Devin Castle stands on top of a massive rock at the meeting point of the Donau and Morava. The gate that is today used for entering Devin Castle is the Moravian Gate build in the 15th century. The castle itself dates back to 864 (at least thats when the first written documentation available today is from) and as such the castle has en imprsseive story of defending slovakia and it's capital from Hungarians, Romans, turks and many other empires of ancient and more recent times. Takeing the walk through the castle is more then just walking some castle...with every step you take you are reminded about history, mankinds development (or the opposite depending on how one think), empires build, defeeded and defended...and an atsunishing nature so peacefull and untouched that you hardly see anything like it anywhere in Europe today. 3 things that really made an impression to me was: 1). Walking through the tunnels under the castle where knights, kings and noblemen had been walking, running and fighting several 100 years ago...bringing back impressions of a time where honour and courage was the onley thing that seperated men from goats. 2). to see the ancient Christian chappel that dates back to the 4th. century and was discovered here in 1995. Just to see the simplicity of it and then thinking about how much glamour there is to the church today, makes you wonder, who had the most respect of the dead...ancent christians or us? 3). To stand on top of the Devin Castle with the view of the Donau and Morava rivers, breathing in enormous amounts of fresh air while vitnessing this impressive landscape.....this my friend is life.

After the breakfast buffet at the 4-star hotel (I like some variation in accommodation) on Thursday morning I took the bus to the city centre. There I explored the Castle, Michael Tower, and wandered around the old city centre. The sunny day and the terraces in the streets gave the city a really nice charm. I stayed in the city centre till late, because in the evening there was a festival with bands playing a various locations, giving the city a very lively atmosphere. Friday morning I went to Devín Castle with two Polish friends who just arrived in the city. We wandered around the castle ruins, and enjoyed some demonstrations that were part of a festival at the castle.

I'm leaving today for Budapest, but I thought it would be fun to take a day trip to the Slovak countryside.  The girls and I went to see Devin castle, which protected the border of Slovakia and Hungary for a bit.