Moving on from Poland we passed into Slovakia. Gone were the Ursus and in for the Zetor's and skoda cars. What a change!!!!
The Tatras from this side seemed more accesible and just as lovely. we scooted through Slovakia having an impressive stop in Kosvice, it deserves more tourists!! The country does however have some big social problems that need sorting out, with a very obvious underclass of rural slum dwelers of a different racial origin, we didn't manage to find out what was going on but its not pretty.
Once the Ukranian border guards finaly let us in (had to go 30 km uphill to anither crossing!!)
What a wild surprise!! an exhuberant place, friday evening must be vodka and party night! in the villages everybody out all dressed up! its horse carts and Ladas now!! Watch out!!
It has an amaizing countryside! totally traditional still, very little infastructure i.e. no litter collections! plastic bottle problem is huge! but more people spoke (ot tryed to) speek to us than anywhere else - kids all waved and tried to race Jon! We will have to go back to do more exploring there.
In Romania, hardly had we crossed the border when we fell into the hospitable hands of Anka and John, and Ankas family! Camping in their garden and being spoiled, see picture!! Going to find it hard to leave, but quite excited by the map of Romania- lots of mountains. ( thanks everyone for E mails will try to reply later, stuck with poor comunications in the Ukrain!!)
And Matthew!! who have you been drinking with???? hope you havn't drunk all of Freds whiskey!!
Hey Nic and Jon.
ReplyDeleteYou crane, me crane, we all crane. Sounds awesome.
News here. Well,rain, rain, rain. All shows washed out again, tractors towing tractors. It hasnt seemed to stop. Poor organisers. Meanwhile the south has been having a lovely summer.
Did Grasmere show last weekend. Short sharp mtb ride and then a x country. Beaten twice by about a few seconds. Chris Hope and Pete Strong laid on an awesome Porage this weekend. No guess on the weather! Ended up finishing behind Hooly man after a puncture late on. Quite happy as I did the Cumberland 110mile challenge the next day where I had to bunny hop a dead bunny. Nearly stewed myself!
Off to Toulouse with Jules at the weekend for a week of....biking! And coffee and camping.
Finished Stasiland then happened to watch The Life of Others (about the Stasi)...both incredible.
Only just got your email of Jim and Jane so....is it better to email you or blog you? My email is phil.r.davies@cumbriacc.gov.uk
Well take care and enjoy yourself. Oh, did you hear about Gary? Lands End to John O Groats in 5 days at an average of 17.5 mph! ( All sat in a lorry, I think!) Amazing eh!
Miss you both but with any luck I'll be joining the 3 million in July and then heading out and see you. Love Phil and Jules.