Above: a splendid view of the peak of Ćwilin, which I climbed on Friday with Agnieszka and her nephew Bartek. The picture was taken a day later from Łopień which I climbed with Krzysztof and his son Antek.
On our way up Łopień (not the best marked of the hills around here) we take directions from a local resident (right), who explains why I've gone wrong so many times up here in the past. We need to turn left at the ford up ahead, rather than carry on straight. This time, we get to the top of Łopień without any navigational mishap - but getting down was more complicated. We ended up some 1.5km away from where we wanted to be and had to march down the road to Jurków in the baking heat. Below: Krzysztof and Antek scrambling down a steep ditch
Below: Tatran Gothic on the lower slopes of Łopień - steep roofs prevent snow from settling. A very popular style around here.
Below: Sunday's expedition up Mogielica was marked by two intense rainfalls. The one hit us on the way up was pleasant, as the temperature was still over 25C. The effect was like being in a tropical rainforest.
We reached the top of Mogielica, which was entirely shrouded in mist. My decision not to take a long lens up there was justified - there were no views from the observation platform at the summit (which I climbed anyway). We were utterly soaked through. Standing at the top by the 30m high tower, I had a stream of water running down the sleeves of my shirt. Camera, phone, wallet and other essentials kept safe in a large plastic bag deep in my rucksack. A second downpour hit us on the way down, just as intense though not as warm. By the time we reached Jurków, we were feeling the cold.
Above: Krzysztof and his son Antek in awe at a giant three-foot wingspanned dragonfly that has escaped from the Carboniferous period via a time-hole. Well, whatever it was, it was big enough to cause consternation.
Back to Warsaw tomorrow - five hour drive - then back to work on Thursday
Below: Tatran Gothic on the lower slopes of Łopień - steep roofs prevent snow from settling. A very popular style around here.
Below: Sunday's expedition up Mogielica was marked by two intense rainfalls. The one hit us on the way up was pleasant, as the temperature was still over 25C. The effect was like being in a tropical rainforest.
We reached the top of Mogielica, which was entirely shrouded in mist. My decision not to take a long lens up there was justified - there were no views from the observation platform at the summit (which I climbed anyway). We were utterly soaked through. Standing at the top by the 30m high tower, I had a stream of water running down the sleeves of my shirt. Camera, phone, wallet and other essentials kept safe in a large plastic bag deep in my rucksack. A second downpour hit us on the way down, just as intense though not as warm. By the time we reached Jurków, we were feeling the cold.
Above: Krzysztof and his son Antek in awe at a giant three-foot wingspanned dragonfly that has escaped from the Carboniferous period via a time-hole. Well, whatever it was, it was big enough to cause consternation.On Monday, the weather remained cool (+15C) and overcast with low cloud and drizzle, so a trip to Czorsztyn lake, Niedzica castle and Slovakia was in order.
Above: Stylish living in Niedzica castle, situated on Czorsztyn lake. We've been here before, a great place. In the past it has marked the Hungarian-Polish border, changing hands many time over the centuries.
From Niedzica castle's battlements, Czorsztyn castle is visible across the resevoir. Czorsztyn castle is not as impressive as its larger neighbour, but a boat travels from one to the other, allowing tourists to compare at first hand.
Above: Stylish living in Niedzica castle, situated on Czorsztyn lake. We've been here before, a great place. In the past it has marked the Hungarian-Polish border, changing hands many time over the centuries.
From Niedzica castle's battlements, Czorsztyn castle is visible across the resevoir. Czorsztyn castle is not as impressive as its larger neighbour, but a boat travels from one to the other, allowing tourists to compare at first hand.Niedzica a stone's throw to today's Slovak-Polish border, so a chance to pop across (Schengen zone, no one stationed at the border, no passports to show).
Left: Crossing the border into Slovakia, Eddie concludes that Spisska St. Ves has improved vastly since last summer (new roads, pavements, tidy grass verges), but the shops (below) are rather quiet. We're here on a Monday afternoon. Empty. With the euro at 4.20 zlotys or thereabouts, Slovaks living close to the border are shopping in Poland. The shops remind us of the communist era.
Left: Crossing the border into Slovakia, Eddie concludes that Spisska St. Ves has improved vastly since last summer (new roads, pavements, tidy grass verges), but the shops (below) are rather quiet. We're here on a Monday afternoon. Empty. With the euro at 4.20 zlotys or thereabouts, Slovaks living close to the border are shopping in Poland. The shops remind us of the communist era.
Looks like a pretty swell time!
ReplyDeleteAh, it was great. A fortnight too short. Still, it's still there and I will return. Do recommend warmly to genuine peoples, one and all.
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