29 July “04, Thursday. Yes, I was a little grumpy this morning, but after all it was still raining. We broke camp (kind of sounds like I’m writing a western monolog or something) before 10am and just pointed the van “South”….. Well, we did have an idea as to where we wanted to go and it turned out to be just the place (well, maybe not, you see I went through 2 signs that said not to enter and parked in a spot that looked OK to park in….it only cost me $30 US, I wanted to fight it, but my partner (wife) said “YOU WILL NOT !!!”). As we rounded the corner into Bojnice the Bojnice Castle came into view and about knocks your socks off. It has moved into number 1 on my list of “Best Castle’s” in Europe. It will most likely fall from favor as we are only into our 5 month out of our expected 24 month journey. The Bojnice Castle is one of the oldest in Slovakia and has written records showing it’s existence in 1113. Now what we saw today wasn’t as it was in 1113, but it is pretty much as it was in 1889. The Castle and it’s environment has always been in the hands of Kings. Another item worth noting is the natural travertine cave…it was here that the Neanderthal man had lived from about 250,000 to 40,000 yrs. B.C., and the cave was used during the stone age as well. The cave is directly under
the castle and next to the natural spring well, that was the water source for the castle for many centuries. All this was enjoyed in a bright and sunny environment as the sun shone throughout the day….Thank You Lord !!! Well all that finished, we head again due North to our next campground before going into Poland tomorrow. We traveled from Prievidza (Bojnice), north to Rajecke Teplice and pulled into the campsite. To describe this site, it sits circled by mountains on all sides, a small but nice river flows beside it, and you are met by 2 goats and 2 sheep grazing the campgrounds and a horse tied next to the reception building. There are 2 Indian TP’s, about 6 western style bungalow’s, a Beer Garden “Bar”, and 8 “Out Houses” with separate “Out House Showers”. Hikers and horseback riders have been coming out of the hills every since we arrived and this is looking like “One Heck Of A Good Time Can Be Had” type of camp. They play a game here that I’ve never seen before. They take a Volley Ball Court, lower the net to the height of a tennis net, take a soccer ball, and play Volley Ball “Kicking and Head Butting” the ball back and forth. The ball can bounce once each time and can be passed 3 times before it must go over the net to the other team. Score is kept as it is in Volley Ball. They were having a great time and it also entertained us while we were at the “Bar” for dinner.
Tomorrow….Poland
the castle and next to the natural spring well, that was the water source for the castle for many centuries. All this was enjoyed in a bright and sunny environment as the sun shone throughout the day….Thank You Lord !!! Well all that finished, we head again due North to our next campground before going into Poland tomorrow. We traveled from Prievidza (Bojnice), north to Rajecke Teplice and pulled into the campsite. To describe this site, it sits circled by mountains on all sides, a small but nice river flows beside it, and you are met by 2 goats and 2 sheep grazing the campgrounds and a horse tied next to the reception building. There are 2 Indian TP’s, about 6 western style bungalow’s, a Beer Garden “Bar”, and 8 “Out Houses” with separate “Out House Showers”. Hikers and horseback riders have been coming out of the hills every since we arrived and this is looking like “One Heck Of A Good Time Can Be Had” type of camp. They play a game here that I’ve never seen before. They take a Volley Ball Court, lower the net to the height of a tennis net, take a soccer ball, and play Volley Ball “Kicking and Head Butting” the ball back and forth. The ball can bounce once each time and can be passed 3 times before it must go over the net to the other team. Score is kept as it is in Volley Ball. They were having a great time and it also entertained us while we were at the “Bar” for dinner.
Tomorrow….Poland