The next morning we got up early and quickly checked out of our hotel so that we could drop off our luggage at our new room. After dumping our bags there we wasted no time in catching the train which quickly got us up to Stary Smokovec, a small mountain village where several trail heads started. Unfortunately once we reach Stary Smokovec it really started to pour so instead of starting a hike we just decided to enjoy a cup of coffee in one of the several cafes and wait out the rain. Luckily after an hour or so it seemed to stop raining so we set off up the trial to start hiking in the Tatras, but the rain started again quickly so we decided to just give up and return to Poprad. Back in Poprad we just relaxed in our room for the last bit of the afternoon before another great dinner and an early night.
The following morning we got up early and made our way straight to the electric train to return to Stary Smokovec. Thankfully when we reached Stary Smokovec it wasn't raining so we were able to start hiking right away on the trail that we started on the day before. Our day hike took us up into the mountains and past several huts and a couple of waterfalls. There were also a few nice viewpoints over the surrounding countryside although it was slightly cloudy so it wasn't perfect. We climbed up a beautiful valley to reach a high mountain hut. At the hut we enjoyed a fast lunch break since it was too cold to stay still very long. After lunch we continued up to climb over a pass so that we could return back down a different valley. Climbing up the to the top of the pass was extremely fun as the last 100 meters or so we had to haul ourselves up a near cliff face using chains. Once we reached the top of the pass we continued on down the slightly easier other side and after a few more hours of walking through another stunning valley we found ourselves back down near the start of the trail. Once we got back to Stary Smokovec we quickly returned to Poprad where after a bit of relaxing we enjoyed another simple dinner and an early night.
The following day we decided to take a day off from hiking and explore the nearby village of Kezmarok. When we got off the bus in Kezmarok we started to walk around the town and quickly found the Old Wooden Evangelical Church, which was our main reason for visiting Kezmarok. We were quite disappointed looking at the exterior of the church as it was quite plain but once we were inside it we were amazed. The wooden church was built entirely out of wood, not even any nails, and the interior was all beautifully carved and painted. It was truly amazing to see and the day trip to Kezmarok was worth it just for the church. Outside of the wooden church we wandered around the town and followed the historical walk which took as by a few more churches, a small castle and an old cemetery which were all fairly interesting. After spending a few hours checking out the town we made our way back to Poprad where we spent the last bit of the afternoon using the internet and relaxing. That night we enjoyed a nice dinner and a few drinks in one of the only restaurants that we could find before heading to bed.
The next day was our last full day in Slovakia and again we got up early to catch the train up to the Tatras; but this time we continued past Stary Smokovec to Strbske Pleso where we were planning to start our hike from. We started off our hike by walking around the beautiful lake in Strbske Pleso before heading up another stunning valley. The hike today took us up through one valley where we enjoyed some beautiful views before our lunch at the top of the valley in the sunny weather. After lunch we again climbed up over a pass but this time there were hardly any chains that we needed to use so it wasn't as thrilling. Climbing back down the other valley we were awarded some more great views in the sunny weather before we eventually returned to Strbske Pleso and caught a train back to Poprad. That evening was again spent pretty quietly as we were both tired from our long day of hiking.
The next morning was our last in Slovakia so after a simple breakfast we packed up and made our way to the bus station. At the bus station we got on an early bus that took us along a beautiful road to Zakopane in Poland. Once we arrived in Zakopane we just got off a bus and hopped on another one right away that took us to Krakow which was our next destination and where we were meeting up with my cousin Celine and her boyfriend Adam.
Lianne freezing at our lunch stop on our first day hike in the Tatras.
Lianne using the chains to haul herself up the cliff face to the pass on the first day hike.
Looking down the valley on the first day hike. This was some of the typical scenery that we got to hike through and it was absolutely beautiful.
The lake at Strbske Pleso which was stunning to walk around.
Standing in the valley that we hiked up through on the second day hike.
Standing at the pass that we crossed over on our second day hike.
No comments:
Post a Comment