I went for a winter walk the other day through the Bratislava Forest Park. My route took me through the Železná studnička valley and then straight up to Kamzík hill, right near the TV tower. This whole area is incredibly popular and crowded with cyclists and families during the summer, but in the winter, it gets very quiet and calm.

On my way back down into the valley, I walked past the four ponds along the Vydrica stream. These aren't natural lakes. They were actually engineered back in 1846 as water reservoirs with a purpose was to guarantee a steady supply of water power for nine historic watermills that had operated along the stream since 1455. As industrial milling became obsolete in the late 19th century, the mills closed down—some eventually turned into recreational sites—but the ponds stayed.

The water was frozen solid. It reminded me of when I was a child, when a freeze like this meant the ponds would be packed with people ice skating. Today, you hardly see anyone skating here. It’s true that our winters have changed and the cold seasons are noticeably shorter now. However, we still get regular cold snaps where the temperature drops below freezing long enough for the ponds to harden completely.

The main change isn't just the weather, though; it’s the lifestyle. Most people today simply prefer the convenience and perfectly smooth ice of Bratislava's modern, refrigerated public rinks. Honestly, I don't really care that the crowds have moved indoors. The fact that people choose the city rinks just means the winter forest is left completely peaceful, and I can enjoy the quiet walk all to myself.