The Slovak Republic is a parliamentary republic which covers 49.035 square kilometres. It is home to 5.426.252 people of which 76% are Christians. The currency is Euro, worth 7,46 Danish Krone. The GDB is US$90.263 billion. The Slovak climate lies between the temperate and continental climate zones with some cold mountains. Among the larger mammals are the Wildcat (Felis silvestris), Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx), Gray wolf (Canis lupus), Golden jackal (Canis aureus), Brown bear (Ursus arctos), European The flora is, like the climate; pretty diverse. However, I fail to find any I will look for in particular.
DIARY 15/5. A herd of goats and a few sheep are cutting the grass in the camp, but nothing else is awake. I have paid, and head off. The first sight is the little village of Cicmany. The sun vanish on the way, and are replaced with rain. I drive through depressing little villages and just as depressing larger towns.
The landscape, on the other hand, is nice. Huge hills with
forest, green fields with mainly wheat, but some rape fields light up the
else so gloomy morning. I reach a more rural
Then I reach Cicmany, and it is truly a charming village. Most houses are made in timber, and they are decorated with patens in white. The small gardens are nice - and mainly for firewood. It seems like none is up yet, although all houses are used.
I
do some long walks in the light drizzle, and end up in the newer part of
town: Can't be more than a hundred year or so old. I see a single
restaurant, but no other I head further south, and set the GPS for Bojnice. Nice to get back to the cars heater! Bojnice is a large city, and I head right for the castle. It look like it was designed by Disney, and I do a walk around it. A bit hard to talk my self into paying €10 to see it inside - I have seen my share of castles by now.
As
It is a tire company, but not with Lupo tires. And they
can't get them in the morning. But he know who probably have: Ars! A big
company in the other end of town. I get a dot on the GPS,
and they have! I get them on and pay pretty much what I do at home. But now,
I don't have to fear a nosy cop or rain - or the last layer of canvas.
I head out through the farmlands and small mountains
further south. I reach the town of Banska Stiavnica and its botanical
garden. Well, overgrown park with some odd trees. Not enough to keep me out in
the rain.
Her,
time have been frozen since 1880 or so. Well, except from the bloody cars!
Despite the drizzle, I do an extensive walk around the old centre of town.
Some houses are renovated, some might not make it. I am around 50 kilometres from the Hungarian border, and turn around. I find another route towards the north and Male Fatra national park. It is through mainly forest and farmland and some small villages. Male Fatra is more a ski resort and timberland, where I end up. Despite the weather, I do a rather long walk, just to see if here are anything interesting. There is not.
Well,
I set the GPS for next sight, while I start looking for a camp. I have seen hundreds of pensions and hotels, but camps are scars. Never the less, I find one ten kilometres before the next sight. It look a bit closed, but here are two campers, and I settle in. Cicmany log huts, Bojnice castle, Old Banska Stiavnica and Male Fatra NP.
16/5. It is rather early, and here are only a few craftsmen. I enters, and I really like this castle. I see some old carriages, pass the drawbridge and get quit deep into the castle, before I'm thrown out by the woman who waters the Pelargoniums.
I
head towards the timber village of Vlkolinec, and despite the light
rain, I enjoy the tour through the green landscape. Especially the last
part, up through a narrow valley with so many flowers. I stop several times
and botanises and enjoy the nature in general. A little I reach the village, pay for the entrance, including the museum and the parking: €3. It does not appears as they get many visitors. The most houses are made in logs, some raw, others covered in a thin layer of clay and painted. A few houses have display of original interior, while most are lived in. It stay dry, and I really enjoy the visit - which the number of photos reveals.
I head down again, but the sun have gone. Next stop is in
the 13th century town of Levoca. It is pretty intact, and in a sunny
day - and without all the cars - it would be a endless source
I do a walk around the central square, which is huge. Here are room for green lawns around the three large churches. Some houses are real well maintained, others almost falling apart. Here don't seem to be any tourism at all, which I find strange. I get a pita in a little cafe, and head on towards the eastern Slovakia.
Here I find the iconic Spis Castle. It is from
around 1200, first mentioned in 1249, and finished as it is now, around 1300.
Some of the more intact buildings hold exercitations: The lords bedroom and bath, the kitchen, the dungeons and alike. Considering the narrow and non-maintained dirt-track that leads to the castle, I would say; few people ever get here! And that is a pity, and it is a great sight. Despite the lack of sun and warmth, I really enjoy it.
Outside the old town, down the hill is a newer part, but I can see enough from up here. I walk quite a lot, despite it is a cloudy and cold morning, but when I'm sure I haven't missed anything, I head on. Then a few minutes with sun lights up the square, and I have to make yet another set of photos.
Apparently, I should have bought a road-tax vignette
somewhere. The officer show me the sign, posted at every border, and want to
give me a €200 fine for not having a Besides from the last little hurdle, Slovakia have been a nice country, although I am not planning to come back. I have driven 790 kilometres and taken 696 photos. I have spend €195 plus the new tires. Diesel have been the biggest expense - except from the road tax-thing. From here, I slide into Hungaria. |