30.08. High Tatras

From Tatranska Lomnica to Skalnate Pleso, we took a 4 person 'egg' lift. 

At the Skalnate Pleso there is an astronomical and meteorological observatory and a cabin to the Lomnicky Stit. 

The lift to the top of the mountain Lomnicky Stit was booked out for the day and the next day, so we decided to take a 'chair' lift to Lomnicke Sedlo. In winter this is popular skiing resort. 

30.08. On the way to High Tatras

On the way to High Tatras, we spotted two interesting things. 
Firstly a man having a sandwich on a concrete block next to the road. None of the restaurants had a better view of the Tatras, than him. 

Secondly a ghost resort, or perhaps an accidental group of abandoned two hotels and a bus station. We could not resist and took Mamiya out for some pictures. 

 

29.08. Slovak Paradise

We woke up in the Slovak Paradise (Slovak: Slovenský raj), which I like to call Slovak Heaven. It is a national park with protected fauna and flora, known for waterfalls and beloved by hikers of all ages. 

We stayed at a local family in Poprad - Ganovce through Air bnb. For breakfast, we tried a typical Eastern European (say continental) breakfast with bread, rolls served with cheese, ham, jam or honey. We were lucky to try home-made apricot jam, which was delicious. 

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The recommendation from the family was clear: 4hr Sucha Bela tour upstream a river. The walk through the river does mean walking through the river. It is the very beginning, so the stream is very very gentle (in late summer). 
'There is always a stone to step on'  I said half way through the hike. It seemed like it. The trait was very well kept - much of the walking is on timber ladders, at places we could see the new  ladders built over the old ones. The most challenging parts were climbing up the waterfalls on metal ladders and walkways. 

When we got to the top and spotted the view, it was very clear, where we wanted to go tomorrow - High Tatras. 

28.08. Mickolc Tapolca

We left Veronika's house in the morning and headed in the direction Miskolc Tapolca. We were told, this is on our way to Slovakian Paradise and we should not miss it. 

Miskolc - Tapolca are baths in a cave. The water does not have any healing properties - smells like familiar chlorine. 
There are mini massaging waterfalls, sauna, outdoor and indoor swimming pools with different temperatures and even an echo-dome, a swimming pool in a almost full sphere, where sound keeps on rolling on the walls and creates a strong echo. The 'swim-way' and walk way through the caves feel somewhere between archaeology tour and paddling pool. 




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27.08. Recipe: Nokedli

Veronika's mum showed us how to cook traditional Hungarian dish: 
Nokedli with Mushroom Perkelt

1 Nokedli

Ingredients: 

300g Flour

1 Tsp salt

2 or 3 eggs

150 ml water

Preparation method:

stir quickly, not too much

boil pot of water, add a little salt and oil

push dough through big special siv  and stir

bring to boil

leave to boil for 1 minute 

drain

serve with olive oil 




2 Mushroom Perkelt

Ingredients: 

700g Mushrooms
1 large tomatoe (small ones)
1 pepper
1 large onion

3 Tbsp flour
2 Tbsp paprika

salt, black pepper

150 ml water
sour cream

Preparation method:

fry onion in oil
add diced pepper, cover for a few minutes 
until onions transparent
add 1 large tomatoe, diced
add diced mushrooms
salt, black pepper
thicken with flour and paprika
simmer for 5 mins
add water, pepper puree, sour creme

voila :]

27.08. Buda - Pest

In the morning we went shopping to the Great Market Hall (Hungarian: Nagycsarnok) is the largest indoor market in Budapest. It was designed and built by Samu Pecz around 
1896 and has specific coloured tiled roof.

The market is huge, filled up with vegetables, salami and paprika & spices shops at the ground floor. 
The upper floor is tighter, full of smaller stalls with standard souvenirs ('antique' army clothes, Russian Matryoshka dolls etc.), but also traditional hand-painted crockery and lots of embroidery from different regions of Hungary. 

And we even found a converse type of shoes with traditional embroidery. 


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In the afternoon we visited the Szechenyin Thermal Baths. The water in the baths comes from a hot-spring from the Saint Stephen Well Nr. II. It contains calcium, magnesium, hydro-carbonate, sodium, sulphate, fluoride and metaboric acid. 
In short, the water smells slightly unpleasantly, however it heals. 




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26.08. Buda - Pest

Veronika's family took us on the top of Buda. 


In the evening we went to one of the popular 'ruin' bars. Veronica said there are many derelict building in Budapest, which have no use. Recently young entrepreneurs started buying these buildings with no intention of refurbishing them. 
They secure parts of buildings, which are structurally sound - courtyard in the middle and some adjecent spaces, add piles of unused objects from gym equipment to baths and cinema furniture. 

The resulting brick - a - brack look is charming.