Slovakia - Day 11: Trencin to Trencianske Teplice

A Bus Stop

Trencianske Teplice is a spa town that is past its glory days but is slowly being restored. There is not much there other than the hot water, accompanying hotels and spas. But the buildings are pretty and the setting’s great.

Art on the Way

We set off the next morning after having a wonderful breakfast at the Penzion. Up of course and surprise surprise more trees. All three sizes. We got ‘roaded” again and much to our annoyance exactly where someone said that there should have be a sign. Clever little someone. There was a sign, we discovered it later, hidden by one of those tree wanna-be’s: a bush. Bastard. Other people had also missed the sign and set fire to it in protest. They should have been more biblical and burned the bush.

Path Finding Easy (Sometimes)

Trencin is a Roman town or at least some Emperor or other left a carving on the cliff – “Julius wos ‘ere” type of thing***. Conveniently, they have built a great big hotel in front of it so you can go up in the lift and get a better view of the inscription. It’s a posh hotel but they showed us the way – so I guess anyone can go and see it. But probably (definitely) not worth a special trip.

We found a little brewery in town that faked beer from around Europe. The wife and I got pleasantly tipsy – much to the shock and disgust of our children. Who no doubt had visions of carrying us back to the hotel, though the woods, up the hill, past the bush.

It was Roman week in Trencin, or maybe this happened every week, so there was lots of entertainment Roman and not roman related. A good afternoon was had by all, the sun shone, the beer had worked, and to the relief of the kids a taxi back to the hotel.

*** The most important Roman epigraphic monument in Central Europe, North of the Danube, preserved “in situ”, in Trencin. No I added that last bit.

The Real Thing

VICTORIAE

AVGVSTORV

EXERCITUS QVI LAV

GARICIONE SEDIT MIL

L II DCCCLV

MAXIMUANUS LEG LEG

II AD CVR F

I assume it made more sense to them.

“To the victory of emperors, dedicated by 855 soldiers of II legion of the army stationed in Laugaricio. Made to order of Marcus Valerius Maximianus, a legate of the Second Auxiliary legion.”

I assume it made more sense to the translator and the original vandal.

	Day 11	Cumulative
Distance Walked	17km	238km
Meters Climbed	397m*	7,528m**
Walking Time	5:12	76:09
General Comment To Ancient Rome (Trencin) We did this section backwards – it’s a tradition. Don’t ask. Mount Mamostong Kangri – 7,516 meters the 48th highest mountain in the world. Running out of mountains, regretting starting this. *If you do it the right way you climb 453m. ** If done the right way