By Alena Dulakova, Tatras Escapes
Carrie and I met around three years ago.
We used to work together for an education franchise in Reading, UK. We clicked right away. You know when somebody just gets you completely and utterly from (almost) day one?
We became very good friends …
I have always talked about Slovakia to Carrie. How pretty it is, what you can do and see there, and that she should come and see for herself one day.
Little did I know this chat will turn into reality a few months later.
We had wanted to surprise our mums for Christmas last year and take them to Paris.
However, France just wasn’t working out for us. It was either the dates, or the places we wanted to see. The usual organisational issues you get from time to time. What I knew for a fact was that we can go to Slovakia and A. Carrie and her mum Linda don’t have to worry about the organisation of it all B. I REALLY enjoy putting itineraries together especially when I’m showing off my motherland and C. I was very confident they would love it.
OK, perhaps a little hesitant and keeping all my fingers and toes crossed.
But off we went!
29th January 2020, we landed in Poprad, Slovakia. Carrie hates flying and so she used a special kind of liquid to get her relaxed. She got so relaxed, they managed to be the last ones coming out of that plane! Phew… OK, hello mum Alena! (I’m Alena and my mum is also Alena, a very strange tradition in Slovakia where girls inherit the name of their mother and boys of their dad. Confusing everyone for no apparent reason. Although, it doesn’t happen so often any more).
I planned the whole itinerary for us and have to admit, I was like a child at Christmas waiting to unwrap the presents.
I take a huge pride in presenting beautiful Slovakia, specifically the Tatra region. It is where I was born and spent 19 years of my life before moving to the UK.
The next day, we started at Smokovec, took a cable car to Hrebienok where we observed some ice sculptures from ice sculpting competitions all over the world.
It was mesmerising!
Next!
It doesn’t matter how old you are, you are going sledging when I happen to be your guide. The girls (Carrie and Linda) haven’t laughed so much in ages. So I’ve been told, and the rest of the population on Hrebienok must have heard. They couldn’t get the sledges to go because they didn’t know how to stir it. It takes a couple of minutes to become a pro. Trust me! We all met at the finishing line, my oh my, did we have fun!
As we were waiting for the mountain train, I thought this is a moment to introduce the Tatra Tea!
The stronger the better, Linda said.
Alrighty, 72% it is then! A shot in Slovakia is 0.5ml rather than 0.25ml (I always like to make this point, mainly for health and safety reasons). We had 2 shots each.
Tatra Tea is a liquor like alcohol of different strengths and flavours. You can feel the warmth travelling from your mouth through to the final destination (your stomach!).
It’s absolutely fantastic during those cold winter days.
We jumped on the train and waited for it to depart, when all of a sudden, a group of people were stuck to the window. It took me a while to figure out they are watching an animal.
It’s a bear!
Ladies, look it’s a wild brown bare playing about with a household cat! First, we thought it’s the Tatra Tea and its magic powers but after observing the majestic creature for a couple of minutes, we were certain it really is a beautiful Tatra bear playing with a cat.
I have never seen anything like that in my life (nor did Carrie and Linda of course). It almost felt like I had this ‘performance’ prepared for them. They told me they will never forget the day they saw a wild bear being chased by a cat in beautiful Slovakian mountains.
Our trip was filled with fun, laughter and new memories.
We also visited a beer spa in Poprad town called Beer Spa Tatras. It is exactly what it says on the tin – beer bath. You’re greeted in very traditional Slovakian style – fresh bread with special butter (it’s basically pork fat, I know it sounds gross but it’s actually very yummy. Unless you’re vegetarian or vegan. Then stay away please).
There are four baths filled up with warm water, hops and beer. Each bath has its own beer pipe that can be used to top up your bath or glass. Drink as much as you like. However, you only have an hour at the spa (I think I know exactly why that is!).
Sauna, ice cold water, shower and hay bed are also part of this lovely experience. The place has its own brewery and restaurant downstairs. There is also a gift shop where you can purchase some beer.
We finished the trip with a dinner at beautiful Sabato hotel and restaurant in medieval part of the town called Spisska Sobota. It’s definitely a must see while you’re visiting. We had the restaurant to ourselves all night!
Yes, you read that right. The wine and food were absolutely sensational. What made this dinner very special was a genuine thank you from Carrie and Linda that have both said it was the best holiday ever! Whether it was the wine talking, I don’t know, but it certainly warmed my heart. As this is exactly what I strive for when I organise trips for Tatra Escapes customers.
Alena
The Founder
Tatra Escapes
www.tatraescapes.co.uk
#holidays #getaway #slovakia #tatras #beerbath #tatraescapes
