Driving through Slovakia

Had a long day on the bus today.

Basically we drove through Slovakia, with only a few stops for restrooms, lunch and a short photostop in Podbiel.

We left Budapest at 8am and stopped just over the border in Slovakia for our first toilet stop. However, toilet stops are always interesting! Our guide, Claus, warned us that we would have to pay for our use of the toilet, but he also informed us that he would "shout us" for this stop, because it all got a bit complicated! So we pull up after about an hour and half driving, only ot find that we can't use these toilets, because there was something non-functioning. So, there were a few worried faces, when Claus announced we would have to go on another 6 miles to the next petrol station. Actually it was just as well, because the toilets where we eventually stopped were excellent. But there's something about borders and toilets that we have experienced... they seem to save the worse ones for your first impression of that company!

Toilet stop!

Fortunately in Slovakia we could use our Euros once again. This currency changing is all a bit confusing. So after buying next another bottle of water (we've been warned about drinking the water in a few of these places) and a coffee we were straight back on the road again.

Our Bus

We had an interesting history lesson again about the countries in the Eastern Bloc and how they were dominated by Russia. Apparently Czechoslovakia was formed in 1918 after WW1, but Slovakia wanted out, and eventually became its own republic in only 1989 (I think! - can't always remember the exact facts!) Our guide, Claus, is a wealth of information about the whole Europena history, and I love hearing him describe how the nations began and then were dispersed and then lost part of their land, and re-formed boundaries etc...

Geographically Slovakia has quite a lot of mountainous country, and today we drove through the lower Tatra Mountains. Apparently there are bigger ones, but we only went through the smaller ones. Claus, who is Austrian by birth, was poh-poohing their mountians. He thought in comparison with Austria, there were pretty average. Reminded me of Crocodile Dundee - "That's not a knife"!!


it was a lovely drive through the mountains. Lots of pine/fir trees, and lots of autumn colours. We stopped at a place called Donovaly for lunch. It's right at the top of the range, and obviously a skiing resort, because you could see the ski lifts. Even though it's a bit chilly today, it's nowhere near snow weather - the hills are very much covered in green.

Donovaly

Back in the bus for more driving - seemed to be a lot of driving today! We stopped at a little village called Podbiel where there were many wood carvings and thatched houses right next to the road. Perfect for dorky tourist to take pictures!!!



Next stop was the Polish border, and once again we had to change money. This time the currency is Zloty. You get about 4 Zloty to the Euro. Once again we had to pay for the toilets, but to break the cycle, these toilets at a border crossing were actually very nice. But I went into the restaurant to buy a coffee, and I couldn't understand what the girl was saying, but body language is universal!!! She was not happy that she was only one serving a bus load of tourists, when these other two employees were sitting down eating their lunch in front of us all. Sometimes you don't need to know the words!!!

Now we are in Krakow for two nights. Very nice hotel again. I've managed to pick up a cold and my nose dripped all the way through Slovakia! (Too much information!) I'm glad we're not going anywhere tonight. it's a good night for sleeping!

That's it for now. Hope you are all well....