High Tatras, Slovakia
Slovakia is a lush country with low rolling hills & enormous rocky mountains; & with a climbing terrain that was more difficult than I expected. Dan & I spent a total of four days in the country with our friends Phillip, Emily, & their beagle Elena, & went on two full day hikes in the High Tatras. The hikes included tough summits & each day was equal parts thrilling & exhausting. With long lengths of bouldering, jagged rock stepping, & high altitudes, I definitely struggled several times on my climb up & down each summit. But the scenery & experience was worth it; truly unforgettable. From a delicious meal we ate at the top of a mountain to the little chateaus we passed to the shock & surprise of every passerby that saw Elena charge up the path (a little beagle climbing a giant mountain, just imagine!), our weekend away had lasting rewards & triumphs.
Brno, Czech Republic
On our drive back to Prague, we decided to stop in the small city of Brno: a town with little cafes & cute shops. In fact, it’s very similar to Prague in many ways. We walked through the rain, explored the Cathedral of St. Peter & Paul, & visited one of our favorite coffee shops. Our pace was slow from our days of hiking in the mountains & we sat sipping our coffees, tea, & hot chocolate for a good amount of time before heading back to our car. & while Dan & I have visited Brno many times throughout our travels to & from Moravia, it was still just as charming to see again.