Day 5: Wed 14th – The High Tatras Mountains - Slovakia

Sunrise 6:14am – Sunset 6:53pm

Weather Forecast:   19 & showers

Steps:    4,893    3.38km  my pedometer says                                             

I was awake and up, well before the wake up call came in at 6:15 this morning. Breakfast was from 6:45, so I went down shortly after and was almost the last person to arrive.

The coach got away on time at 7:45.
This morning we visited part of the Hight Tatras National Park.  2 gondola rides and a cable car, took us to the Lomnický štít, which is 2,623 mtrs high.

We were divided into 3 groups. Tatranska Lomnica is at 850 mtrs.

That is where we took the first gondola from when 
the doors opened at 8:30am. Only 4 people on those gondolas.  The next station

 is at 1,145 meters and that Gondola carried 15 people although as some of us were in the first group, there were only 4 people heading up in the one I was in.  At the next station, Skalnate Pleso at 1,751 metres, we changed to a cable car, which held 14 people. (Too squashed in to take a photo)  And then we arrived at Lomnicky stit, which is at 2,634 mtrs.

After taking some photos, we then waited for the time for us to take the cable car down again.  A max of 45-50 minutes is allowed up the top and the cable cars leave at certain times and you are given a number when you arrive up there and that is the cable car that you must take when you come down.

Kathleen (from Brisbane), Annette (from Melbourne) Val & Poolsuk, Sandra & Geoff & myself, found a cafe and decided to grab a bite to eat while waiting for the rest of the group to arrive.

We all loaded onto the coach and were back at the hotel by midday.

We have free time until 3pm, when those going on the optional depart for that.

First up we visited the town of Kezmarok,

 which is in the historical centre of the Spis region. We met our local guide and then walked to the UNESCO wooden church.

 I think it was built in 1717. It has seating for 1,541 people.

We then visited the Evangelical Church next door.

We viewed the Town Hall, 

The Castle,

 and a lovely bell tower.

We had some free time along the way and then continued on the bus to view the Strazky Castle.

I was a bit disappointed in the Castle. More like a Spanish Hacienda.

We then drove to Zdiar, where we had a lovely traditional Slovak dinner.

Starter

Cabbage Soup

A thoroughly enjoyable meal and we were back on board the coach by 9pm and back at the hotel by 9:30pm.

I had some laundry done today. 3 pair of pants and 4 t-shirts. I doubt that anyone would be able to guess the price.  

Almost midnight here and the wake up is at 6:45 tomorrow, so I had best get to bed.

The weather was perfect today and the showers never appeared. I was in a t-shirt all day apart from on top of the mountain, where I wore a fleece jacket, as well.