While visiting our cousins in Polish Orawa, we drove into Slovakia to visit Oravsky Castle, the home of the rulers of Orawa. Slovakia is intriguing, less populated and mysterious. Neither Steph or I knew about the ethnic group of which some of our ancestors were a part, or that they speak their own dialect, which is a cross between Polish and Slovak. [View Full Entry]

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First impressions on entering Slovakia was that we had landed in a giant cereal bowl, with seemingly endless fields of corn and wheat on the horizon - a bit like a scene out of ‘Honey I shrunk the kids!’ Our frustrating discovery that a symbol of a tent on a map does not mean there is actually a camping ground in the vicinity happily led to us spending some very comfortable and inexpensive nights in pensions (guest houses with self catering facilities). Camping does not seem to necessarily translate and sometimes can refer to private grounds with little chalets on them [View Full Entry]

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ARGH....><" MEMORIES!! I need them!!! [View Full Entry]

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On our way between Budapest and Vienna, we stopped for a night in Bratislava, Slovakia. Bratislava was not necessarily at the top of our list of must-see destinations, but we figured since it was so convenient (on the way from Budapest and only an hour from Vienna), we’d stop and take a look around. We had read in the guidebook that outside of the small old town area the city was kind of grim, and we were kind of bracing ourselves for an unpleasant trip from the train station to the hostel. It wasn't really at all like we were [View Full Entry]

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Ended up taking the l ast night train to Bratislava... BAD....from now on I will try to get sleepers/couchettes for all overnight trains!! there were more people than I expected so I didnt get to lie down to sleep.....><" Got to Bratislava....first impression...hummm...big....old...dirty??? Dunno..just not so impressive as the small towns....afterall, its the capital i guess. Went to the hostel and check-in wasn't till 2pm!!!! WORST..accommodation in this city is almost double from the mountains and there is NO INTERNET....the computer broken down...=( very disappointed.... Slept on the couch for like 3 hours...actually a pretty comfi one...haaa.. and went to [View Full Entry]

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Woke up at 7 today, packed and went to the bus station for the bus to Poprad.. JUST FOUND OUT! there was actually a very very very short way to the bus station..and all this time we walked the other long way! dumbdumbdumb....haaaa Anyways, got to Poprad and waited an hour for the other bus to the National park, where the Dobšinská Ice cave was. The bus was very crowded!! I had to stand for a while b4 getting a seat.....tho, the ride was only about an hour. Got there and was like....WHERE??? The cave entrance was actually in the [View Full Entry]

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Totally didn't plan to trek for so long and so high! haaaa.... How nice to meet people on the way..haa...coz this trekking was SO GOOD...the view was superb!!!!!!!!!! Anyways, woke up around 7 and by the time I got ready....breakfast was already out in the garden! wah....so nice=) We kinda took our time and then got to the bus station and AH! missed the bus by like 2 mins!!!!! >__<" So we decided to hop on the bus to Levoca and hope there were more frequent buses going to Poprad...and BINGO! haaa....one in 15 mins! sweeeeeeeeeeet! Got to Poprad and had [View Full Entry]

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Maybe it was the trekking... I was so tired when I woke up so just hea around, and didn´t go out till like 11! took the bus to Levoca.....small little city....not much around....actually was disappointed=( anyways, managed to get online there so that was ok..haaaaa! and it RAINED...yada >__<" So after strolling around town...decided to head back to the penzion and just rest...didn´t feel like taking anymore bus rides anymore...haaa So got back and went grocery shopping......I think I bought too much.... got chicken..potatos...corn...bread...some spread for the bread.... anyways, got back and did my laundry...then took a nice long afternoon nap! [View Full Entry]

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So, got to Kosice yesterday... It was 5am and we just walked around the city...very nice little old town but, The fountains were not filled with water!!! ><" Nothing much and our train to Spisske Pohradie was not till an hour later.. so we went to the supermarket, bought some food and had breakfast at the park..=) Took the train...but we had to change to this other commuter train to the town actually.. it was nice!! very cute..just like a bus..haaa! We arrived and the Pension guy was really nice!!! The guy I came with didn't reserve a room, so [View Full Entry]

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Ja nain alkoi Ita Euroopan tourneeni, Slovakian paakaupungista Bratislavasta. Kummallinen tama nappaimisto muuten, en loyda valimerkkeja...Joten oikeinkirjoitustaitoni ei ole yhtakkia kadonnut, vain en vain ymmarra slovakinappaimistoa... Anyway, pari paivaa sitten hujautin yojunalla Strasbourgista Wieniin ja jatkoin siita samantien Bratislavaan. Ja olen ollut siita niiiin onnellinen! Ensin tuntui vahan hassulta saapua uuteen maahan, vahan ransistyneelle asemalla ja lahtea helteessa tallustelemaan rinkan kanssa joka muuten painaa kuin synti, etsimaan hostellia. No, kavelin katuja ja valilla vilkaisin lounarin (lonely planetin) karttaa, kavelin vahan lisaa, lepasin, ja kavelin taas. Ja ihmettelin kun ei kadunnimet tasmanneet ollenkaan. Lopulta heitin (kuvaannollisesti) lounarin jorpakkoon ja tiedustelin ohjeita, [View Full Entry]

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