SLOVAKIA Tatras

Slovakia

Log Number 20

Grant Chinn's flight was one hour late arriving into Katowice, Poland ,a 0030hrs touchdown. I had trouble finding a park at the airport as it was so busy. The airport services a population of some three million people in the south of Poland. Huge numbers of Poles now reside elsewhere in the EU in search of higher pay and lower unemployment than they find at home. Flights were arriving from the Middle East, Scandinavia and of course London.

It is great to have my travel buddy sitting in the navigates seat again and sharing the driving. It didn't take long for us to harmonize our plans for the next few days.

Birkenau II was the biggest death camp ever constructed. We were on site at 0900 hrs. First impression was of the enormous size of the establishment - more than 200 acres of fenced compounds all systematically laid out around the three railway arrival platforms. Between 1942 and 1944 several million incoming Jews, Gypsies, Homosexuals and a range of other 'undesirables' from all over Europe were drafted either for immediate gas chamber death or into the workforce to assist the German war effort for as long as they were physically able. Row after row of crumbling brick chimneys are all that remains of around two thirds of the camp buildings, following the retreating Nazis' desperate efforts to burn the evidence of their hideous crimes. It is difficult to imagine that over 400 tortured souls were crammed into the drafty wooden buildings originally designed to house a few dozen horses.

Snuggled in under the Tatars mountains on the Polish side is the ski resort town of Zakopene. We made this our destination for the end of the first day, a good choice. The centruim was full of activities and events as if it was market day . The structure of the houses had changed to Bigger and bolder . Log cabins and massive hotels and resorts . This town seemed to be buzzing in the summer and i would expect even more busy when the snow covers the surrounding mountains. We wandered the town . Found a nice restaurant on the main street for our evening meal and let the town come to us. Sitting still allows you to observe the traders and hawkers selling their wares . Beggars adopted a very submissive pose on the side of the street. He was given five handouts from varying people as they passed . He soon wandered to the local alcohol take away and topped up his needs .

An early start had us u to the Boarder between Poland and The Slovak Republic. A slight delay of 15 min as the Kiwi passport was a rare commodity in the hills and the senior had to be consulted.

The mountain views are fabulous made better by the abundance of wild flowers and seemingly endless expanse of Spruce forest which extends right up to the snow line. These sort of view necessitated several stops for Cuppa's and photos opportunities. Skiing and mountaineering in Slovakia is also an industry that has become very important to the economy. The ski lifts to the High Tatra's operate during the summer which was to our advantage. Grant took no persuasion to come up to the top . Mountain wildlife was out to play in the sunny morning. Marmot whistled their shrill warnings to their family members , probably a eagle flying high above as i don't think the people on the chair lift would warrant a second glance from them now. We had planned to ride the gondola right up to the top , when i seen the rise of the suspension wires heading into the clouds i was secretly pleased it was fully booked until 1630hrs . Instead we road the triple ski lift up to the south saddle still an impressive rise and afforded the views down into Poland across craggie ridges.

It was time to chew some mile towards Bratislava where Grant had a mid afternoon flight back to London tomorrow . He chose the Unesco acclaimed mountain village of Banska Stiavnica as our Roost for the night. He planned to get an Hotel for the night which would be great so I could have my first bath for 5 weeks. Most o the town was booked out because there was a jazz festival on in town. Medieval displays , music and dancing filled the main town square. We wandered about conscious that we didn't have the entrance fee bangle around our wrists. Two warriors were engaged in a very strenuous sword fight . Which seemed to wax and wane between the two combatants . Sweat and heavy breathing was brought on from the heavy chin link vests and Armour . Eventually Long Hair seemed to inflict a mortal blow and his Green checked Pattern opponent fell to the deck breathing heavily but relieved the ordeal had finished. I met a Slovakian Dr who told me of the history of the town back to the 12 century. Gold and silver was the source of the wealth and economy . The geography is of five volcanoes standing in isolation away from the main backbone the Tatra's bringing to the surface valuable minerals. The area is a mixture of small farming and spruce forests . In the valleys dammed reservoirs, previously for the mining industry , are very scenic and used for recreation. A perceived treat from the Turks in the 15^th century seen the defensive walls go up and the inner scantum centered around the main church fortified . A massive monument has been erected in the town square following the Plague which swept through Slovarkia in the 17^th century.

The entertainment continued up until 2200 hrs, the grand finales was a fire dancing routine. The gypsies dressed in period costume put on a 30 minute display . Most impressed with strenuous crowd appreciation.

Bratislava old town and castle entertained for the last three hours i had Grants company. We walked to the Castle arriving dehydrated and sweating profusely . This is the hottest day i have experienced on this trip . I must be in the High 30s today. I utilized the air conditioning units which hold the ambient temp in the castle to a steady 21 degrees . These where necessary because the silk tapestries some 600 years old would not tolerate the temp fluctuations that I had been experiencing. The Danue river flows below the Castle . Very silty river and fast flowing past Bratislava . Barges heavily laden with Coal and timber slowly made their way up stream.

It was good to have had the chance to get out of the driver seat while Grant was with me . He had covered about 800 km with me over the last three days . I dropped him at the 'kiss and wave' at Bratislava Airport. This evening I crossed over to Austria . I pulled into a small village and found a spot to have my evening meal and watch the sun go down over the fields of sunflower, wheat, and barley. 30 minutes before sun set the hares started to venture out onto the open ground. They were initially wary of the van parked in their back yard but soon settle down to feed on new shoots coming out of the ploughed wheat fields . Three deer ventured out of the wood to feed on or in amongst the sunflowers.

I wonder what will happen next

alvin