Hey everyone! It’s been a long time since I posted anything, I know. November and December got crazy and I ran out of time to juggle everything, but I’m back! Wishing all of you wonderful people a belated “Happy New Year” and here’s to 2024 being even better than last year!

This post is dedicated to Slovakia and can I just say… what an amazing, fantastical place to get lost in! Not only is it steeped in rich history, but the beauty and wonders it holds are breathtaking! I admit that I was not impressed at the first glimpse I got of this country. The buildings were similar to those in Czech – mostly box-shaped and dull in colour, but the natural landscapes there rival even those of the Czech Republic! While Czech may have some beautiful places to see, it has no mountains. Slovakia, on the other hand, well… it has some of the most beautiful mountains I’ve seen.

After living in a country that has no mountains, visiting Vysoké Tatry in Slovakia is almost like stepping out into a magical land that you read about in fairytales or see in movies. Snow-capped mountains rise up to greet you as you near the area and when you finally get there, it takes your breath away. Clear lakes that mirror the sky and surrounding landscapes; crisp, fresh mountain air that feels so good to breathe in; majestic mountains that tower above you like mighty giants; and gorgeous scenery to feast your eyes upon.

Like Czech and many other European countries, Slovakia is full of castles and ruins. Spiš Castle, one of the largest castle sites in central Europe (and one of the few in Slovakia I have had the privilege of exploring), is a magnificent ruin of a 12th-century fortress! Having visited it myself multiple times, I can definitely recommend paying it a visit if you’re in the area and have a thing for history. It has also been used as a filming location for multiple movies like The Lion In Winter (the 2003 television movie) and Dragonheart (1996).

The castle also boasts a large weapon collection ranging from handheld weapons to cannons and also has some suits of armour. Some of you might be wondering if it had a dungeon and I’m sure it did. There is a room full of torture devices that were used to punish people. Having seen some of those devices up close, I’m really glad to live in a world that no longer uses such methods. The castle also hosts reenactments of swordfights and a little of what life was like back in the day when the castle was functional. Depending on when you go, you can also find little shops set up around the grounds and in the ruins. There was a man there a number of years ago who made his own knives, daggers, and swords. Yes, I bought myself a medieval sword. I couldn’t help myself. I’d love to go back and buy another one from him, but perhaps a musketeer sword next time. I think I need to dedicate one room to all my weird souvenirs over the years. Time to find a bigger place!

In addition to the great scenery and historic castles, Slovakia is also home to several caves that can stretch out for a few kilometres. Having mentioned some of the attractions in the Vysoké Tatry area, I will add another one to the list that is definitely worth visiting – The Belianska Cave (Belianska jaskyňa – in the Slovakian language). The stalactite cave spans approximately 3.6-3.8km in length, however, the part of the cave that is open to tourists is only about 1.3-1.4km. It is the only cave that seems to be available to the public in the High Tatra region. If you do decide to visit this gem, be sure to bundle up! Temperatures in there range between 5 to 6.3 °C. Yeah, I froze my tail off when I visited because I didn’t dress accordingly. It was a great experience, though. There are lakes, bizarre rock formations and a music hall (no really, I’m not kidding). A violinist was playing when we visited and it sounded haunting, but amazing at the same time.

I have to admit that I like the Slovakian language slightly more than the Czech language (any Czech readers, I do apologise). My reason behind this is easy – the Slovakian language has no ‘ř’ in it. For those of my readers who have visited the Czech Republic and have either heard or tried to learn the language, that delightful pronunciation is almost impossible for a foreigner like me, but Czech people make it sound so easy. It’s seriously impressive. This is, in my opinion, the one thing that makes the Slovakian language slightly easier. For the average tourist, though, you can get by with English, especially in the bigger cities and the more touristy areas of the country. But hey, it never hurts to learn a few words along the way.

For those looking for a reasonably priced getaway, Slovakia is a great place to visit and drink in nature. The food is also pretty good, albeit very different to what I’m used to, much like Czech food. On the subject of food, I should mention this before I forget… Anyone who has a sweet tooth, you guys have to try blueberry dumplings at a restaurant called Kohútka. It is a little ski resort in the hills on the border of Czech and Slovakia. They make the best blueberry dumplings I have ever tasted!