Today’s postcard is going to be different, Topics are: Desserts and funny things we’ve done. We are in Slovakia; another eastern block Country with a slightly different history of Nazi and then communist occupation; and another spin on dumplings (that I love). We spent several days in the mountains. Somewhat tired resort, but completely peaceful and a beautiful setting. We were stuck there without a car and it was pretty far from a town. There was only one or 2 other couples at the whole place. Luckily there was a full service restaurant that was great. But the peacefulness was really relaxing and we thoroughly enjoyed our time.
News flash: USA does not own apple pie. In Amsterdam they eat apple pie a lot. Everywhere has it and where the best is, is hotly debated. It looks awesome (we never had any). Poland is the biggest exporter of apples in the world. Apple trees laden with fruit are everywhere right now. Poland has famous apple pie.
Prague has a dessert that is like a churro in a hollow cone often filled with whip cream or soft-serve cream. Called a trdlo. No idea how to say that, don’t bother sounding it out, the letters have way different sounds. Like all super sweet danish, doughy desserts, it looks a lot better than it tastes in my opinion. Poland has this too, but a completely different name. That is a little unusual, Poland and Czech and Slovakian are really similar languages; they can understand each other pretty much.
When you purchase anything by credit/debit card over here, the key pad looks identical; same green and red buttons in the same places. BUT, here you press red to accept. Green cancels. And since we can’t read the words, we constantly do it wrong and get eyes rolled at us.
In Amsterdam I noticed the unmistakable signs for real estate on the market. Same look and size as our real estate signs. The name Te Koop was on most of the signs. I mentioned to Mark that Te Koop must be a heck of a broker because he has the listing for almost everything, even houseboats. Mark looked at me funny and said that “te koop” means “for sale”. I told him I was making a joke and of course I knew that. He didn’t buy it.
A few days ago we were trying to get a bus from a Slovakian town to a nearby castle. At the bus station the gal at the window communicated (by writing it down) that we wanted the 10:00 VLAK and pointed north which is where half the bus depot was. So we looked for a bus with VLAK on it on that end of the lot. We didn’t know if “VLAK” was the bus line or the destination. Across the street to the north was the train station. Guess what train is in Slovakian? Vlak. We figured it out with about a minute to spare and got on the right train. We could see the castle on the hill from the train, so we couldn’t miss the stop. It was a beautiful train ride, probably took 20 minutes alongside a river. Cost 1.2 Euro. Roughly $1.40.
Then, to go home there wasn’t a train. And since we did not take the bus out there, we did not know where the bus station was. And what I mean by station was really just a stop. Which stop? which direction on the road? Good questions. How we got lucky and found it, I don’t know. About 20 minutes later, the first bus that arrived was the right one. I wish I had snapped a picture of the bus. It was decorated with a large dream catcher; 7-9 air fresheners or perfume bottles still in cardboard wrapping (I think they may have been for sale). Some other decor in the style of the area (which is gaudy and cheesy to our sensibilities); fake flowers, etc. I think it all may have been for sale to men who have forgotten their wives birthdays or something. The driver couldn’t see out of half the window.
In a couple days we head for Munich for Octoberfest. Yes, it is still September, Octoberfest is over by October.