Kosice Off The Beaten Path

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When wandering around Kosice I found by chance a Soviet War Memorial, which pays tribute to the fallen Soviet soldiers during WWII.

Although Slovakia hasn't belonged to the East-bloc countries since the early 1990's when it was part of Czechoslovakia, you can still find hammer and sickle symbols at the Soveit War Memorial. Surprisingly enough the memorial was very clean and not damaged by vandals.

Directions:
When leaving Kosice's historic city centre to the south via Hlavna Street, the the Soviet War Memorial is situated on the left side of the first big traffic intersection.

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The railway is situated in the beautiful mountain valley in the northern part of Kosice.

The steam engine was made in 1883 and it is called Katka.

The aduld ticket costs 1 USD !

Departures:
It goes from 1st May until 10th Sept. in a summer season during weekends.

Cermel - Alpinka
8:35 - 10:05 - 11:35 - 14:35 - 16:05 - 17:35

Alpinka - Cermel
9:10 - 10:40 - 12:10 - 15:10 - 16:40 - 18:10

Of all the places I saw, this Flower Market seemed to be a living tribute to the life and times my grandparents experienced before they left Slovakia. Off Hradbová ulica at Dominikanské námestie, in the square near the Dominican Church you'll find flower sellers. Every morning the square hosts a flower market where nice, old ladies in traditional costumes sell their wares. It was like walking into a medieval market, and for some reason it "spoke" to me.

This was the place we stopped to buy flowers. There were many varieties--not of course as many as I'd find at home, but different and pretty. We walked along the stalls and my relatives suggested white Chrysanthemums, appropriate, they told me, to take to the loved one's grave.

Again, another 'off the beaten path' in Kosice itself.
There's an underground tunnel underneath the capital ! The entrance is at the south of St. Michael Chapel. This tunnel was discovered during a building work in 1996.
Guided Tours of the claustrophobic tunnels take you past the buried remains of Kosice's medieval fortifications, including the moats, south gate, cathedral foundations & city walls.

Please ask at the Tourist office.

Unfortunately, the tunnels were closed for renovations on the day I was there.
The photo of the left shows only the part of it, taken from above the ground...

There are many torture equipments on dispayed at the Miklus Prison. An example on the left.
There are 4 holes....the hands will be put in the 2 small holes...while the feet are put in the 2 big holes....any other ideas ?
We can make this equipment ourself !

I might say that Miklus Prison is the best 'off the beaten path' in Kosice itself.
If you have the time, have a visit to Miklus Prison. Where there's a display of medieval torture equipments in chambers & cells.
Learn from the past. Maybe these equipments can be made & put in your living room for our modern day living !
The photo shows the entrance to a chamber. I want to have a room which look like this. I found it in Szczawnica, Poland ! But it's a restaurant.

When walking the Hlavna (Main) Street watch for the most beautiful house of the Kosice city center. Most probably you won't find it in tour guides but for sure it is worth seeing.

There is a legend that the person who built it was a beggar. But people of Kosice were so generour that from the money he begged he was able to build his own place. To express his gratitude, on the top of the building there is his statue bowing and thanking to all generous people.

Don't loose the Tatra mountains. Lots of woods, lonely paths in the shade, waters, wild animals; someone even talk about European bears in the area. Good for skiing in winter.
And, you may even find precious example of casle (see Spassky Hrad in the picture) and churches, with their peculiar bell-tower (see the picture below)