Visits with Friends

During the next week, we spent some days at school- visiting students in their classes, having conversation with colleagues, and teaching some classes at both the basic school (elementary) and the secondary school.  We also made plans in advance to meet with several friends at their homes and enjoy some time together.  It was a whirlwind week, and very fun!! 

We spent Monday night (after being at school all day) with our Slovak daughter, Janka Elizabeth, eating a lovely supper together and then staying overnight at her house in Okolične (aka "Paradise") with the breathtaking view out the window of Poludnica.  And can you believe it, I didn't take any photos!!  I think it was because we had such a relaxing, perfect, quiet evening together, that our time slipped by too quickly.   

Our colleague, Ad'a, invited us over for a delicious supper, and we got some play-time in with her adorable children too!! 

They are talented artistically -- making music and creating pictures --- taking after their wonderful parents!!  :-)

Our home for the week was in Bobrovec at "Montana" with Saška (the basic school principal) and Ignac --- notice the sheep greeting us in the yard!!  
(At the top of the hill, left of the walking path!)

Another afternoon was spent with another colleague, Lucia, who is now home on her typical three-year maternity leave with her darling Sofia. 

Sophie is being raised bilingually, with her mother speaking to her only in English from birth, and her father speaking to her in Slovak.  They've read extensively about this technique/parenting strategy, and we think it's amazing!! 

Tim and Sofia had lots of fun together!!  

Next we spent an evening with Erik and Janka, and their children Miška (on Tim's shoulders) and Riško.  

Janka prepared a delicious dinner for us to share, and we had such fun with them all! 

We met with the Betko's for tea one morning.  Luba owns the flat where we lived,  and they have met our kids and Tim's mom too.  They were the perfect land-lords for us, and we enjoyed our visit with them so much!!  

Ján, a friend from church, came along to our meeting to translate, since the Betko's don't speak English, and our Slovak is so minimal.  It was great to visit with Ján about all that's going on in his life too!  

This may not look like anything special, but to us this view holds wonderful memories.  This is what we saw out of the second floor window in Tim's office (shared with Katarína Joy, Janka Elizabeth, and Zuzana Marie) each and every day.  The church steeple and rooftops past the tree branches, with the hills and mountains in the background, were always peaceful and lovely out the window.  

We spent quite a few days at school.  It was so great to be back there among our wonderful students and cherished colleagues.  We loved getting to visit classrooms, and even to teach some classes again.    The two new American lectors are super young men who are fitting in really well and doing an awesome job of teaching!!

Our Slovak daughter, Katarína Joy, let us borrow her cute 'new' car again for a trip to visit another colleague who's home on maternity leave.   On the drive, we had some beautiful views of the mountains, particularly Kriváň.  This is the most recognizable peak in Slovakia, with it's leaning tip-top!  (It's image is on Slovak coins too.)

Tim spent some quality time with a Slovak princess --- Livka!  

Livka always chatters away to us, assuming that we can understand everything she's saying!!  We feel like surrogate grandparents!!  :-)

Janka with her sweet daughters, Veronika and Livka.  

Livka read books to Tim for a long time!  

Veronika was happy when her Daddy, Marian got home!  

We walked through their village of Liptovská Kokava on a blustery afternoon. 

At a soccer field on the outskirts of town, we had this amazing view of Kriváň.  Marian had predicted that its colors would change to reds as sunset approached.  It was stunningly beautiful!!  

Marian and the girls flew a kite in the wind. (You can see it waaaay up there!)

Tim and Livka went walking to the other side of the field and then raced all the way back!

Veronika also had a turn to fly the kite!  

Kriváň again, after the sunlight waned.  

Terezka is the daughter of one of our colleagues, and she and I had English lessons together.  Such a super student!  She also participates in a traditional Slovak folk dance group, so we were invited to their evening performance back in Liptovský Mikuláš.

Terezka did an awesome job on stage, and we really enjoyed the energetic performance!!  :-)

After the concert, we went for a visit at another colleague's new home, which he built from the ground up.  Peter and his family treated us to delicious refreshments and desserts, and we had a fun time with them too!  

I'm sorry that it's been so long since the previous post.  I hope the next one will be sooner rather than later!!  We had such a wonderful experience being back in Slovakia, so we do want to share more!  

Weekend Visits

Before continuing, I should also note that in the car on the way to the V.AP Stužková, thanks to modern technology,
we were able to meet our new granddaughter for the very first time on a smartphone, via Facetime!!  It was amazing to see our sweet, beautiful baby girl and her parents in the hospital back in Iowa, even though we were an ocean away.  

After the Stužková, we stayed overnight in Liptovský Trnovec with Pat'ka.  We celebrated her birthday in the morning with a delicious brunch she prepared for us.  (We should have fixed the meal for HER instead!)  

One place I had always wanted to visit is Havránok, an open-air archaeological museum very near to Liptovský Mikuláš.  It was the site of some ancient Celtic ruins. 

Pat'ka took us to Havránok for the morning, and we walked up to the museum area.  This is looking back at Liptovská Mara, the reservoir/lake, with this bell tower on the shore.

The day was a little overcast, but the smiles were sunny!   :-)

Some autumn colors were still remaining.

The museum area is up on the top of a hill overlooking the mara (reservoir), so the views became ever more beautiful as we ascended up the path.  

Our first view of some of the reconstructed ruins on the hillside.  

The fog and mist added mystery to the landscape below us on this cloudy morning!

It looked like a Romantic era landscape painting!   :-)

Pat'ka and Tim heading up the path to the lookout area.

Enjoying the views at Havránok. 

More fall colors on our walk.

Our short climb to the top of the hill was rewarded with this view of the Low Tatras in the distance with the countryside and the Vah River in between.  

The views were almost surreal - like a painting for sure!!  

The thatched roof and wooden construction showing how the Celtic people lived.  

One tiny burst of color on our path.  

The vivid tree colors really brightened up the gloomy weather as we walked!

A Celtic ceremonial area near the top of the hill.  (Notice the animal skulls on top of the shorter poles at right.)  

The religious/ceremonial area and a watchtower.  Some of the mosaic stone patterns are original from centuries ago.  

More bright colors on our path!

Though the actual museum was closed, there was still plenty to see on our trip to Havránok!  Thanks, Pat'ka!! 

Saturday afternoon, Pat'ka drove us to Východná, where we stayed with our Slovak daughter, Katarína Joy, and her 
family for the rest of the weekend.  

KJ and Tim each wore their T-shirts from the other's home!  (Katarína visited us in Iowa the summer of 2013, so she
understands the "Field of Dreams" quote now!!)   :-) 

The whole family --- Janka, Juraj, Juraj (Jr.) holding little Jurko (also named Juraj), Anička, and Katarína.

Tim and I were able to learn from these awesome Slovak grandparents about all the fun of a first grandchild!!  

Jurko liked to sleep outside in his stroller!  

Tim entertaining adorable little Jurko!!  :-)

While we were there, some of the Východná hunting group returned from the forest with a deer carcass.  Notice the sprig of evergreen in the hat of the hunter who made the kill. 

A similar sprig of evergreen is placed in the deer's mouth to honor it.  

Katarína's brother and father (both Juraj's) in their 
hunting clothes.

Katarína's grandmother walking up from her house 
at the other end of the lot.  She is such a sweetie!!  

We took the baby out for a walk in the afternoon.  The church at left is the Lutheran church where we worshipped with Katarína on Sunday.  

The views of the High Tatras over the rooftops of Východná
were spectacularly beautiful in the evening light!

Katarína let us borrow her 'new' car to drive back to Bobrovec, 

for convenience sake, and we drove it to school the next morning

to return it to her.  Thanks to Katarína Joy and the J's for such an

amazing weekend of fun, laughter, and delicious food!!  

On our way back to Bobrovec, we got a call from one of Tim's Vrbica Bulls basketball buddies, Michal.  Since he works in Prague now, it was great that we got an opportunity to visit with him before he returned there.

With Christmas approaching, and many preparations still waiting to be done, I'm not sure if the next post will occur until the new year.  (I only have 3 kinds of Christmas goodies baked so far --- 9 to go!)  But rest assured, I will continue to blog about our November trip to Slovakia, in installments.  It's really fun for me to re-live all the wonderful moments, encounters, and experiences while we were back in our second homeland!  So for now, we wish a very Merry Christmas to anyone reading this.  God bless you all!!