Bojnice Castle This is Slovakia's most popular tourist attraction. The ticket office closed just before we arrived, so we couldn't go inside.

Screaming Monkeys for Sale

Banska Stiavnica Direction signs in Banska Stiavnica. Perhaps the number under the city name on the top sign is the altitude.

View out our Window

Our Room

Banska Building These cool buildings are along the main street in the middle of Banska Stiavnica, Slovakia.

Ice Cream for Breakfast This old lady is having an ice cream cone at 8:20 in the morning, proving it's never too early for ice cream!

Old and Older

Older

Older Building

Yellow Building

Yellow Freize

Decorative Entry This decorative ironwork is above a door on one of the buildings in Banska Stiavnica. The building was built in 1885.

Guy in front of Church This old guy is sitting on a bench against the back wall of the church which faces the main square in Banska Stiavnica.

Plague Column in Town Square

My breakfast in Banska Stiavnica. Processed meats for breakfast seems to be common in Central Europe. I couldn't resist having a hot dog. Note the hot dog bun-like rolls in the photo.

Hot Dog! Breakfast! My breakfast in Banska Stiavnica. Processed meats for breakfast seems to be common in Central Europe. I couldn't resist having a hot dog. Note the hot dog bun-like rolls in the photo.

Statue Closeup

Outside our Room

The top of the Plague Column in Banska Stiavnica. Most Central European cities have one of these religious columns in their central square.

Plague Column Top The top of the Plague Column in Banska Stiavnica. Most Central European cities have one of these religious columns in their central square.

Chief Sign

Renovation

Old Castle

So here we are in Slovakia, the day after we arrived in Central Europe. Banska Stiavnica was the 2nd largest town in Hungary during the middle ages, but when the silver ore ran out, the town faded into obscurity.<br />The white wall attached to the tower in the background was built in the 1400's to protect the church and village from the invading Turks. However, they didn't make it quite this far.

Ashcrafts in Banska So here we are in Slovakia, the day after we arrived in Central Europe. Banska Stiavnica was the 2nd largest town in Hungary during the middle ages, but when the silver ore ran out, the town faded into obscurity. The white wall attached to the tower in the background was built in the 1400's to protect the church and village from the invading Turks. However, they didn't make it quite this far.

The New Castle

While wandering along a path along the hills of Banska Stiavnica, we saw these women sitting out by the clothesline, enjoying the morning. They looked at us just as I took this photo through the trees.

Waiting for the Wash to Dry While wandering along a path along the hills of Banska Stiavnica, we saw these women sitting out by the clothesline, enjoying the morning. They looked at us just as I took this photo through the trees.

Where we Ate

Our Hotel

Church on Hill

Village Scene Typical homes in Vlkonec, Slovakia, a perfectly-preserved village listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Looking at Village

Orava Castle This is Orava castle, in Orava Poznavok, Slovakia. The old silent movie 'Nosferatu' was filmed here.

We like Flowers

A Lion

Another Gate

Medallion

Door Handle

13th Century Castle

Musicians

View towards Tatras Mountains

Scary Witch!

Scary Elves!

At the climax of the tour of Orava Castle, we ended up in this room filled with these cheesy displays. It was quite a disappointing end to the tour.<br /><br />I had expected to be able to get higher up, and see more of the oldest part of the castle.

Scary Dragon! At the climax of the tour of Orava Castle, we ended up in this room filled with these cheesy displays. It was quite a disappointing end to the tour. I had expected to be able to get higher up, and see more of the oldest part of the castle.

We like Knockers

Another Orava View

Orava Church

Looking back at Orava Castle The back side of Orava Castle, seen from the Orava Castle Geocache.

Finding the Orava Castle Geocache. I left a couple of travelbugs I had brought with me.<br /><br />I look all shiny in this photo, it was really warm and humid in Central Europe.

Gary does some Geocaching Finding the Orava Castle Geocache. I left a couple of travelbugs I had brought with me. I look all shiny in this photo, it was really warm and humid in Central Europe.