Everything I Need Fits In This Backpack

       I arrived in Poprad, Slovakia last Monday and spent the afternoon walking around the center, buying postcards and groceries, and making myself dinner.
       I got up early on Tuesday to visit the Spis castle. I caught a bus to the town just beneath the castle on which a homeless man spent a good several minutes trying to convince me to do something for him in Slovak, despite how much I tried to assured him that I didn't speak Slovak. The castle was awesome, and more like a hilltop fortress. I got there early and was able to see the castle with almost no one else there. By the time I was leaving, a few huge tour groups had showed up. I thought I would head down the hill and check out the town a bit. I walked around for a couple minutes, but it was very quiet and something about it made me quite uncomfortable. I headed to the bus stop to catch the next bus back to Poprad. By the time I got to the bus stop, it was pouring rain.
       Despite the incredible amount of rain and how soaked my pants and shoes already were, I decided to check out Poprad's "historical center". There wasn't much to see other than a block of old buildings. After that I went to a brewery in the town center and had a couple beers, including the Slovak version of an American pale ale, and also tried some Tatratea. Tatratea is a very strong and thick liquor made from herbs found in the Slovakian Tatra mountains.
       The next day I set my sights on the Slovak national park known as Slovak Paradise. I should've planned my visit better instead of just showing up in a tiny village nearby the park on the 10:30am bus. Slovak Paradise is a huge region of hiking trails with waterfalls, forests, rivers, gorges, and overall beautiful scenery. I found myself there around 11am with only about 5 hours to spare due to the bus schedule. I set myself back a bit searching for a trail head. I finally found it and realized I only had 4 hours left. I power-hiked way up into the beautiful Slovak wilderness for about 2 hours and then quickly hiked back. I didn't want to find myself stranded in that village. Perhaps someday I'll make a trip back there and be better informed and prepared. Everything aside, I really enjoyed the hike.
       When I got back to Poprad I walked to a shopping complex to do some laundry in the laundromat. They don't speak English there and it's not self service...I walked back with dirty laundry.
       The next day I caught a minibus to Krakow. I decided to check myself into a party hostel for the weekend. I had a lot of fun there and at some clubs in Krakow, and met a lot of great people, although I could've done without so much free, watered down cherry vodka.
       On Friday I visited Auschwitz. I was going to go alone, but a Canadian convinced me to go with him on a tour. I'm glad I did because I got a lot of information that helped me understand better what really went on there. It was a pretty emotionally intense experience to actually be there. The next day I explored the city with a Taiwanese guy and a Polish girl. Krakow is a beautiful city.
       On Sunday I took a bus to Warsaw. I felt pretty haggard from my party weekend. I didn't do much on Sunday evening. I got some Mexican food at a restaurant near the hostel. It was he first Mexican food I'd had in awhile and it was great. I miss the variety of food I can easily find at home.
       On Monday I walked around Warsaw, mostly in the old town, but also around the center and near the river. That evening I met up with Aleksandra, my distant cousin who I'm related to through a marriage somewhere in the past. I was able to stay at her apartment for a couple nights. I met her sister, Natalia, on Monday night and we had a beer at a pub near the apartment.
       Yesterday I explored the Royal Gardens of Warsaw as well as the university's botanical gardens. Later in the evening Aleksandra and I met up with her sister at a really nice string of outdoor bars on the river. It was a really nice place to hang out, talk, and drink beer.
       Now I'm on the top of a double decker bus heading to Wroclaw (pronounced vrots-wav) and listening to Iron Maiden... Excellent!