We spent the morning wandering through the old town of Bratislava. With some time to spare before our next meeting, we decided to continue exploring the city. The narrow cobblestone streets, historic buildings, and charming boutiques made for a pleasant stroll. While Bratislava has a touristy feel, there’s an undeniable sense of history and authenticity in the air.

As we walked, we discovered the famous Čumil statue—the legendary “man peeking out of a manhole.” With his mischievous grin and a head polished from years of people touching it for good luck, he seemed to greet us like an old friend. Bratislava is filled with such playful sculptures, but what fascinated me the most was an interactive musical installation. When I jumped on it, different notes played beneath my feet. I tried to create a melody, but let’s just say I won’t be composing music anytime soon. Still, it was a fun and unexpected find.

During our walk, we stumbled upon a charming candy shop. The air inside was thick with the scents of cinnamon, chocolate, and vanilla. The shelves were lined with colorful lollipops, handcrafted chocolates, and caramel treats. I picked up a small box of Slovakian chocolates—something to look forward to after our meeting.

Bratislava’s old town is full of delicious food options. The smell of fresh pastries wafting from bakeries and the rich aroma of coffee from cozy cafés made it hard to resist stopping at every corner. One of the must-try treats here is trdelník, a sweet pastry rolled in cinnamon and sugar, served warm and crispy. Another traditional dish is bryndzové halušky, a potato-based dumpling dish topped with rich sheep cheese. It seemed a bit heavy for breakfast, but I made a mental note to try it later.

Walking through the city, we also explored some local markets. The stalls were filled with regional cheeses, cured meats, and homemade jams. I have a habit of visiting markets in every city I travel to—not just for shopping but for understanding the local culture. The selection of Slovakian honey and spices was particularly intriguing.

This morning felt like a chance to experience the daily life of Bratislava. Locals were heading to work, sipping their morning coffee at street cafés, and tourists were snapping photos of the historical buildings. There’s a calm and orderly atmosphere in this part of Europe, but at the same time, traces of its post-Soviet past are still evident. For now, Slovakia feels to me like a bridge between Europe and Russia. We’ll see how my perspective evolves in the coming days.

Meeting Time: Another Residency Consultation

Finally, the time came for our meeting. Safiye and I arrived at the company’s office. This was a paid consultation, so we had already transferred the fee via online banking before the appointment. The staff welcomed us into a small meeting room and offered tea and coffee. It was a pleasant start.

We received quick answers to our questions. They explained their high success rate and assured us that the process was straightforward. Everything sounded promising. We also asked if they could offer installment payments, and the woman we spoke with said she could check with the management. “Not yet,” we told her. “We haven’t even made a decision.”And that was the truth—we weren’t fully convinced. Was this investment really worth it? What kind of challenges would we face along the way?

We asked the same questions as we had in our previous meeting, and the answers were quite similar. But one thing stood out: yesterday, we spoke with a Ukrainian consultant, and today, a Russian. Lately, we’ve been encountering so many people from these backgrounds. It even made me think about resuming my Russian lessons.

If you’re curious about the specific questions we asked, you can check yesterday’s post. The pricing between the two firms is quite similar, but this one offers a more reliable residency service. Their package is not only slightly cheaper, but they also provide temporary accommodation at the registered address, which could be a huge advantage.

Still, I can’t help but overthink things sometimes. Why was the office of the company we visited yesterday completely empty in the middle of the day? It made me question their legitimacy. And even though today’s meeting went well, something still made me a little uneasy—I just couldn’t put my finger on it.

The Common Fears of Moving Abroad

Honestly, I believe that anyone considering emigration or changing countries goes through these same anxieties.Doubts, overanalyzing, questioning every little detail—it’s all part of the process. You might have noticed that I’m still not mentioning company names. That’s because we haven’t made a final decision yet.

The meeting was pleasant, and the woman we spoke with was friendly. She even recommended a car rental service when I asked about transportation. She shared a phone number with us, which was helpful. But it made me wonder: if we proceed with this company, will the same person handle our case? I doubt it. We’ll probably be dealing with a completely different person later on.

For now, it’s time to step away from the overthinking and enjoy the rest of the day. With all these thoughts in our heads, we grab some drinks and continue walking through the rainy streets of Slovakia. Maybe we’ll try a few more local dishes. And we really should rent that car—we want to explore more of this country beyond just Bratislava.