(10) POPRAD, SLOVAKIA

My experience so far with any journey has been not to expect anything, because if you do it will only lead to disappointment for two reasons. 1) You will not find what you expected or 2) your expectations were too high. On this trip I tried to do the usual and not expect anything. I wanted the trip to be exciting, but knew things might not turn out for the best because I did not know the area. Fortunately for Marissa, Siming, and I this trip turned out to be one of the best weekend trips so far!

Day 1: when we first arrived in Poprad, after a 5 hour train ride, it appeared very dull. There was carnival, which looked deserted, and the streets were empty. Our group was a little worried, but having experienced this before, I told them only the best of things come from the most unusual beginnings. When we walked in our hostel we were immediately greeted by the owner. She checked us in, and we headed downstairs with our maps to figure out how to get to the hiking trails. Soon we realized that getting anywhere in Poprad requires a lot of prior planning, which we had not done. Fortunately there was a local who began to talk with us, asking the usual questions about our origins and what we were doing in Poprad? It turns out she was a foreign exchange student 8 years ago, and loves to meet people from new cultures. Before we knew it she offered to drive us to the mountains to go hiking! Unfortunately, it was too cloudy to see anything. With our spirits down, we went to supper with our newly found friend, Ivana. After a lot of questions comparing cultures and backgrounds, she offered to provide transport for our second day!

Day 2: Out of the kindness of her heart, Ivana drove us to Spis Castel, one of the largest castles in Europe. It was a beautiful sight with a lot of history! After touring the castle we headed for the High Tatras, where we hiked 3 hours to the nearest waterfall! It was a long day of walking, and our last stop at the hot springs, in poprad, provided us with the relaxation we needed. Although this blog is shorter and the story doesn’t explain every detail, it should be an example of how optimism can completely change an experience. Also, being open to the locals can lead to the most unexpected journey! Without meeting Ivana, we would have only been able to do the castle, but instead we had the trip of a lifetime. I got to see and do things that I only thought I would see in flyers. I also got to meet a life time friend from another country.