A few days after I finished my teaching contract in Budapest, five of us (my mother, father, brother, husband, and I) piled in a way-too-small car and drove from Hungary to Poland, via Slovakia.

While this is not a trip I’d attempt again while pregnant/in the summer, it’s never a bad thing to drive through Slovakia. That country always surprises me with its beauty! We took a different route than we had the previous fall, and so for some reason I didn’t expect it to be as stunning.

It was! Rolling hills, tiny towns, hints of giant mountains in the background, green everywhere. It was quite a contrast to Poland, which flattened almost instantly the second we crossed the border–there’s a reason that country has been invaded so many times! It’s too easy to cross with an army! Or in a car.

We only visited three cities in Poland and one in Slovakia–both just a taste enough to leave us wanting more! Poland has gems farther north I’d love to visit–Gdansk and Poznan, for example–and Slovakia is also a giant country full of hidden spots.

Since I already raved about Slovakia here, let me just discuss a little more about Poland. YOU GUYS. You MUST go to Poland. I loved it so much! It’s full of amazing food at amazing prices, the people are so friendly, and there is so much to do in every city we went to. Add in the history and beauty–I’m telling you–it must be on your list!

Here’s where we went–and where you should go, too!

KRAKOW–two nights

We drove from Budapest to Krakow via Slovakia (the most beautiful part of the whole road trip). It is not a very short trip, but the scenery helps. And Krakow! Wow! Let me say, that city is AWESOME. There is so much to see there, so much history, and it is so pretty. Plus, it’s soooo cheap and seems like such a livable spot. We liked it so much we came back again later on in the trip!

WARSAW–one night

Truthfully, I was least looking forward to going to Warsaw. It was out of the way and a long drive there, and I kept hearing how modern it was, which doesn’t always entice me. Well, I actually really liked Warsaw! It has such a fun vibe, it’s so cheap, and the old town, while “Disney-esque” is still totally charming. If you go, it deserves more than one night!

WROCLAW–two nights

This was the city I was probably most excited about. I mean, a city where little gnomes are hidden all over? What could be better than exploring with a scavenger hunt in mind?? Wroclaw did not let me down one bit. I think the square is the prettiest we saw in Poland (which is saying a lot!), and you just can’t beat those gnomes.

KRAKOW–two nights

We went back to Krakow after Wroclaw, partly to split up the trip back to Budapest, and partly because Krakow is just that cool. My brother was also taking a train from Krakow to Lviv, Ukraine, so we dropped him off here as well.

BRATISLAVA–day trip

We made a pit stop in pretty little Bratislava on the way back to Budapest from Krakow. It’s the best little town for a break on a road trip, because the old town is so small and compact, you could easily see it all in a few hours. We didn’t do too much there–just wandered around and had dinner–but it was fun to show it to my parents!

AND there you have it! A great road trip with my family. I always love traveling with family, even though sometimes the logistics can be tricky, because it’s like seeing everything through new eyes. And it’s so fun to show off Europe to visitors!

Have you been to Poland? Would you consider road-tripping there? 

Linking up with Wanderful Wednesday and Faraway Files. 

The post Poland & Slovakia Road Trip appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

Last spring, I even went to Slovakia itself rather than just stopping through–E and I went to Bratislava last spring only because a friend had train tickets he could no longer use, and Bratislava is a doable weekend/day trip from Budapest. Also, we heard it’s cheap, and often that is one of E’s only requirements when visiting somewhere.

I usually require a little bit more–and I ended up being really charmed by the little city with its ridiculously quaint old town. After we left, though, I kind of forgot about Slovakia again, in a general sense (and never even wrote about our trip).

This autumn, some friends of ours suggested we rent a car with them and drive up to Poprad, an area of Slovakia near the High Tatras mountains. They’d been in the High Tatras in Poland the preceding fall, and had been blown away by the fall colors.

Well, no one is more obsessed with autumnal foliage than me (#basic) and we jumped at the chance.

Although the drive ended up being about four hours–maybe a bit long for a weekend trip, which didn’t include any driving to the actual mountains–Slovakia just blew me away. I now sing praises of this country I merely used as an in-between stop or visited as an afterthought for far too long.

The town of Poprad itself is not as picturesque as I’ve become spoiled with in central/eastern Europe (I’m looking at you, Budapest/Prague/Bratislava/etc) but the surrounding scenery more than makes up for it.

And once you get into the mountains nearby, you’ll be able to find all the cute little mountain villages and stunning vistas your little heart could ever desire.

Nearby Poprad lies the ruins of Spiš Castle, and the little town of Levoča.

We only stopped at these briefly, as the mountains were our true objective.

WATCH FOR YETIS

couldn’t I remember my sunglasses just this ONE TIME

this is Ash, she’s way cooler than me but shhh, don’t tell her

After snagging some killer mountain views in the High Tatras, we drove back to Budapest through a part of Low Tatras National Park. This turned out to have some of the most stunning colors of the trip–my mouth dropped open a few times in awe, and I took ten billion photos in panic and excitement.

baby cow crossing!

Between Slovakia, Slovenia, and even Budapest, I was absolutely spoiled last autumn.

Is it weird that I can’t stop talking about fall, even when spring is just around the corner?

I guess you know where my heart truly lies.

p.s. I’ve included a map, because Slovakia is pretty big–all the places we went that I would recommend for your own Slovak road trip!

What places are your in-between places? 

Linking up with Wanderlust Wednesday.

The post Slovakia: Not Just for In-Between appeared first on Amy and the Great World.

I’m so basic I actually go leaf-peeping every year, and I love every second of it.

This past weekend we went to Slovakia with some friends, and it may have been the most successful leaf-peeping ever. I have never seen colors like that before! I took over 500 pictures in less than two days, and now I’m going to share some with YOU.

You’re welcome.

In other news, it’s week 8 of the Bake Off Bake Along with Amanda and Ala! Only two weeks left!

Last week, week 7, I ran out of time to post my bake, but I did make a roulade that turned into a gray triangle so…I wasn’t too sad I didn’t have to share photos with you.

And THIS week, I have a guest baker!

E stepped in when I ran out of times and he took on Tudor week. Yes, Tudor week (i.e. Henry VIII) was an actual theme, and it included meat pies, marzipan, and cookies called jumbles.

Yes, E is a total prince. A prince who can bake.

He made this recipe, which don’t look as perfect as Paul Hollywood’s, but since they’re lemon and not flavored with mace, aniseed and caraway seeds like Paul’s are, I have a feeling they might be slightly more delicious (although maybe less period-accurate).

Thanks to my husband for stepping in! Just a few more bakes left in the challenge and I am determined to make it through…cross your fingers.

And please, come over and help us eat all these jumbles?!

The post I Love Fall + Bake Off Bake Along Week 8 appeared first on Amy and the Great World.