Slovakia, a country full of beautiful places, proud of the Tatras, the murmuring Danube, wonderful folk music, kind-hearted people and legends. Traditions that pass from generation to generation. Nowadays, we see and experience all these unique things every day, but in all likelihood, we no longer appreciate them.
I am proud to be a Slovak
We must never forget the legacy that our forefathers left us here. Slovak history is connected with several milestones and resounding names that showed us that the foundation is to fight. These include, for example, Milan Rastislav Štefánik, Alexander Dubček, Janko Kráľ and many others.
Radoslav Hoppej, a young tourist in his own country, also chose one fighter for his journeys. The Slovak icon, Ľudovít Štúr. "I have always seen Ľudovít Štúr as one of our greatest national figures. He achieved so much in his life! When I lived in Vienna, I had his portrait tattooed on my arm, because it was there that I realized that I am proud to be a Slovak, and I always wanted to have some unconventional tattoo."
Just as Rado's excellent choice of portrait on his forearm, so too his determination to pursue his dream eventually led him home, to Slovakia. "Vienna is a beautiful city and I was doing well there, but I still felt like a foreigner there, and after a while that bothered me a bit... There were several reasons why I finally returned, but probably one of the biggest was that I wanted to try my own project and go my own way."
Slovakia, a country of natural wonders
So what does his own project actually consist of? Traveling, discovering the hidden corners of Slovakia and overcoming himself. But that's not all. He has enjoyed writing since childhood, so why not combine the pleasant with the useful? I always really enjoyed writing and I'm glad that I connected it with hiking and discovering Slovakia.
No hike without Štúr
As for writing, Rado publishes blogs from his hikes, to which he devotes all his time. It was a long and demanding journey for him, but at the end the desired fruit awaited him. I am very grateful that I managed to reach a point where hiking even provides for me. Through wordplay, he even arrived at an interesting name that is very catchy. „At the time when I was starting the blog and coming up with its name, I told myself I'd try to connect it with Štúr, and so the wordplay “Nie je túra bez Štúra” (No hike without Štúr) was born. I'm very glad that people can find at least part of his legacy with me too.“
In today's world, this rushed jumble of days slipping away from us, we often don't realize everything we have. Some of us don't even know the most famous corners of Slovakia. But then there are those who change that every day. „I am proud to be a Slovak, and every time I am in some place, it just confirms to me that our country is truly beautiful and there is much to admire here. I am equally pleased that my hikes inspire people to set out themselves to discover our country.“
This is the main message we should realize before a vacation by the sea. After all, our beautiful Slovakia has so much to offer. „No matter how clichéd it may sound, we really do have everything in Slovakia except the sea. So everyone here can find something they enjoy. Our country hides many beautiful natural gems, but we should not forget about beautiful towns such as Levoča or Martin, where history literally breathes from every side.“
Hiking potential in Slovakia
Let's set aside excuses like not knowing where to go and what to pack. Just put on your hiking boots and pack everything you need. „In my opinion, the foundation of every trip or hike should be quality clothing and sturdy footwear. Your backpack should not be missing food supplies, water, and definitely a small first aid kit. I also swear by map apps, which have saved me more than once from getting lost somewhere.“
After these tips from an experienced hiker, we believe packing will be easier for you. In addition, you don't need to worry about unpleasant surprises during a hike, because hiking tourism in Slovakia is also getting better. „From my personal experience, I think that in several places in Slovakia there is hiking potential that is not being used and there is still room for improvement. But at least over the years that I've dedicated to active travel, I can say that our tourism is moving in the right direction.“
Tips on where to go for your own “štúrovanie”
And now surely the question of where to go arises. We got an answer to that too, and gems such as Kľak, the beautiful mining town of Špania Dolina, or Haluzická Tiesňava were mentioned.
„There are of course a great many such places, but I would definitely mention Haluzická Tiesňava, which is also referred to as the Slovak rainforest, and recently I was also at Kľak, which literally blew me away. I recommend it to everyone! I also really liked Špania Dolina, near Banská Bystrica, Jelenia hora in the Malé Karpaty, or the Plant Church near the village of Debraď… And I could go on like this for a long, long time. :-)“
However, it is very important to realize whether we have enough determination to go on such hikes alone like Rado. Even though it has various advantages. I think that once a person decides to do it, they will find that it's great. It has several advantages, I don't have to adapt to anyone's schedule, I go at my own pace and enjoy the place with myself." But on the other hand, various pitfalls can lurk there in the form of injury, getting lost, and so on. If we don't have enough experience, it's better not to go on such an adventure alone, as our "Štúr" also advises. "But if your readers want to set out on a more demanding hike, then definitely with some friends or capable hikers. You never know what awaits you in the mountains, and that's why it's not good to go there completely alone."
Despite many journeys, Rado also has dreams
As we can read from his blogs, his journeys. He has already explored many hiking nooks and crannies. Nevertheless, there is still one part of hiking that Rado hasn't tried. And that is camping. That amazing time when you sleep under the open sky, gaze at the stars and enjoy the silence and peace offered by the forest. This is exactly the dream of a young hiker. "I admit that I've been dreaming about it for a while, because it must be an indescribable experience and a great adventure. I believe I'll eventually work up the courage to do it, I'm just a bit discouraged by the fact that I'm the type of person who needs a good night's sleep, otherwise I'm useless. :D"
