All Episodes — Spectacular Slovakia

Stay cool and visit a cave

The Slovak Karst might be off most tourists’ radar, unless they are speleology enthusiasts visiting Slovakia for the sole purpose of seeing its numerous caves. In the Gemer region, surrounding the town of Roznava, every town has a cave. James Thomson has seen some of them, and in this episode of our podcast he gives some practical tips about visiting a Slovak cave. Once you make it to the southeast, do not skip the visit to some above-ground sights, notably the Betliar mansion and the Krasna Horka castle (closed for reconstruction since 2012, but about to be opened), and the Jasov monastery. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20060073/exploring-slovakias-caverns-and-caves.html

Apr 3, 201912 min

Where to take your dog in Bratislava

Travelling with your dog? Dave Rubin is a proud dog owner and knows all the best dog-friendly places in Bratislava. You should not be surprised if you see dogs in most shopping malls, restaurants, and cafes. If you want to give your dog a special treat, a dog cafe in Petrzalka might be the place for you and your furry companion.

Mar 27, 201912 min

Time gets telescoped in eastern Slovakia

There’s actually quite a lot of Slovakia east of Presov and Kosice, says James Thomson, who has seen most of it on his travels around the country. In this week’s episode, we explore the far northeast, which includes the Poloniny national park and its primeval beech forests, the spa town of Bardejov with its UNESCO-enlisted mediaeval square and the must-see wooden churches. Without the highways, time gets telescoped, so be ready for long but scenic drives.

Mar 20, 201920 min

It’s not Middle-earth, it is Spiš

Let’s go to Spiš, the home of most of the High Tatras that also offers a combination of valleys, rolling hills, and mediaeval towns. We took a look at the Spiš Castle, one of the largest if not the largest in central Europe, the towns of Spišská Nová Ves and Levoča, with some of the finest gothic church architecture in the country and James’ favourite sight - the cage of shame.

Mar 13, 201917 min

When drinking with locals in Orava, don’t try to keep up

This week, we are back to Orava, this time with Dave Rubin, who recommends visiting the open-air museum in Zuberec. For Americans, it’s like visiting Williamstown, Virginia, but Zuberec is hundreds of years older, he says. The north of Slovakia is a place to go when you want to try the best of the country’s sheep cheese too.

Mar 6, 20195 min

Hiking with little feet

Slovakia is a good place to hike with your kids. Naomi, a mother of four living in Slovakia, shares some inspirational tips for trips that little feet can manage. Some of the best places, including hikes with a destination (like a small organic farm) are a simple day trip from Bratislava. What’s the best way to make kids walk fast? Listen to Naomi’s top tip for hiking with little ones.

Feb 27, 201915 min

Visit the Nosferatu castle in Slovakia

Care for a plate of halusky? Sheep cheese is an acquired taste, say Americans.

Feb 20, 201915 min

A morning hike in Slovakia, afternoon tea in Poland

“You really do feel like you have travelled back in time,” says Dave Rubin as he starts his brief intro to the northwest region of Kysuce. Here, visitors have the unique opportunity to walk to Poland, or the Czech Republic. It’s hilly and remote, and the wildlife is captivating. The stone spheres in Kysuce are another mystery to be explored in Slovakia.

Feb 13, 20195 min

Schnitzel is not the only thing we have in common

Before leaving Slovakia, his first posting as an ambassador, Austrian Ambassador Helfried Carl stopped by the podcast studio to share some of his impressions while living among Slovaks for 4 ½ years , along with some tips for trips. He suggests a trip to Komarno, for instance, which offers stories of some Austrian connections that you probably don’t know about. Why did he decide to skip travelling up Lomnicky Stit and what is his favourite place in Bratislava?

Feb 6, 201921 min

Compared to Prague, Bratislava is a well-kept secret

Paul and Lynette Doege are an American couple who visited Bratislava for the first time last September. They started their trip in Prague, and feel that both capitals are relatively similar, with their Old Town areas and riverside. Bratislava is easier to navigate for tourists, and it is not as crowded as Prague. Paul and Lynette share their favourite sights: the Blue Church, Danubiana art gallery, and even the military barracks.

Jan 30, 201913 min

It’s carnival, time to kill a pig

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.

Jan 23, 201917 min

Feel the weight of the world on your shoulders

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.

Jan 16, 20196 min

In Devín, you can sip on history together with currant wine

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! Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Jan 9, 201916 min

How to get rich? Put your money under your plate on Christmas Eve

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.

Dec 19, 201814 min

When a potato salad is served, you know it is Christmas

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.

Dec 12, 201816 min

A brief intro to travelling to eastern Slovakia

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. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Dec 5, 201812 min

At Christmas markets, you can drink bacon

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.

Nov 28, 201814 min

What makes golf in Slovakia special?

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. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Nov 21, 201811 min

Why does a city boy from Brooklyn love Slovakia’s castle ruins?

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. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Nov 14, 201814 min

Spectacular Slovakia #10: Hiking off the beaten track

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

Nov 7, 201815 min

Spectacular Slovakia #9: Wine festival also gives you a taste of Slovak street food

Do you like wine? This week, Don Stoll and Pat Alexy Stoll, authors of the Spectacular Slovakia travel guides, will take you for a trip to Pezinok, where one of the country’s biggest wine festivals takes place every autumn. Wine is not the only delicious thing to be found there, though - you can also indulge in some tasty Slovak street food. What does a proper Slovak goose feast look like and why should you be careful when buying “burčák”? Listen to the latest podcast episode to find out.

Oct 31, 201813 min

Spectacular Slovakia #8: Don’t skip the soup and prepare your sweet tooth

So far in our podcast, we have been telling you where to go in Slovakia. Now it’s time to give you a taste of the culinary melting pot that is Slovakia - at least as seen by blogger and keen cook, Naomi Huzovicova. Traditional Slovak cuisine does not begin and end with bryndzove halusky. What should you try when visiting Slovakia? It depends on how adventurous you are. And if you’ve never heard of opantance, now you will. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Oct 24, 201822 min

Spectacular Slovakia #7: What's a spa cake?

There were 12 women and nobody said a word, Pat Alexy Stoll says about her favourite treatment in Trenčianske Teplice. She and her husband, Don Stoll, recently enjoyed the spa experience in this famed western-Slovak spa town. Ever heard of spa cakes? You should make sure to have some in between your treatments.

Oct 17, 201814 min

Spectacular Slovakia #6: In Slovak spas, don’t worry when they call a doctor

If you’re in need of some autumn relaxation, a visit to one of Slovakia’s many spas might give you just what you’re looking for. American travellers Don Stoll and Pat Alexy Stoll returned from a two-week-long trip around the country and have a lot of Slovak spa experiences to share in our latest podcast episode.

Oct 10, 201816 min

Spectacular Slovakia #5: Where is the princess and the dragon?

Autumn is a great time to explore the Small Carpathians. Naomi Hužovičová, a Canadian who has lived in Slovakia for 14 years, tells you why a trip to Smolenice at this time of year is a good idea. Did you know that this small town, along with its iconic castle, has a remarkable Iron Age settlement to visit?

Oct 3, 201816 min

Spectacular Slovakia #4: In the footsteps of Štefánik

In October, Czechs and Slovaks will mark 100 years since their first common state, the Czechoslovak Republic, emerged. If you want to learn more about this important historical event and travel back in time, Brezová pod Bradlom is a good place for a trip. Spectacular Slovakia author James Thomson tells listeners why they should go there and explains what one of the peculiar delicacies of Slovak cuisine is all about. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Sep 26, 201816 min

Spectacular Slovakia #3: Bratislava, your unexpected hiking destination

Hannah Falchuk, who recently returned to Slovakia as an English teacher within the Fulbright Programme, remembers last summer in Bratislava. Is the Slovak capital really one of the greenest cities in the world? What are the best places to go when you need to escape the urban rush? Listen to the podcast to discover that Bratislava is as good for a city break as it is for some light hiking. Hannah will also give you a secret tip on making a childhood dream come true.

Sep 19, 201810 min

Spectacular Slovakia #2: Running and sightseeing in Bratislava

In the second episode of the Spectacular Slovakia podcast, the latest addition to our range of travel-related products, Slovak Spectator copy editor Anna Fay shares her tips with active travellers. Where are the best places to run in Bratislava? What is the best way to sightsee and run at the same time? Anna answers these questions and more in our interview. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_sl…a_travel_guide

Sep 12, 201812 min

Spectacular Slovakia #1: Bratislava vs. Vienna

In the first episode of the Spectacular Slovakia podcast, author of the 2009 edition of the eponymous travel guide, James Thomson, will give listeners insider tips on how to make the best of your trip to Bratislava. James has recently moved back to Bratislava after living for some time in Vienna and will reveal why he left the world’s most liveable city for the Slovak capital. Spectacular Slovakia travel podcast is the latest addition to our range of travel-related products. http://shop.spectator.sme.sk/spectacular_slovakia_travel_guide

Sep 5, 201819 min