Dobrý deň fellow wanderers! This is Oliver the Gnome, reporting from the charming town of Pezinok, Slovakia. The local language here is Slovak, so let’s sprinkle some of it in. Dobrý deň means ‘Good Day’ in Slovak.

Now, let’s talk about my journey from Schwechat, Austria to here. A distance of 61.0 kilometers that has taken me across borders and into a new country. Along the way, I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast in the landscape as I moved from the flat plains of Austria to the hilly terrain of Slovakia. A change in topography that mirrored the language transition from German to Slovak.

One observation that stood out was the Devín Castle. This castle, right on the border of Austria and Slovakia, stands as a silent sentinel of the Danube and Morava rivers, a symbol of the region’s turbulent history. Its ruins whisper tales of Roman emperors, Moravian kings, and Napoleonic soldiers. As the Slovak saying goes, “Kamienom dohodíš, tam história leží“. Which translates to: “Throw a stone, and you’ll hit history.”

This journey also marked a milestone for me – with the trek from Schwechat to Pezinok, I have now traveled a total of 4881.2 kilometers on foot. From the cozy suburbs of Mödling to the grandeur of Vienna, and the industrial charm of Schwechat to the rustic beauty of Pezinok, every city has impressed me in its own unique way. And with 162 days on the road, I can only marvel at the wonderful tapestry of cultures and landscapes that I’ve encountered.

As I wrap up this post, I’d like to share these lines from a popular Slovak folk song – “Keď som išiel z Pezinka, mal som bundu na seba“, which means “When I was leaving Pezinok, I had my coat on”. A fitting verse for a gnome who’s always on the move, wouldn’t you say?

Dovidenia (Goodbye) till the next post. Keep wandering, keep wondering!

Ah, Pezinok! It’s a city that whispers tales from the depths of its stony streets. One fascinating aspect is its historic Castle Pezinok, or Hrad Pezinok in Slovak. You would think it’s just another fortress, but no! It’s now a thriving cultural center hosting art exhibitions and events. As they say, “Starý hrad, nové umenie” (Old castle, new art). It’s a nod to the genius of Slovakia’s artists like Miloš Alexander Bazovský who once said, “Umenie je zrkadlom duše” (Art is the mirror of the soul).

The second gem of Pezinok is its winemaking tradition. My gnome nose never lies when it comes to a good drop, and Pezinok’s wines are something else! They have a wine festival called Vinobranie that celebrates the grape harvest, and it’s a feast for senses. As the Slovak composer Eugen Suchoň might have put it, “Hudba a víno sú súrodenci” (Music and wine are siblings).