Communism couldn't keep Slovakian croissants or bajgels from a comeback

For Slovaks, it is the stuff of Marcel Proust’s madeleine recollections: a scrumptious, crescent-shaped pastry filled with walnuts or poppy seeds that triggers a rush of memories. All but forgotten under the decades and drabness of communism, the tasty Bratislavske rozky – or bajgel, as it is also called – is making a comeback.

Slovak pedestrians munch away on the traditional treat at cafés and snack shops or just walk around the narrow cobblestoned streets in the old town of Bratislava with one in hand. The reward? A reminder of the rich history and vibrant cultural melange of this capital cut through by the Danube at the heart of Europe.