ahhh...the clouds (and trees) clear for a bit and we glimpse our goal....castle ruins perched high in the mountains
pretty flowers to start the trip
flowers on a cross....for some holiday perhaps?
the long (8 hours total) hike begins
but with a beautiful view of the Slovak countryside...I hardly noticed the length...at first
cherries along the roadside for us to pick (but they weren't ripe so we had to pass)
finally we leave the road and start on our path...with mike leading the way
the five of us (I'm behind the camera) begin our journey
we were a jovial bunch, surrounded by lots of natural beauty
a glimpse of the long path (which would soon become muddy in the rain)
the woods were so pretty...I often thought that I was in a dream
lush green all around
ahhh...the clouds (and trees) clear for a bit and we glimpse our goal...now a zoom shot
pretty flowers guide us on our trail
along with knarled and twisted roots
and a turtle?
finally...over three hours later...we reach our goal...and it did not disappoint
an old walkway beckons us inward
ruins hidden among nature
a shot of the courtyard
apparantly some weird (but cute) dog made it too
the castle walls stand strong...though weak
the castle provides an excellent bird's eye view (though cloudy) of the city of Bratislava
another view of the city
three of my traveling companions...Louis, Louise, and Elena
I pose with Louise and Elena
I pose in clouds amoungst wildflowers
now you can see the dramatic scenery behind me
the view looking down from my pose in the last picture
now looking straight down
how in the world did Napolean strike this place?
a view of our picnic area and the former castle courtyard
I pose next to ruins
now with a big smile because this is a cool place
more, beautiful wildflowers
a view of the castle walls
a doorway to the past?
I peer into that doorway
looking at the path beyond
without picassa corrections
looking at some more ruins...really....every part of this place was amazingly cool
a view down the side
and peering through the fog...I'm sure the view is amazing when the skies are clear
it seems like this castle was once two stories tall
Elena poses next to the wall
another shot...this one horizontal
Elena catches me off guard...or preparing to strike
nope...just trying to pose
peering into another campfire...wow...I would love to come back and camp at this place
peering into the remains of a tower, this tower was probable 20 feet down
looking at the path below
and the towers beside
and the remains of windows on the other side
approaching the entrance from whence we came
but pausing to reflect one last time
glancing up at the gargoyles who still guard the ruins
and watch as people climb the ruins
but the path...and stream lead on, now we start the 5 hour portion of the return home
which was just as lovely if not rainy
the clouds part for just long enough to catch this view of the trees
but the woods beckon again
after a hearty dinner of pizza and beer (traditional after a long hike), Elena and I set off to see Bratislava at night...which is quite lovely. In this picture you see St. Martin's cathedral, the church where Hungarian monarchs were crowned
with the newest bridge in the background
I couldn't decide which shot was better...so I included both
looking at the new bridge
reflecting into the Danub
a night view of a ritzy hotel
and another shot of the cathedral
but before we leave...another cool shot of the new bridge...this time from the Danube
reflecting into the Danube
