SchlanizerAlm Hutte U-Slovaka — Restaurant in Hermagor-Pressegger See

We were drunk. Not too bad but drunk enough to throw an empty red bull can to the floor. Immediately we picked that up and placed right back to the table. A young waitress saw it but she didn't say anything. After a minute or two a Slovak staff member (owner maybe?) came to our table and start blaming and threatening us. We said sorry and so and try to apologize politely. But the man was too angry and pathetic to realize the situation and don't even tried to calm down. (We spent 180 eur in less than an hour, no trouble at all, except the can thing.) We have been just waiting until the S.S. officer finishing the speach. ...than we paid and left the place forever. Worst after ski party in my life! Eastern European Style. No thanks in the Austrian Alps! But we can forgive them! Frustration is big in Slovak identity. They are speaking Czech language and living in Hungarian territory. Not much left to them....

CZ: dneska jsem byla na obědě U Slováka. Krátce popíšu situaci, protože jsem byla v šoku, že lidi z Česka a Slovenska mohou být tak bezohlední. Ale asi už moc dlouho žiju v zahraničí. Jíme oběd, který je předražený, porce poloviční než všude jinde a točená Plzeň (pivo) ok, ale tím vše nespravíte. A najednou nějaká panika kolem stojanu s lyžemi a ukázalo se, že jedné paní, Češce, ukradli nové lyže. Ok, může se stát, zloději jsou všude. Co mě však fascinovalo, byl totální nezájem lidí okolo (95%) Čechů a Slováků a nezájem lidí z Almhütte jakkoli pomoci. Neříkám, že to byla jejich chyba. Jen mi přijde bezohledné, nenabídnout třeba jazykovou pomoc při volání policie, zavolání vlekaře, aby pro paní přijel na skútru, nebo se kouknout na záznam z kamery, kterou tam mají nainstalovanou. Je jasné, že to není jejich povinnost, mě to však přijde normální a lidské si pomáhat. A taky jim to fakt žádnou dobrou reklamu nedělá. Pro mě prostě poučení: vždy raději k Italům, lepší kafe, lepší jídlo a větší pravděpodobnost, že se tam nekrade. A dávejte pozor na vaše lyže.

EN: Today, I had lunch at U Slováka. I’ll briefly describe the situation because I was shocked that people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia can be so inconsiderate. But maybe I’ve just lived abroad for too long.

We were eating lunch—overpriced, with portions half the size of what you get elsewhere. The draft Pilsner (beer) was okay, but that didn’t make up for everything else. Then, suddenly, there was some panic around the ski rack, and it turned out that a Czech woman had her brand-new skis stolen.

Okay, it happens—there are thieves everywhere. But what fascinated me was the total indifference of the people around—95% of them were Czechs and Slovaks—and the lack of willingness from the staff at the Almhütte to help in any way. I’m not saying it was their fault, but I found it inconsiderate that no one offered, for example, language translations or assistance when calling the police, to call a ski lift operator to pick the woman up on a snowmobile, or even just to check the security camera footage that was installed there.

Of course, none of this was their obligation, but to me, it seems natural and human to help each other out. My takeaway from this? I’ll happily stick to Italy or Austria—better coffee, better food, and a higher chance that no one will steal from you.

And a final note: watch...

This place feels like a slice of Czechoslovakia on the Austrian slopes. They offer a blend of Austrian and Czech/Slovak cuisine, along with an excellent selection of Slovak drinks, including Kofola, Pilsner Urquell, and Spišská Borovička. The staff speaks Slovak and is exceptionally friendly and attentive. They also have special days dedicated to regional food specialties, such as baked pork on Sundays and grilled pork knuckle...