Dancing In Slovakia

Tuesday evening we boarded the night train that took us to Tatranska Strba, a small village located on the slope of a mountain in the High Tatras. Pine forests were everywhere. The train station was in disrepair; there were two grocery stores, a bar and other services at the station. Several hotels were located along the highway going into the mountains. There was a auto-camping park along this road and another store for the campers across the road. There was also a technical school located close by which was used for our dancing lessions. Click here for a larger area map.

Wednesday, we arrived in Tatranska Strba and checked into the Nezabudka hotel. We were in time for a late breakfast at the Hotel Rysy, to hear the orientation announcements and one afternoon dance lesson.

The "Dancing in Slovakia Orientation" was given by the team of instructors and their translators: Radek, Helena, Jitka und Jan.

Helena

The girls at my table. Maryanne         Marie                 Bridgette         Lois Ervin Varga of the University of Bratislava taught dances from Liptov and Hel'pa and the Rejseks reviewed the dances we learned in Prague. Each dance session lasted an hour and a half followed by a coffee break or lunch. Hulan, the dog, was a registered member of the dancing group. He went everywhere we went.

Thursday afternoon we hiked to the zubacka (cog train) which we rode to the Strbske pleso, a mountain recreation center.

From there, we hiked to the ski lift for a ride to the mountain top and a spectacular view.

Steaky?

That evening, after we came down from the ski slopes, we were bussed

to Koliba and treated to an outdoor lamb barbecue

and dancing

by and with musicians from Liptov.

Friday's treat was dinner in a restaurant in Hel'pa again with dancing by and with the local village musicians.

Saturday afternoon the buses took us to Zubenec for Podharacke slavnosti, where we visited the museum with historical buildings and watched performances of choral groups, skits, and dances.

Meeting the Dance Leader

The Town Mayor with Wife

The band

The Bar Doll

On the left: Jan and Jitka dancing. Below: Everybody dancing.

Our train trip back to Prague was on Sunday. Waiting for the train

This time we could really enjoy the countryside.

We ended the Dance Tour at the Praha train station and boarded an overnight train headed to Nurnburg, Germany where we tranfered to another train going to Pegnitz from where we took a taxi to our Gasthof in the Bavarian village of Tuchersfeld.

Page URL: http://www.bcpl.net/~lhybl/EUtrips/Strba/VeTatru.html
Last update: Aug 4, 2005.
Maintained by: Albert Hybl