Who is This Guy: Unveiling Bratislava

Two weeks ago, I was in Bratislava, Slovakia. While roaming the streets of Bratislava, I saw a guy resting in a sewer. This seemed to be a popular tourist destination, as around 40 to 50 people were there at the time, taking photos with this guy. As I explored the city further, I found out that this guy is quite popular because he appears on many "souvenir magnets" of the city.

Curious about who this guy was and why he was there, I started searching about him on the internet when I got home. I found an article about the story behind this guy.

The story was like this: the statue was made in memory of a cleaning worker who fell in love with a girl. The girl left him after he told her about his work. She didn't have the courage to dump him face-to-face, so she invited him for coffee but didn't show up. He waited for her every day at the same time and place. His friends tried to sympathize and console him, but he died a few months later out of melancholy and pain. The city decided to honor him by making a statue of him and opening a coffee shop next to it so that people could drink coffee with him and express their love, sympathy, and appreciation for his work.

How good this story is, but unfortunately, it is false. Actually, this statue was installed in 1997 to add a touch of humor and charm to the city’s historic center, and it is known as Čumil. It is not based on any real story. There are some theories about this statue. Some say he is simply taking a break from his work, while others believe he is peeking up women’s skirts, which adds a cheeky element to his character. Regardless, this statue symbolizes Bratislava's unique and lighthearted spirit.

While traveling in Bratislava, I also visited the "Blue Church," a noted tourist destination. The only thing different about this church was its color. It was blue. We went there at around 14:00, and there were still around 20 people taking pictures with it. Seriously, this is the same as hundreds of other churches in Europe. But, yes, there is some uniqueness to the church, like it being an excellent example of the Art Nouveau style and having cultural significance. Still, I can't see any point in making it a tourist attraction.

Nevertheless, the city was beautiful, with rich cultural and historical significance. Some must-visit tourist destinations include the Bratislava Castle, which provides stunning views of the city and the Danube River. The Slovak National Theatre and the UFO Observation Deck on the SNP Bridge are also worth visiting.