9988's MD's

[Dai9988]

Recreation of Slovakia, Small, but Scenic Country.

The Slovakia - Recreation

So, I decided to stop for a while(about one month) with Optimia Magna, what can be found on Simtropolis, and try something different. Something quite less historical and roadless. Of course, I needed to clean my old plugin set, and download about three gigabytes of modern civic stuff. It took me days to find the right files, I checked anything on LEX and most of STEX, to find things what suit to the recreation of Slovakia. Of course, many buildings in Slovakia are not there downloadable, so I used Sketchup models rendered and exported in BAT, like Saint's Martin Dome, what can be seen on the image below. This is a
recreation of Slovakia, small country in the center of Europe, where the Carpathian mountain range meets Pannonian Basin, surrounded by Hungary, Czech Republic, Austria and Poland. But why Slovakia? Because I live there, I know it, and so I can recreate it much easier(like recreating view from your window). Of course, I am not going to recreate whole country, because:
1.The Map would be rendered weeks
2.The Map would be covered by trees weeks
3.There are about 5000 villages and 200 cities in Slovakia, and making them would take months.
4.Most of it will be unusable and not interesting, and most tiles of that map will be only hills with trees.
5.For that it is almost impossible.
6.And it can be made much easier and better way.
So, I will recreate only parts of Slovakia that will be used there, like most interesting parts of cities, nature, and similar things. I will also use much more photoediting than in The Optimia Magna. Like original Slovak Billboards, and similar.
Author's note: Over 25% of American people think that there is still Czechoslovakia. If you are in this 25%, you should know that Czechoslovakia split in year 1993. Not talking about billions of these who even don't know that there is something like Slovakia, or even Europe.
The Slovakia is located in the center of the Europe, this map shows where exactly:

Slovakia is divided to four main parts, western region, northern, southern and eastern region. The western part is most known, because of capital city Bratislava, also with Northern, for the High Tatras, highest mountains in the Central Europe. For that, I will concentrate mainly on these two parts, but the remaining two are also worth visiting. Slovakia has also more than 20 major officially visitable caves, one of them being aragonite - world rarity, and about 1000 another caves. It has also very rich thermal water reservoirs, mostly on the south.

Some things that you probably didn't know about Slovakia:
1.Andy Warhol's parents born in Slovakia.
2.Eugen Cernan, last man on the Moon is also Slovak emmigrant.
3.On the south of Slovakia is the most quality water in whole Europe.
4.We have been part of more than 14 different nations through the history(from roman empire and pribina's principality to slovak national socialist state and socialist czechoslovakia).
5.We once declared war to USA.
We now are beginning our journey to the Slovakia.
The Capital of the Slovakia is Bratislava, located just near the Vienna, on the far southwest of Slovakia. It is very old city, just near can be found ancient roman forts and settlements. It has been usually most important city in the Slovakia, and very important city in Greater Hungary, where even the empress Maria Theresia was crowned. The most known buildings in the city is the Castle of Bratislava, the New bridge through Danube built in 1960, but with surprisingly futuristic design, or the Cathedral of Saint Martin, what can be also seen on the image below, what has been teaser in previous entry, along with the part of historical city just near the Danube and Castle hill.

Another popular part of Slovakia, as said before, is The High Tatras mountain range. It is very small, only about 200 square kilometers, but it contain hundreds of beautiful sharp mountains and peaks, with endemic fauna and flora, and well known popular ski resorts.

Although the Slovakia is modern country, one of the most modern in central Europe, the sheeps are still traditionally grazed by shepherds in many places on the north of Slovakia, not talking about many traditional craftsmen.

The nature of Slovakia is also beautiful at many places, with many waterfalls, caves, mountain lakes, and rare flora and fauna.

But, as every state, Slovakia has also its darker sides. Dirty industries are polluting villages and nature, criminality is also quite high there, and numerous Roma community lives in cardboard slums or devastated tenements, with ground covered with garbage. Lunik 9 is most known example of this, and it is located only about one mile from ice hockey stadium where the part of world cup was recently held.

Hope you enjoyed it. If you enjoyed it, please comment! More coming soon.

[Tomas Neto]

Awesome start!!!   

[noahclem]

Wow, amazing start!  I like your nature scenes the most but everything looks good and you've done an excellent job with the background information. Welcome to SC4D 

[io_bg]

I can only agree with the others, excellent start Can't wait for more, I'm sure this is going to be an amazing MD!

[Terring7]

Welcome to the world of the Mayor Diaries, where everything is possible
Very interesting beginning, with a great variety of pictures. Keep it up

[Jmouse]

Welcome to the exciting world of SC4D Mayors' Diaries, Dai9988. Those are some nice maps and interesting photos you've posted. It looks like you have everything under control except for one small detail...

Our rules for MD Authors which you can read here require that you change your .png pictures to .jpeg. It is very easy to do, and if you don't know how, just send me a PM and I'll be glad to help you.

Good luck with your new MD...
-Joan

[Dai9988]

Replies:
Tomas Neto: Thanks! Hope next updates will be also good.
noahclem: Also thanks!
io_bg: Greatly thanks! Maybe this one will be even better.
Terring7: Thanks (but I think you may saw this MD earlier on ST)
Jmouse: Okay, it was solved. Thank you!

Slovakia, as most of states in the Europe has quite rich history. From first Celtic tribes, to roman villages, Great Morave, Greater Hungary,
Two world wars... Changed Slovakia greatly. Let's take a short tour to the history of Slovakia.
First great territory on the lands of Slovakia was Principality of Great Morave, also known as Svatopluk's Empire. It covered major part of central
Europe, and was one of the most important early medieval European states.

As time fled, Slovakia joined The Greater Hungary, for more than 900 years. The Medieval age, Reinassance fled, and many cities were built. The
Bratislava was this time very important city, one of the most important in whole Kingdom.

After the World War I, when Greater Hungary split to many other states, Slovakia joined state Czechoslovakia, with Czech nation. But, the
second world war after that split the state again to two, Czech part was occupied by Germany, and Slovakia became puppet state. But, Slovakia
was almost unaffected by war in this state, and its inhabitants lived safe and happy lives.

Soon, the Germany was defeated and Socialists took over newly formed Czechoslovakia. But, in year 1968. Slovakia revolted against Communist totality.
The Soviet army marched to the Slovak territories, and occupied them, to ensure safety. After that, they left, but it is very discussed moment in
Slovak history, considered very inadequate and unfair.

To the year 1989, Slovakia was part of Socialist Czechoslovakia, greatly influenced by the Soviet Union.

After that, the Socialism fell, and Czechoslovakia soon split. The Slovakia was becoming more economically and technologically advanced afterwards, and finally in year 2004 it joined European Union and the present ages begun. Our journey to the history ended, hope you enjoyed it.

[art128]

Nice start for this MD for sure ! I'm gonna follow it !

[nedalezz]

I really enjoyed reading the history of Slovakia

The pictures you present are also very well done. Cant wait to see more!

[Tomas Neto]

Another fantastic update!!!   

[Reikhardt]

I've enjoyed the start of you Diary, good luck with future updates!

[rooker1]

Fantastic start and I love those pics. 
I hope to see you enter some of your pics in the SC4D Picture Contest.

Robin 

[bat]

Great start of your MD!
And wonderful snow picture!
The other pictures are also very nice.
Looking forward to more...

[kelis]

Great start !! I seen this MD in simtropolis. It's wonderful 

[supremec]

Very good start, I already love it 

[sumwonyuno]

I've certainly enjoyed the beginning to your mayor diary!   

[Dai9988]

Replies:
art128: Thanks!
nedalezz: You will see much more!
Tomas Neto: Again, thanks!
Reikhardt: Thank you!
rooker1: Also thanks, I just entered some.
bat: Thanks! Hope next updates will be also as good.
kelis: Greatly thanks! It is becoming very popular this time on ST.
supremec: Thank you!
sumwonyuno: Maybe you will also enjoy the next updates!

So, after introductions, we can finally start. At first, we will look on Bratislava, mostly on historical part.
Bratislava is the largest city in The Slovakia, with about 500.000 inhabitants. It is generally most visited destination in whole country.
The most known dominant of the city is The Castle of Bratislava, its historical look can be seen on the image below. Now it is completely rebuilt and
renovated, its current look can be seen on theT "newspaper on update before.

The Old city of Bratislava is beautiful at many places, like this near Hviezdoslav's square.

Or the square itself, one of the largest squares in Bratislava, also known for its markets.

Finally, I present picture of southeastern historical Bratislava.

The Slovak Parliament is also located in Bratislava, along with supreme court and presidential palace. It is located just near the castle.

Another major dominant of Bratislava is famous New Bridge, largest bridge in Slovakia.

As a bonus, I present the mosaic of river Danube, what flows through the city, and separates Petrzalka from the rest of Bratislava.





Next Coming: Bratislava, Little Big city II

[peter007]

Stunning MD.
It's great.
You made a splendid start. 

-Ernst

[art128]

Nice update ! I really enjoyed the mosaic! Also, I lol'd at the Pizza Hut tag! 

[bat]

Nice rain effect there!
Also great pictures of your city.