store with groceries, maybe a step above a Walmart, has left since last year. We can get our groceries at a smaller store, “Fresh”.

As we explore Kosice, we think about where we live and where we might choose to live in the future. Yes, we can live here for a week, maybe a month. What is it like in the winter? All we seem to come up with is that it’s fun to explore and ponder.