Spectacular Slovakia

Wintertime is carnival time, and in Slovak villages, it’s also time to gather your family and prepare your cauldrons for zabijacka. Naomi Huzovicova explains what that means in this week’s episode of our Spectacular Slovakia podcast. Slovaks really do use the whole animal, and Naomi believes it is a sign of respect as nothing is wasted of the life that has been given. Listen to the podcast to hear how it’s done.

When you descend into one of the mines of Banska Stiavnica, you literally feel the weight of the world on your shoulders, says Dave Rubin in another episode of our podcast. Yet Banska Stiavnica also offers many uplifting experiences. Exploring one of the “ten million hiking trails” winding through the beautiful, natural aftermath of an ancient volcanic explosion is undoubtedly one of them.

James Thomson has lived in Bratislava long enough to almost consider himself a native Bratislavan. Today, he takes us to Devín Castle, one of the iconic places of the Slovak capital that tourists are not always aware of. Nowadays, it’s just a ruin, but it stands in a spot that holds significance for the Slovak nation throughout several moments in its history. And you can get there by boat!

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At Christmas time, traditions come alive in Slovak villages and even cities, despite the ever-more globalised lives of Slovaks. Naomi Hužovičová talks about Slovak Christmas traditions.

Canadian Naomi Hužovičová talks about traditional Slovak food on the Christmas Eve table, from different soups to a carp served with potato salad. Enjoy your bite of Slovak Christmas.

It’s time we head east, and if you have not been to Kosice yet, you are about to learn what you’ve been missing. James Thomson offers some valuable advice on how to make your stay in Košice, and your journey there, worthwhile. This week’s podcast is a brief introduction to travelling to eastern Slovakia.

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Christmas markets opened last Friday, attracting both tourists and locals. Even though Christmas seems to come earlier every year, the markets are something to look forward to. “My main experience of Christmas markets in Slovakia is fat dripping onto my toes,” says James Thomson, who walks you through the markets and the Slovak specialties that you need to taste when you visit.

This week’s podcast is special for golf enthusiasts. Don Stoll, a passionate golf player from the US, has played golf at some of Slovakia’s golf courses, most recently in Bojnice, and has a lot to say about them. Slovakia is a really interesting place: people go out to play by themselves, says Don. The scenery you get in Slovakia and the way courses are designed are different compared to the US.

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Dave Rubin was a Manhattan-based lawyer when he landed in Bratislava during his travels around the world. That was ten years ago. Dave has since founded a successful language school in downtown Bratislava and spends his free time exploring his new town and country. How does a city boy from Brooklyn fall in love with castle ruins in the Small Carpathians? Dave names most of them in this episode - and there is more of them than you might think.

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Naomi Hužovičová was born in Canada’s Rocky Mountains so she loves the mountains - but not the crowds. In this episode of Spectacular Slovakia, she shares her tips for some hikes off the beaten track in the Slovak mountains. Naomi also talks about her favourite hill with an amazing 360-degree view that you probably haven’t heard of. Which places in the Tatras are worth visiting despite the crowds? And can you rely on the markers on the hiking trails?

Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products.

shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide