Skiing and Orava Castle

Well, it's been a long time since I added to the blog, so now I'll try to fill in the gaps for the past few days.  So much has happened, so I'll try to just add a day or two at a time to keep track.  We have been busy with very full days while the kids were here, and we've had a wonderful time!!

On the 27th, we had a lot planned.  A teaching colleague, Slavka, (who had hosted our first kapusnice party) met us at a ski area near her cottage and arranged reduced rates for our cross country ski equipment rental!  

Ready to go inside and get fitted for our skis, boots, and poles!!  Practicing the racing crouches!  

This was our view as we began our cross-county ski adventure!!  WOW!!  (Paul and Lute out ahead!)

Snow bunny Beth!! 

Lute ready to rock the slopes.

Above us, there was a downhill ski area - it was pretty steep!

Paul had been down the first little run already, then came back to report the conditions were a little icy!  

What a beautiful day to ski in the mountains!!  :-)

Boogie time on the slopes!!  

Along the trail - downhill slopes behind.

This is a pension (hotel) near the ski area - what a view!

It was a little cloudy, and the snow was a bit icy, but it was a beautiful day to appreciate God's beautiful nature!

Fun times for everyone!!  

The girls loving life along the trail!!  

O.K., it's "off to the races" for Lute and Tim!!  (not!)
Tim was really glad to NOT be skiing down the slope in the background - yikes!!  

At the ski rental hut after our cross country ski adventure - such a good time!!

Next we hurried back to the flat for a quick lunch of sandwiches, fruit, and more cookies and sweets from all our Slovak friends.  YUM!!  Then Pat'ka, Rivi, and John came over to join us for a van ride to Orava Castle.  That's one we had already visited, but it was so spectacular, we knew the kids would love it.  There was also some special Christmas programming going on for the holiday season as an added bonus!  

Waiting for the tour to begin outside the Orava Castle gates.

Inside the first gate, we were greeted by the actors telling a traditional Slovak folk tale.  We followed them over the drawbridge in the background, and through the second gates into the castle.  

This is the snow woman, who is in the sky sending snow (white feathers in this case) down on the world.  

The boy who came down to earth, courting the mayor's beautiful daughter

Some of the actors in the play - it was such fun!!  Evil step-mother and step-sister, love-struck young couple who overcome all to live happily ever after, "Death" blowing his horn, the snow woman, and the story tellers.  

Our girls on the steps to the upper part of the castle.

Our boys on a balcony overlooking the courtyard.  (Yes, it was very cold and windy outside!)

There was a display of many Nativity scenes inside the castle for the holiday season - beautiful!

One of the dining halls was set in holiday themed decor --- and the bearskin rug caught the girls' attention!!  :-)

The view over the town and valley below, from atop the castle.

The Slovak flag waving atop Orava Castle.

The Olsons at Orava!!  

After our castle tour, we stopped at a small restaurant to warm up with some hot tea and coffee.  Pat'ka surprised us by bringing the cookies we had decorated at her house earlier.  My romantic husband had made this one!   We all enjoyed
eating the cookies with our hot beverages!!  

This might be the only picture we took of the van we used when the kids were here!  Ready to head back from Orava. 

After our castle adventure!   :-)  

After the castle trip, we checked the kids into a hotel in town, since the cabin was booked for skiers the rest of the week.  That evening, we took the kids to a restaurant where they enjoyed Slovak cuisine - some schnitzels, goulash, etc.  Then we hung out a while at the flat before they headed to the hotel for another short night of sleep.  Another wonderful day!!