This is my farewell post to Slovakia…at least for now. I will be leaving the country soon to have other adventures. It has been such a treat to be here and I love Central Europe. Slovakia (the center of the center of Europe) is a beautiful country. I did some calculations and realized that in the past 19 months I've visited 8 countries; Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, The Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Turkey, and two continents; Europe and Turkey. Wow, I'm a little overwhelmed just thinking about it.
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| River Vah in Piestany January 2014 |
I have composed some of the best of my 50+ posts of my travels in and around Slovakia. I'm not saying goodbye, only čau, because I will be back. I'll keep posting on my experiences and travels and hope you will continue to follow my adventures.
Slovakia
It's hard to pick the best. While living here I've visited seven castles in Slovakia; Bratislava (my first), Trenčin (I lived there for four months), Beckov, Banska Stiavnica, Bojnice, and Orava and my personal favorite, Spiš Castle. Spiš is located near the village of Levoča where I met Nadia and David Conway on my first trip in Slovakia. I've had the pleasure of visiting Levoča
three times, twice to experience the Indian Summer Music Festival hosted by David and Nadia.
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| Spiš Castle |
There are other adventures as well; two wine tasting tours and the summer party in Čachtice with the Skypers team.
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| Wine tour May 2013 |
Austria
Hungary
Budapest is a must see on any European tour. I'm so glad I saw it early in my stay because it was such a lovely way to start my adventure in Central Europe.
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| Parliament, Pest August 2012 |
Poland
If Budapest was a nice first entry to my travel life in Central Europe, Krakow was the bang up finish. What a city! I absolutely loved it. Although Auschwitz provided a solemn historical view, it was well worth the experience.
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| Wawel Royal Castle, Krakow Jan 2014 |
Italy
Even though I had been to Italy before, the trip I took with the Rotary members that included two of my students, was a highlight of my travels to date. I cherished the four day trip through Tuscany. Of all the places I've been, Italy has a special place in my heart and I know I will be back again.
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| Montepulciano, Italy Spring 2013 |
The Netherlands
Amsterdam had been on my travel "to do" list for some time. So, Christmas 2012 I had a weeks paid vacation and decided to make it one of my stops. Amsterdam is an incredible city. It is one of those places that mixes history with a contemporary flair and nothing looks out-of-place.
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| Amsterdam, December 2012 |
Belgium
Ooh…what a night. I celebrated Christmas 2012 with Bruges for breakfast, lunch in Ghent and dinner (mussels and a Gamay Blue) in Brussels. The Christmas markets were beyond what I had seen with carousels and joy rides, but I believed I enjoyed the music museum most.
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| Bruges Christmas Day 2012 |
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| Grand Place, Brussels December 2012 |
Turkey
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| Antalya, Turkey |
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| Pamukkale, Turkey |
My trip to Turkey was the first time I'd ever been on a tour. I've never liked the thought of being shoved to and fro and honestly this tour didn't change my mind. I like to see places on my own. It was a week long plane and bus ride with 30 Slovaks who didn't speak English. Now… there's an adventure. I wish we'd had a longer stay in Istanbul (I guess I'll just have to go back) however, if I hadn't gone on a tour, I don't think I would have seen as much of the country; Ephesus, Pamukkale, and Antalya
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Theatre in Ephesus, Turkey March 2013
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Whew…there you have it. Almost two years in a nutshell. In the immortal words of an Austrian actor turned California Governor…"I'll be back!"
Missing you already Come back soon. Dobre Dobre Čau Čau :)
ReplyDeleteMiss you too. Take care and we will see each other again
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