Hiking to a Castle

So Saturday night, Elena (the daughter of my host and a member of the research group...the whole family thing to be explained when I get around to taking pictures of my research group) called to tell me about a day hike that one of her friends from the university just organized. All she said was that four people were going hiking the next day and that I was invited. Since I obviously had nothing better to do and I was anxious to see the Slovak countryside, I said yes right away. And I'm very glad I did.

All the guidebooks I looked at told me of the glorious Slovak countryside and how hiking was a common past time for all Slovak residents. Since one of my main goals of this trip (second to ground breaking research, of course) was to experience the country as a local, I excitedly prepared for the trip by packing light (only water and some food in my backpack) and waking up early (Slovak's are early risers..most places open at 7am or earlier)

So I set off to the bus station at 9am (not really that early but early for me) and met up with Eleana. We actually didn't leave for the trip until 11am because we had to do some last minute shopping for food and the buses left later than we expected). After a short 20 minute bus ride to the Bratislava suburbs, we disembarked and headed for our goal...which at this point...I thought was a leisurely walk through the woods. An hour into our hike, which proved that the Bratislava countryside was quite lovely, Mike..."our guide for the day" pointed to ruins on a distant peak and said...that's where we're going... (I was going to post a photo here but Blogger won't cooperate).

Anyways....I peer into the fog (the day was incredibly rainy and foggy) and I see ancient ruins surrounded by a lush landscape!!! Wow...this totally turned my day around....I couldn't wait to see these ruins up close....two hours later...we arrived and I saw some really cool ruins from th 13th Century..

According the bratislava.com

" The ruins of the Pajstun castle are found in the forests of the Small Carpathian Mountains, above the small Borinka, 25 km far from Bratislava. The access on foot to the castle takes 45 minutes, with one light climb that leave from Borinka village. The Pajstun castle was for the first time mentioned in the 13th century and made part of the frontier castles complex. The castle was the seat of estate until the 1810 when Napoleon's soldiers destroyed it."

I've posted pictures of my trip here

http://picasaweb.google.com/chariteach/CastlePashtjun

Anyways...the purpose for this post...when someone in your lab asks you to join them on a hike...say yes...and bring your camera.