All Over The Map

XII

Today was a killer day ! I visited Oravsky Hrad ( in the sunlight this time ) with my cousin and partner-in-crime Jano Kysel ; and we covered some major territory afterward . We ended up on the top of the mountain separating Pokryvac from Osadka . Behind me , over my bald head are some of the fields that Grandma and her family worked in . At the top of the photo are the Tatras , to my East are those gorgeous mountains .

Jano and I drove into Dolny Kubin and had lunch at one of his fave restaurants , and we then traveled to nearby Zaskalie to look over renovation of the farmhouse his maternal grandmother was born in . The farmhouse dates from the 18th century . While in the village , we stopped by to see our cousin Alena . Of course we have kava and cheesecake ! Her husband Dusan ( Doo-shahhn ) put his work on hold for a few minutes and joined us . Alena is one of my many sweet cousins . We carry on , undaunted by the fact that we can’t speak each others language and then laugh like crazy when Google translate gets our message wrong . Jano and I had a great visit and had fun with Dusan giving me a my ” Slovak lesson ” for the day . Jano then took me to a Manor House that was restored to a spa and hotel – kind of chic , but Martin was very gracious and led us on an hour-long tour of the Manor house . The former stable was restored from the ground up and re-purposed as the hotel/spa . The gentleman that owns it now , a local builder , has gone to great lengths to restore it to the original – wherever possible . The farm and Manor House date from sometime in the 17th century . The Farm/Estate itself was first mentioned in the early 14th century !!

I revel in the fact that I am wrapped in this history . Jano and I finished up on our most favored ground ; the mountain/hills above Pokryvac . Directly over my fuzzy bean are the Mala Fatras . The Mala Fatras are a range of mountains that are stunning in and unto themselves . Our ancestors gave us a love for the mountains , infused in our combined DNAs . Just off of my right shoulder is Pokryvac , the center of the universe in my soul now . There was a time when it was the vast , broad-shouldered Rockies of Montana ; I’ve down-sized and these verdant mountains fill every fiber of my being . The air is fresh and clean . I’m also bolstered and lifted up by the fact that today was the first day of sunshine since I’ve been in Slovensko …almost 2 weeks !! .

Jano is truly more than a cousin . Our conversation is filled with not only Slovakia , the Magyars , and current events . Our discussions run the gamut ; from reading and music , to food and other histories , and politics of shared interest . He awakens a better sense of self in me and in turn , pushes me to think other-than I normally would . We are , to coin a phrase …” all over the map ” . Just the way I like it ….

I am beginning to feel more grounded here ; more so than in the US . Although I have been researching and note-taking for a book ( I am not sure where it’s going ) , Jano and I are still discussing where my focus should be . I haven’t found it yet . I have many more days left here and many more family members to see . Maybe it will come to me then . Hopefully I will be able to see people in Bratislava , who are far better informed than I , and it will narrow focus . I am sure of one thing – that it will appear without forcing it . In that manner I will be more comfortable with it . I don’t like things to be contrived ; I like it when notions come to me naturally and without me pushing an agenda in my head … Tomorrow ? It looks like another day of sunshine and a visit to Ustie ( ooo-stee-eh ) to where it all began 2 years ago . With my cousin/sister Elena and Gero , along with their young daughters …I love the ” Pinkies ” . Who knows what that may reveal …more high jinks with my partner-in-crime , and more discovery .