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Europe 2024
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Europe 2024

I'm returning to visit my family in Slovakia again, then heading to Portugal for another Camino with Lorelee and Helen, and finally heading to Chamonix to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc with Lynn. A trio of a trip this time! Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 12, 2024
    MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Flight day!

    May 12, 2024 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    My flight day is here and it's 1:20 AM and I should be in bed but I've been repacking and organizing my things all evening. It's Mother's Day so I send a special wish to my lovely daughters who are raising such wonderful children, as well as to my sisters and friends. Happy Mother's Day. Ok, I'm a bundle of nerves but I should get some shut eye. I can't believe the day has arrived when I head back to Slovakia and the Camino! Here we go!Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    First few hours in Lyon, France

    May 13, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    I made it to Lyon early this morning at 9:30 local time (3:30 am Kamloops) after 2 very smooth flights.👍✈️ Thanks for your prayers. The food was good and the wine was free on the international flight and so I have no complaints, Air Canada ❤️ I can't check in to my hostel yet so I'll go be a tourist again.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    12

    Made it to Lyon, France

    May 13, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    After 2 flights I arrived in Lyon, tired but happy. The flights were very smooth and the dinner and free wine were good. No complaints Air Canada👍✈️. Now to sightsee as I can't check in to my hostel yet. I'll have to walk off the delicious chocolate croissant I just ate😁Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Jet lag , ✔️

    May 14, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    After waking up every 15 min or so for the first half of the night, I slept like a baby after 5am, startled that it was already 8:40!! Off to the included breakfast in this wonderful hostel Yasi, with comfy beds and pillows and duvet, and then to do techy things like installing a new SIM card. ✔️ Spoke with my aunt Mary who said she'd love to house me while staying in Vitaz, the village of my birth. I had to twist her arm, haha 😁.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Bus to Vienna, overnight

    May 14, 2024 in France ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    I'm starting my 18 hour bus trip to Vienna now. I reserved the front seat but with the rain, visibility isn't great. My allergies have been acting up since being in Vancouver so this rain may help decrease the pollen. My stay at the hostel was great, very nice staff, clean quarters, comfy bed and very quiet. The only down side is it's not near the center and if I wasn't jet lagged groggy, I would have walked to the center. But I'll be back in Lyon at the end of my trip so I'll see the sights then.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    In Vienna, bitte.

    May 15, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Well that was a long trip 😳 but I arrived an hour earlier at 6 am. Now for a nice coffee. I'm tongue tied trying to remember some German, after having shed the cobwebs in my brain just 2 days earlier remembering my high school French. I'll be meeting up with Dagmar who just happens to be driving home to Presov and reached out to offer a ride. Thanks Dagmar ❤️Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Slovakia family time

    May 17, 2024 in Slovakia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C

    Well I haven't been able to post anything for a few days. I couldn't figure out why my new SIM card didn't work until today,( turn off the airplane mode) but even then the connection is spotty and wifi at my aunt's is poor. But also I've been out visiting and don't have much down time. I spent my first day with my cousin Terka in historic Kosice. Her son was performing with the symphony and we went to the early concert. Then we met my cousin's wife Emilia and had a nice lunch together. Coming home we visited Terka's parents, my uncle, Imro and Helen then in the evening visited with my cousins, Peter, Martin, and Janik. A fun and busy day.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Afternoon with cousins and family

    May 18, 2024 in Slovakia ⋅ 🌙 11 °C

    My day started with a sad visit to the cemetery to pay respect to Frank's brother, Jozef who passed away 3 months ago. I also went to my grandparents grave. Then I had a great visit with Peter and Marcela sampling her delicious baking creations. Afterwards I went straight to my grandparents old house that was completely renovated by my cousin, Imro and Emily. We visited on their patio and ate and drank. There was a storm that passed by but the patio was enclosed so we were protected.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    Outing to Lutina

    May 20, 2024 in Slovakia ⋅ ⛅ 11 °C

    My cousin Anna took several of us including my aunt, Polona to the wonderful town of Lutina, a pilgrimage site near Presov. We spent the whole day together, visiting more family and stopping for meals and beer . A great day!Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Coffee, beer and laughter

    May 21, 2024 in Slovakia ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    After our visit in Lutina we went for lunch at la kukaracha! Then on to Gabika's parents for coffee. What a lovely couple, full of joy and laughter!! Afterwards I finally got to visit my godmother, Maria Tobias, who went through all the history of my grandpa's family. I was able to fill in the blanks of what I didn't know. Then later we met up for a beer with cousin Jozko. We packed in a lot for one day.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    First moments in Bratislava

    May 21, 2024 in Slovakia ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    I had a lovely train ride from near Vitaz to Bratislava. Now to get to my aunt's for a visit but first I needed to stretch my legs so I walked to the center and am enjoying a small beer and people watching.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    Back to Vienna

    May 22, 2024 in Austria ⋅ 🌙 17 °C

    I spent a wonderful morning chatting with my aunt, Pavlinka today. She is a beautiful lady who along with her late husband, my mom's brother, Cyril, always opened their home up to family and friends passing through Bratislava. Then I wandered back to the historic center and caught a bus to the Vienna airport since my pension was "close by", like 6 miles. When the taxi wanted to charge me 60 euros for the ride 15 km away, which is what I paid for the pension, I decided to walk. Practice for the upcoming Camino, right? 👍. Well it was a lot further than I thought and I had to rush as the reception closed at 7:30. I made it just after 7, having walked 3 hours. I was exhausted but the scenery made up for my fatigue. On to Portugal early tomorrow.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Day 4 - May 22

    May 23, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    A trip to the Cotswolds wouldn't be complete without a visit to Oxford. The university established in the 12th century is now home to 38 colleges. We learned a lot about the history and traditions of this prestigious institution during a walking tour with our guide, James.

    After our day spent in the Cotswolds, it's easy to see why the region has the "Area of Natural Outstanding Beauty" designation. Apparently George Clooney recognizes this beauty choosing to purchase a home in the region. The property he bought is on the top of the hill and surrounded by seven neighbours. The neighbours admiration and excitement of him moving to the area was quickly squashed during major renovations he had done to the home. When the renovations were complete he invited them all up to the newly renovated home for an elaborate champagne party. As they left, he gave each neighbour an envelope to be opened when they got home. The envelope contained 25 thousand pounds as compensation for the disruptions. The beauty of the area grew for those residents 😃    Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    Met up with my fellow pilgrims

    May 23, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today was a very early morning, waking up at 4:30 for a 7 o'clock flight to Portugal. I had another smooth flight, this time with Austrian airlines. Lorelee, Helen and I arrived at pretty much the same time at the airport and then we made our way to the center. It was a beautiful morning to stroll around the city.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    Porto

    May 24, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    We are sightseeing today in this pretty town. Last night we had our first "Francesinhas" which Porto is famous for. It's a sandwich with beef, ham, sausage, and cheese dosed on more cheese with a fried egg on top all covered with a delicious sauce. Probably a days worth of calories in this meal😂 but it was delicious!!Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    A stroll through Porto

    May 24, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We had a wonderful day walking around Porto today. We needed to go to decathlon to get poles for Lorelee and then just meandered around the city.

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Start of camino!

    May 26, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    Here we go! We started from Porto today heading to Santiago. The weather is perfect and the friends as well. It was a bit of a slog as the first day often is. We were all tired and happy to reach our accommodation.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Beautiful coastline

    May 27, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C

    Our second day walking was another beautiful day. It was also Helen's birthday. We had the wind with us all day which made it seem cooler than it was. We'll be applying sunscreen more diligently now. Walking on the boardwalks was nice until we came upon the areas where they were buried under the sand. So off the shoes went! The sand was warm and silky.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Marinhas.. Switzerland, 1 Canada, 0

    May 29, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Today we made good time as we were walking mostly on boardwalks away from the water. It was another sunny, windy day and were thrilled when we found our hostel. It was a shared room with 10 bunk beds. The setting was nice and we sat outside for a bit but it was chilly with the wind. We sat beside a couple from Switzerland and the guy was hilarious. When we asked where they were going next, he produced a perfectly laminated, colour coded paper of their accommodations. So lorelee showed him our crumpled paper and we laughed. So he said, Switzerland, 1 and Canada, 0! We hope to meet up with them again as we had other things we were competing for😂.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Variety of paths & 3 Marias!

    May 29, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This day had quite a variety of paths... village cobblestone walks, forested trails, river paths, hills, muddy sections and a long bridge to finally get us into Viana do Castelo.

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    1

    Corpus Christi decorations in Caminha

    May 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    Yesterday we walked from Viana do Castelo to Caminha and came upon the beginning of street decorating in preparation for the Corpus Christi processions today. What an amazing event! Various city/ religious groups decorate different streets using everything from coarse salt in different colours, ground coffee, coloured wood chips, cedar branches, and a variety of flowers or petals. These people work through the night and by morning all is complete. Our only regret is that we weren't able to stay there today to watch the processions and church events.Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler

    Viana to Caminha

    May 30, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

    After a wonderful stay at the 3 Marias in Viana do Castelo we decided to do some sightseeing in this city. First off we took the fenicular up to mount St Luiza to see the views and the massive church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It was so nice up there and so we decided to stay there and enjoy a glass of wine. Then we went to the center and found a day bag for Lorelee and a Vodafone store for me to finally get a working Sim card!!Read more

  • MaruskaEurope 2024Traveler
    11

    Oia to Baiona

    May 31, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    It was hard leaving the wonderful accommodation we had in Oia at La Cala, other than for the snake incident. The morning had us walking along the coast on an asphalt pedestrian path which eventually led to a forested section that had a very much appreciated cafe at the top. The day was hot, up to 30 C with not a cloud in the sky. Eventually we arrived in the famous town of Baiona, where Christopher Columbus returned from the "new world" on the Pinta, 3 days before the king and queen of Spain were made aware of this feat!Read more

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