snowfield in iceland
snowfield in iceland
  • heading south honest
    • 25/08/2019
Trip distance has got reset somehow.
It was at 2290 or thereabouts I'm fairly sure.

Stopped in a couple of picturesque old towns today, Kezmarok and Levoca, with more UNESCO statuses. I had thought UNESCO status was akin to a second division wonder of the world, but they seem to give them out left right and centre to anything historic, or maybe Slovakia is just particularly well represented, or maybe I have just been ignorant to the extent of the scheme before now. Whatever.

Also took the opportunity to pop into a bike shop and get another kick stand, as the one I bought last week was never really up to the job and is already bending in the same spot. The new one is designed for e-bikes so maybe will cope with the weight better.

Spis has a massive castle on a hill! A particularly large one which you can see from miles away. Seems to be perpetually cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms, the type of thunder which rumbles for so long it sounds like someone pushing a wheelie bin down a cobble street.

I've treated myself to an airbnb after a week of camping, and have got somewhat overexcited at the prospect of a kitchen, and eaten enough for an average family.

Today I am passing what I can only describe as shanty towns of Roma, shacks and rough houses grafted onto the hillside above the road, built out of breezeblocks, corrugated sheet roofs and random bits and bobs, with loads of people sitting around, kids getting very excited at my passing by, some running over for a high five and in one opposite case throwing stones at me.
I feel similarly obvious and vulnerable and intruding as one the trip in Africa as our big yellow lorry rolled through native villages, offering nothing and hurrying on.

The afternoon is more positive, with a peaceful little road along a winding river valley which has been hydro dammed.
Arriving into Kosice, the second city and "eastern capital" of Slovakia is initially an overwhelming number of concrete blocks of flats stacked on the hillside, but the old city centre itself is very pleasant and deserves more time than the scant hours I've given it.
I am feeling ready to move on though and start afresh...


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