Quick post today. Ben and I left Krakow on a morning train south to Zakopane, near the border with Slovakia. Zakopane is a seasonal tourist destination – skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. The town is full of lovely chalet-style lodges. Zakopane is the end of this train line; the Tatra mountains, which define the national border, rise dramatically close by.
We continued south on a twisty pot-holed road through the mountain pass into Slovakia. The bus was state-of-the-art modern – the latest from Mercedes-Benz. The Tatra mountain peaks towered over us to the right, up to a 3000m elevation. Many ski runs adorned the slopes.
The bus let us out on the southern side of the Tatras in Stary Smokovec, a small mountain village in the foothills. A narrow gauge railway joins all of the small towns in this area together. Ben and I rode the entire route (some sections twice – oops) enjoying the friendly crowds of hikers and boisterous school children. A real treat. A few years ago the county improved the road through this area and threatened to shut down the railroad. The railway workers got together, raised the funds, and completely restored the track infrastructure and modernized the engines and cars. Thank goodness. It is a treat.
The final leg of the railroad is a steep descent into the Poprad valley with a cog-equipped engine. Stunning views of the Tatras to the right, and eye-popping views of the valley far below on the left.
Overnight tonight in Poprad, Slovakia, and a 4:20 am departure towards Bratislava in the morning.
Rob Mee is venturing south in Germany, and took these pictures today in Bayreuth at the home of the opera composer, Richard Wagner.
