Spis, Part 1

“Ann, we have officially traveled by planes, trains, and automobiles,” said Kyle. Indeed, we are now in a car driving from Spis to Prague, and Neil and George are finally with us.

            So, this is a good time to catch up and write about our time in Spis.

            The train to Spis was long, but rather uneventful, until we got to the stop before Spisska Nova Ves. There, we pulled up and about 40 teenagers piled into our car, squeezing into every available space. ‘Well, this is going to be interesting getting off the train,’ I thought. We got our bags down and began squeezing our way through. We reached our stop and start pushing out. I notice that the adjacent car has a ton of extra space. I slide open the door and nudge a few of them through; a couple got the idea and moved, but the rest just stood there until Kyle started shouting, “Go, go!” We finally got off the train, look around the station, and spot Jana’s mother coming to meet us. Kiss, kiss, introductions, and we try to communicate as best we can in a language mish-mash. We loaded up her car with the bags and drove to the Penzion Stefani, where Jana’s mom calls her daughter and we worked out the details and checked in, Jana’s mother left us to settle in (Kyle got the dolphin themed room), and then picked us up later to take us to their garden and garden house on a hillside. We walk up the hillside and Jana’s mother gives us a mini-tour. It is very nice. They have vegetables and flowers growing on terraces up there, with their cabin and a great view. Jana’s father calls us in to dinner and we then sit down and eat delicious goulash and brown bread; they keep trying to get Kyle to drink something other than water, but no (one of the first things that Jana’s father said to George when he arrived was, “Kyle doesn’t drink anything.”)

            We hung out for awhile, and had some cake for dessert. I smiled and said, “Chocolate,” and pointed to Kyle. Once they found out that Kyle liked sweets, they were offering sweets to Kyle every chance they got.

            They give us a couple of fresh peas from the garden, and some pistachios, and that’s when Kyle says, “Wouldn’t it be hilarious if these weren’t Jana’s parents at all, but two random people?” We soon got word, however, that Neil, George, and Jana were on their way (Neil had had plane issues, and then had spent some time with George and Jana, going to Plzen, and out to lunch with Jana’s cousin). Their coming also meant that I had won my bet with Kyle, and I got his extra dolphin pillow for the night.

            Soon, Jana, George, and Neil arrive and there is much rejoicing. They eat dinner and we hang out at the garden for awhile before heading back to the Penzion and claiming my prize.