In the High Tatras

Thursday, May 3, 2018

After a stop at the TI in Poprad -- just a short walk down the square from our apartment -- and armed with a selection of their maps and brochures, we were on our way to some of the villages situated midway up the slopes of the looming Tatras Mountains. 

Stary Smokovec is less than ten miles outside of Poprad and the drive along fields of bright yellow rape seed flowers toward the mountains was lovely.  We left our car in the village and took the funicular a short distance up the mountain to an area where numerous hiking trails begin.  We chose one and spent the better part of the day (along with lots of others) making an up and down circuit through forests, along swiftly running brooks and in view of thundering waterfalls. 

After returning to our point of origin, we opted to walk back down to Stary Smokovec, rather than returning on the funicular.  

It had been warm on the trail, and we were happy to get back to the car and head to our next destination on four wheels.  We took a road that connects several of the mountainside villages to Strbske (yes, that’s a word) Pleso and then headed down the mountain.

We arrived in Kezmarok in time to have a quick look at its small castle – now a museum – before closing time.  We walked a bit along the main street of the old town before deciding it was time to call it a day; we knew we’d walked whatever the requisite number of steps might be.

Tomorrow, we’ll reset the pedometers!