Highlights E Europe Day 9
Highlights E Europe
Day 9 – Friday, May 7, 2010 – Drive through Slovakia to Krakow, Poland
The SUN – the SUN!!! This morning we had a beautiful sunny start to our travel day to Poland.
Once again, everyone was on the bus even before our designated departure time at 8:30. Already this early in the morning it was 64º and it was much drier at 54% humidity.
Eva gave us a review for the day’s activities and also an update on the British elections from yesterday. Paul, our driver, crossed the River Danube north of Budapest going over the Hungarian Bridge, a beautiful modern structure used by large buses and trucks.
Eva is so organized; she passed around her marked maps so we can trace the route on our own maps. We will travel north through Slovakia and then on to Poland where we will spend the next four days.
At about 10:00 we passed through the Hungarian/Slovakia border at Saho, barely a wide spot in the road. Just a few yards beyond the border we made a “Smilie Stop” at the small village of Dudince.
Slovakia is certainly not as developed as the other countries we have visited on this trip, but their economy is strong allowing them to use Euros. Many strong European car manufactures have plants in this tiny country because of the highly trained but low wages of the work force.
Eva spotted our first stork’s nest high on a power pole. The storks migrate from Africa each Spring and it is considered good luck to have a stork pair build a nest and raise their young on your property.
On our way again at 10:45, Eva told us about the diversity of Slovakia. Hungarians, Czechs, as well as a large colony of Romas or Gypsies share this small country.
As we drove through the tall mixed forests on a narrow two lane road, it began to rain. The streams were high with several beautiful waterfalls cascading down the steep hillsides.
We made a slow climb to the top of the Donovaly Pass at 3209 feet of altitude. Our lunch was in a small ski chalet – the ski area is closed now, but there are many lifts and gondolas that take tourists to the top of the slopes even in summer. Eva warned us not to get on a lift as it was 40 minutes to the top and another 40 to get back down!
At 1:30 we left Donovaly Pass and continued down through the steep ravines and over the Tatra Mountains. After watching the Slovakian scenery for a few hours, we crossed the border into Poland at 3:00.
The abandoned border buildings were in an appalling state of disrepair; no one has bothered to check a passport there for years. The challenges of those who passed in and out of Poland through these gates were still memorable.
After about a mile, we stopped for our afternoon break and to change money to the Polish Currency, the zlotych, which is about 31 cents US. Eva gave us much information about her native land, Poland meaning “Land of the Fields” – and the fields look green and lush this Spring.
Very close to our highway Eva pointed out the home village of Pope John Paul II who was born in Wadowice, Poland in 1920. Revered by the world, he is truly the favorite son of Poland!
We reached Krakow and the hotel at 5:30. Our room was very nice new facility, the Park Inn with free internet in our room, always a plus for us!
Our dinner was in the hotel, salmon for Gennie and pasta for me – excellent! We took a walk after dinner just to get a little bit of exercise after our long day on the bus.
I took my camera so I could practice on a few night shots. Just past the highway we walked along the Vistula River seeing the Wawel Castle and the Church of St. Stanislaw.
Hotel: Park Inn Krakow (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Comments
i always wanted to see krakow! hopefully someday i will. sounds like you have an excellent trip leader. your enthusiasm for each new trip - and your dedication to this online journal - is remarkable!
Post a Comment!Nice night pictures from Poland
First View of Slovakia
Our Trafalgar Bus
Ski Area at Donovaly Pass
Church of St. Stanislaw, Krakow
Wawel Castle on the Vistula River
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