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Published: October 7th 2008
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The bus was late leaving, it's not full, the Swedish guy from our hostel is in the same bus asI, Frederic i think is his name, he is just transtiting to Poprad on his way to Vienna. I fell asleep quickly and when I woke up I saw this massive mountain range, it was tall and enormous unfortunately did not take photos, only about 1 1/2 later we are in Poprad, got off there bid goodbye to the Swede then I tried to figure out a way to get to levoca, saw a schedule board, but it seems the bus never shows up on the alloted time it is supposed to arrive, i thought maybe because it's Sunday and i cant understand the symbols on top of the time. ! hour later a bus turns up it says levoca among other destinations but it is going the other way so waited again. Finally a bus that goes to Levoca arrives and off we went.
Arriving there i got a bit disoriented, first this is the first time I will have to fend for myself, Craig is gone so no more navigator , I tried to folow the map but I dont
know where I am1 The first hotel Paix is the name found it but it seems to be closed, cant find the entrance when i did rang the bell no response, I gave up and went back to the bus station where there is a map, Penzione Maja is next followed on my list directions but got lost heaps, with heavy ruck sack going up the hill, not a pretty sight, a woman i asked have me follow her until we saw a sign, i did not see it before! walked uphill again, and finally after an hour walking around found it and booked to a double room. I was the only one there and I have the kitchen to myself! I saw a Billa store next to the bus station so i headed there to buy things to cook and beer of course.The lady running the penzione apologised for the renovation they are doing in the other room but it really did not bother me one bit.
Slept very well after watching thie reality show thing on TV in Slovakian. The next morning i headed to the city of Spisske Pohdradie, where there is a big castle. An older
gentleman started chatting to me at the bus stop, he wanted to know where I am from, and he noticed I was a little bit impatient with the bus constantly checking the time, I now found out here in Slovakia time schedules posted are merely a suggestion, they are always late by at least 20 minutes. Bus came and off we go. I got dropped off at the center of town and I already saw the Spisske hrad from a distance all i have to do is find a way to get there, crossing a small bridge i noticed there is a path that leads to it somehow and there was a gree arrow so I followed it through people's houses, unsure I asked a woman if that is the way up to the castle she said yes and pointed to the arrows. Went past a big cemetery where yuong men were drinking under a tree, they shouted something but i told them English only, they laughed and then when I asked them again if the way to the castle is through there they said yes so i bade them bye and off I went again, through people's yard and
later cultivated fields, the path is still clear I just followed it, long trek uphill and finally I made it up, quite huge, very impresive the best Ive seen so far. You pay an entrance fee but well worth it, the complex inside can accomodate concerts and other performances, they have seats in the lawn. Visited avery nook and cranny and also the museum is good albeit quite small. When i finished I made my way down the other path, then walked back to town and took the next bus back, had my lunch while waiting.
When i went back to town, i went back to the main square where eraly that morning i went to the information desk to change money and get directions, I found an internet place on the other end and used it for couple hours to kill time,.Then back to Billa for more food shopping and cooking and of course some beer. I asked the lady at the pensione if I can extend another night as i want to go hiking the next day to Stary Smokovec. they gave me tips on how to get there. early rise off again down hill to the
LEVOCA
MAJA PENZIONE HOUSE bus station about 10 minutes walk. Got the right bus and arriving at Smokovec i intuitively went straight to the tourist office to ask for the best route i can do, all information given off i went, but i cant find any marked trail, so i just followed the people in front of me as they hike up to the top. It turns out to be a logging road, we must have missed a sign somewhere, I went past a couple hikers and my instinct is to follow the rail line, past muddy road, full of trees branches and other debris, you can also hear chainsaw from a distance they are actively logging in this area. Found the path finally and up to Hriebenok trail. the lady at the info desk said i should see a waterfall but i didnt, frustrated i followed another path leading to the woods, but the continuing trail leads to hike 4 hours long, so went back the same trail and walked down on the asphalt road back to town. The view is stunning i kept looking back to take photos of the Tatras range.
Been waiting for ages for the bus back to
BRATISLAVA
FROM A DISTANCE Levoca, at one point i decided to take the electric train to Poprad but it left seconds before missed it by a hair! Ran back at the bus stop and a Poprad bound bus is waiting i took it. And at Poprad waited eons for another bus to Levoca, annoying took 30 minutes past the time it was supposed to be there. Back in Levoca I decide to walk to the old town inside the wall for the last time as the next day I leave for Vienna via Bratislava.
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