Blogs from High Tatras, Presov Region, Slovakia, Europe

The Tatras are a compact mountain range that forms part of the border between Poland and Slovakia. Although looking much like the Alps in miniature, the Tatras are actually a northwestern extension of the Carpathian Mountains, that form an arc through Eastern Europe. Sub-divided into three separate ranges (the White, High and Western Tatras) they are a chain of rugged mountains topped with jagged peaks, rising up to 2654m in height. And best of all, they are easy to explore - not only is there a complex network of hiking routes snaking throughout the mountains on both sides of the border, but as with numerous other mountainous areas in Europe there is also a series of mountain huts placed in strategic (and often downright beautiful) locations, allowing people the opportunity to walk from hut to hut ... read more

The snow began to fall when we were about half an hour shy of the Slovakian border. The falling snowflakes made the darkened landscape look surreal and dreamlike as they fell softly onto the windshield. I was hypnotised, but only until I realised that snow down here meant deep snow in the High Tatras. Having grown up in Australia, snow is a novelty that turns me into a 5 year old with ADHD. There is of course snow in Australia but seeing it usually requires a minimum 2 hour drive into the mountains. My excitement grew as the road rose and fell over the three small mountain passes that stood between us and Poprad. We made slow progress on serpentine roads that wound through snow covered pine forests, the only source of light coming from ... read more

One little nugget of comedy from that horrible day at Demänovská Dolina last summer has been itching ever since, which was during my conversation on the train with the hung over Leeds United fans who had come to see Leeds play Košice, when I told them "I really want to go climb a mountain today", to which one of them gestured listlessly towards the perennially majestic backdrop of the High Tatras and replied "there's enough o' them round 'ere". I had never been to the High Tatras, with no real reason or motivation to go as well as the constant fear-mongering of locals in Prague about people dying there. Last weekend, I suddenly had a realisation that my life was the most boring thing ever, spending all day on a couch teaching people (or waiting for ... read more

Today was the day I fianlly decided to take on the XXL pizza challenge, wellin the end I didn't have much of a choice because I told Martin I was thinking about it then he went and told EVERYONE that I was doing it. I eat a decent size lunch at 3:00 pm knowing that I need to strech my stomach out a bit to prepare for it. After lunch I just chilled out reading and watching movies because once again it was raining. The time has come to go to the pizzeria, thank goodness it took them an hour to finally bring my pizza because by then I was so hungary. I did awesome on the first half but then my mind caught up to my stomach and I slowed right down. The last slice ... read more

Today Tom and Dan left which was sad because they were great fun. I went to the post office and mailed some postcards. I wandered around the village checking it out and found a market where I bought some food as well as red hair dye. Kate was excited to dye my hair, it turned out awesome really bright and just the way I hoped it would turn out but it but I hate that red washes out so easy. The whole hostel got together and went out to the nicest resturant in town which was still pretty cheap for the amount you get. I ordered a potato pancake stuffed with chicken, pork and liver. It is such a neat thing to do and a great feeling when we all get together and do somethinglike this. ... read more