DEMÄNOVSKÁ

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ON THE BEAUTY OF THE DEEP PLACES

~ as told by GIMLI, SON OF GLÓIN

"Strange are the ways of Men, Legolas! Here, they have one of the marvels of the Northern World, and what do they say of it? Caves, they say! Caves! Holes to fly to in time of war, to store fodder in! My good Legolas, do you know that the caverns of Helm's Deep are vast and beautiful?

... when the torches are kindled and men walk on the sandy floors under echoing the domes, ah! then, Legolas, gems and crystals and veins of precious ore glint in the polished walls; and the light glows through folded marbles, shell-like, translucent as the living hands of Queen Galadriel. There are columns of white and saffron and dawn-rose, Legolas, fluted and twisted into dreamlike forms; they spring up from many-coloured floors to meet the glistening pendants of the roof: wings, ropes, curtains fine as frozen clouds; spears, banners, pinnacles of suspended palaces! Still lakes mirror them: a glimmering world looks up from dark pools covered with clear glass; cities, such as the mind of Durin could scarce have imagined in his sleep, stretch through avenues and pillared courts, on into the dark recesses where no light can come. And plink! a silver drop falls, and the round wrinkles in the glass make all the towers bend and waver like weeds and corals in a grotto of the sea. Then evening comes: they fade and twinkle out; the torches pass on into another chamber, Legolas; hall opening out of hall, dome after dome, stair beyond stair; and still the winding paths lead on into the mountains' heart..."

~ quotes taken from J. R. R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings.

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THE  UNDERGROUND PALACES of DEMÄNOVSKA

Marble riverbed, Loamy passage,

Král’s Gallery, Pink Hall,

Deep Dome, Stone Vineyard,

formed of fissure and karst...

An underground river and an Emerald Lake,

Flowstone waterfalls,

Waterlilies and other lacustrine forms

(sponge, coral and grape)

Stalactites and cave pearls...

And that thick layer of white soft sinter –

called moonmilk, in the Great Dome...

All these palace halls and gardens,

made of water and stone, shaped only by the hands of time.

BOJNICE

Dawn,

at the castle,

reveals its pink light

on the very walls of the keep.

.

Sandstone turned to roses,

roses in the windows,

roses in amongst

the creeping ivy...

I spot two deer, a male and female, through the greenery...

they see us too, and then they are gone.

.

This spring will only last an hour,

an enchantment bound within a circle,

for, beyond the moat and the drifting swans,

it is still winter... the woods are bare, the leaves have fallen,

in one great red carpet that rustles underfoot.

.

Encircled by emeralds

love locked,

moat, gate, and drawbridge,

within these walls

the castle sits:

an emblem of romance,

a jewel set aside, its owner long gone.

EXPLORING HUNGARY

POSTCARDS FROM HUNGARY

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Dearest one,

I write to you from the edge of a lake, upon which are perched the cutest little houses, each with its own boardwalk leading up to the sweetly painted door.

The lake is frozen, and the sky clouded over. It was quite difficult to find this special place, we had to drive down a sandy lane towards the dunes, on an unmarked road. I think they are owned by the local people, and are used for fishing - their situation on the lake proper making them ideal spots to wait for the fish to bite, while staying warm and cosy.

Here, I feel, is one of the strange parts, or wonderful pieces of the world, that only a few get to glimpse. If our travels have shown us anything, it is this: that this world is full of such beautiful secrets, tucked away in unassuming corners.

Anyways, I feel the cold air now, and must get back inside our moving home! I hope you are well. We are moving ever onwards. Our next destination is Slovakia.

Yours, sincerely,

Zoe and Oliver

⌲≋◎

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Pictured Above: Bokod Stilt Village

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Hello Sweet Heart,

I hope you are well. When we last talked it sounded as if my postcards are arriving all jumbled, the chronology of our travels being mixed up by the speed of delivery. Funnily, that is how it feels in my mind also: all these memories, now mixed, but still so clear - like snapshots of moments.

This moment I wish to capture for you, as it has been such a pleasant day. We arrived in Lillafüred, a small town in the mountains of Hungary, and stopped to explore the well known Hanging Gardens. Here, in the Summer, I am sure the place is alive with people, but now in the Winter it feels eery and still. The sandwich stands are closed, the train station is quiet, and the beautiful hotel seems almost abandoned.

The gardens were lovely - we walked the paths that led through the different levels, all the way down to the waterfall which was turned to ice.

The lake, too, was completely frozen, and Oliver decided to walk upon it. After a little hesitation, I ventured out to join him, and felt a thrill at knowing there was nothing but water beneath my feet... Sometimes, I cannot believe I am here, doing all this. I feel more courage come to me every day.

Sending you some of that courage, and well wishes too,
Yours Sincerely,
Zoe

⌲≋◎

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Pictured Above and Below:

The town of Lillafured - 

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Oh, I am too excited!

Today was utterly blissful, and I found myself wishing, yet again, that you were with me - so you could see for yourself the beauty of Hungary!

We visited a tiny, traditional village by the name of Hollókő - one of the most charming towns I have ever seen. All along the cobbled streets were these lovely little houses and shops: a post office, a carpenter, a weaver's studio, a bakery - from which came the most delicious smells of baking bread, and in the midst of it all was a tiny wooden church.

I seriously felt like I was in heaven!

We bought some bread, then wandered about, and all the while we were being followed by this friendly grey cat, who was quite fat and ever so cuddly.

Tomorrow we have only one stop: at the Stilt Village of Bokod, where the houses sit upon the water, and then we are off to Slovakia.

Wishing you love, and cat cuddles,
Yours,
Zoe.

⌲≋◎

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Pictured Below: Snapshots of the UNESCO village of Hollókő

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