First Federal Holiday

Today was a day off of school - already!  But since we will be missing tomorrow (Thursday) because we have to drive an hour to Martin for our medical exams, we decided we'd better get some things done.  Carol, one of the gals we replaced, is back to help with our transition, so she came over to our flat, and we worked on curriculum all day.  Yes, voluntarily, working on curriculum, on a day off......I'm sure my former colleagues think I've lost my marbles!!  But we have to re-do the curriculum yearly plans for several classes with a mid-September deadline!!  Pressure can do strange things to people.  LOL!!  

But before we got started, Tim and I had our Wednesday morning hot chai tea latte, just like back in Ankeny on our late start professional development days.  Thanks to Lisa Evans, who sent us here with chai tea bags from Starbucks!!  :-)   We went hunting for cinnamon and nutmeg at yet another grocery store again last night and finally found them --- they are in packets, not little cylinders or jars like at home!!  Eureka!  Anyway, we really enjoyed this taste from home, connecting us to our colleagues there!!  

The hot chai tea latte was almost like being at Starbucks with you, Lisa!!  :-)

We did work hard all day, with a lunch break for Slovak food, got a lot done, and Carol finally left after 5:00.  She commented that the flat has been improved - new paint, different furniture, etc., so we appreciate the upgrades!  We are still missing sheets for the spare beds, but we won't need them until we have company.  And Carol will be moving her huge pile of belongings out of the second bedroom this weekend.  Yay!  :-)  

Tim and Carol on the way back from lunch

After Carol left, Tim and I took a long hike to the ridge visible from our flat balcony.  We took a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks, then wound our way up back roads to get to the ridge.  We passed lots of beautifully tended vegetable gardens with fruit trees, and it looked like there were individual parcels of land, each with little garden sheds, and people were out working on their own areas.  When we got up on the ridge, the views were beautiful, back over into the city, across the valley to the mountains in the distance, and beyond Mikulas to the lake.  We enjoyed our hike!!  

One garden had a pumpkin growing up on a shed roof!!

View from the ridge looking at Liptovsky Mikulas --- our lime green flat!

View of the mountains beyond the ridge

Tim has been wanting to hike up to this ridge ever since we moved in!!

The lake just west of Liptovsky Mikulas

All of the vegetable gardens had beautiful flowers around the outside!

On the pedestrian bridge overlooking the ridge we walked along

Looking into town from the bridge over the RR tracks - the "steeple" is part of a large school

Pretty gladiolas in a garden near our flat - Carol introduced us to her friend Jana who lives there.

Veggie garden beyond the gladiolas was also beautiful

We had a light supper and will go to bed fairly early tonight since we have to set the alarm at 5-something to be ready for our 6:00 a.m. pick-up to drive to Martin.  Not looking forward to the early hour or the actual exam, but the rest of the day should be fun playing hooky from school with a fun teaching colleague, Jana.  (There are many Jana's here - it's a very common name!)  We are supposed to take some time afterwards to see some sights in Martin, which is a town of much historical significance in Slovakia.  More tomorrow!!  :-)  

Here are some photos of our flat - inside and out - just to give you an idea of our living space.  :-)  I won't include any pics of the spare bedroom until it gets cleaned out and rearranged.  

The front of our building - we enter through the door in the middle of the left side

Our balcony - (Tim says I'm not in enough pictures - LOL!!)

Our balcony is the second from the top on the right.
(to the left of the big tree on the corner of the building.)

There I am, on the balcony.   :-)

Our elevator - circa 1950 - but it works!!  

Our toilet --- notice no tank visible ---- yet ----

And there it is, up by the ceiling.  You just
pull the cord hanging down on the right to flush!

Our shower/tub - notice there is only one faucet for both shower and sink!
Interesting, but functional, and the water is always hot!!  :-)

Our kitchen, with window/door out to the balcony

The stove (it has a cover to make more space), sink, and cupboards

Cupboard, small fridge, microwave, and washing machine
Small, but they all work very well!!  

Our living room

Other wall of living room

And more of the living room - interesting fact - we have about 8 sets of
shot glasses in curio cabinets throughout the flat.   The Slovaks love their
Slivovica (plum or other fruit based alcohol!)

Our bedroom

Wardrobes / closets in our bedroom