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Blue sky, sun. That’s more like it! I leave Poprad and the views of the High Tatra, regretting to not have spent one or two more days in the area.

The train goes East before taking a 90 ° turn southward, where it goes in the mountains, following the bed of the Torysa river, and crossing it several time. With the sun shining and the tress green and white with leaf and flowers, what a spectacle that was. Stuff that Ronnie James Dio could have sing about.

However, in a few places we came across tiny mountain villages, which were in a calamitous state. Houses abandonned in a state of ruins, filth all around. Even the river at some points was filled with trash. What a sad thing to observe, and a big stain to the natural gem that is Slovakia. I have no idea what are the underlying politico-social causes of this state of carelessness, so I won’t comment on that, but come on Slovakia, don’t get down that dubious path.

In Košice, I had an hour to kill. I spent it walking down the main pedestrian street to the old center. I must say that it was a cute towncenter and a very pleasant stroll. I’m even South enough now to finally lay down the coat. Imagine, a week ago when I climbed in Hallstatt, I had my beanie on! I only removed my gloves in Wien [Vienna], just a few days ago.

But now comes a massive problem: with the coat on my backpack, the latter weights a freaking ton. It’s way too much to be viable, and I’ll need to figure out very quick when and what I should send off back to France.

Next train is taking me over the Hungarian border. Slovensko, I’m sorry. It’s not you, it’s me. But I’ll be back, I promise. See you!

Helló Magyarország!

I first step foot in country no. 19 in Miskolc, where I’ll stay for a couple fo nights. It’s a small but very extended city, all in length. Considering my bag’s weight, I took the tram, which cross the main street on all its length.

Maps didn’t show me the correct address of the airbnb, so I overshot by one stop.But given the sheer distance between the two, and that I bought a 24-hour ticket anyway, I took the tram back.

Now today’s urgent mission: laundry! I found one not far from the appartment, and I’m glad no one was in when I removed my pants to put them in the machine (I was still wearing my thermal underpants though). Finally clean pants and sweater! As said by the mighty Monty Python, always look on the bright side of life. Do I need anything more?

Ah yes, an evening pizza.