A deck chair below the Skalka viewing platform outside Banská Bystrica. A few metres away from the deck chair, hikers can find a spot named after the Titanic.
This week, we are going to take you on a loop hike. We are writing about the late illustrator Miroslav Cipár and the Japanese foreign minister’s recognition of a Slovak organisation.
This year's Christmas tree was delivered to Trojičné Námestie (square) in Trnava on November 18, 2021. (source: TASR)
TRAVEL
Watching hills up from Titanic
People come to the Králiky ski resort, outside Banská Bystrica, to not only ski but also to start their hikes since there are plenty of trails in the Kremnické Vrchy hills loved by hikers, runners, cyclists and cross-country skiers.
A 15-kilometre loop takes hikers from the resort to the village of Kordíky and back to the resort through the forest. But hikers can still enjoy breath-taking views of the Veľká Fatra and Low Tatras mountain ranges in some places. One of them is the Skalka viewpoint (1,218 m) named after a nearby hilltop where the Suchá Hora transmitter also stands.
To get to Skalka, hikers need to follow the blue-marked trail leading from the resort, past a dilapidated ski jumping bridge and up to the Bystrické Sedlo saddle. After a short but steep hike, the trail continues to Skalka for 10 minutes. From there, if walking the red-marked trail to the Tunel saddle, it is a stone’s throw to Via Ferrata Komín, which boasts of a well-known bridge.
The Králiky ski resort near Banská Bystrica. (source: Peter Dlhopolec/The Slovak Spectator)
Those who do not wish to try out the Komín Ferrata can still enjoy a beautiful view of the valley below Skalka and various hilltops by lying on a wooden deck chair or sitting on the chairs installed in a place called the Titanic. This is the last stop where hikers can enjoy splendid views.
From this point, you can continue the hike by following the red-marked trail through Vyhnátová to the Kordícke Sedlo saddle, take the yellow-marked trail to the Kordíky community, and continue on a green-marked trail back to the ski resort. Hikers who want to make their trip shorter can take a yellow-marked trail from Tunel to Tichá and switch to the green-marked trail to Králiky.
The view from the Skalka viewing platform. (source: Peter Dlhopolec/The Slovak Spectator)
In addition to Králiky and Kordíky, locals often walk to Skalka from the village of Tajov or even from the Banská Bystrica borough Fončorda.
Tree: Slovakia has found its most beautiful tree of 2021. The winning beech grows in the Tatras region.
MUSIC
Apology to Slovak singer
When Peter Tkačenko, a columnist for the Sme daily, tweeted last Saturday, November 13, he would have to write a lampoon against popular singer Sima Magušinová, né Martausová, because there was none, he did not expect to be showered with harsh criticism.
Magušinová did not respond and his tweet did not get much attention until his colleague Rado Ondřejíček commented: “She is Christian. You should not laugh at the handicapped.” Their jokes did not land.
Soon after the conservative daily Postoj, where Magušinová’s husband works, reported on the social media thread. Frequent Facebook user Finance Minister Igor Matovič from the conservative party OĽaNO also got involved, posting that the two media commentators were "phobic idiots". He also praised the public broadcaster RTVS for its decision to broadcast a Magušinová concert in her support.
Sima Martausová performs at the Tribute to Freedom event at Devín Castle in Bratislava on August 16, 2019. (source: TASR)
Marek Vagovič, who works for the Aktuality.sk news website, condemned his colleagues for their tweets, while Beata Balogová, the Sme daily’s editor-in-chief, apologised for the unacceptable remarks of her colleagues on Facebook. Ondřejíček has admitted he went beyond what was acceptable and apologised to Magušinová, who sang for the pope in September, on Facebook.
“I insulted the people I didn’t want to offend, and Sima Martausová is not the one I have a real problem with. She is not the enemy, completely different people are. I apologise to her especially.”
General Prosecutor Maroš Žilinka attracted criticism after he wrote on Facebook that his office would look into whether the crime of defamation of the nation, race, and religious beliefs has been committed.
Listen to Magušinová’s three most popular songs on YouTube: Nenahraditeľná (Irreplaceable), Čaro obyčajných vecí (The Magic of Ordinary Things) and Čokoláda (Chocolate).
Other developments from this week:
The Slovak organisation AnimeCrew will receive the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation for their work.
Bratislava opens a new trail for everyone but cyclists.
US opera stars Lawrence Brownlee and Michael Spyres will perform on December 4 in Bratislava.
An exhibition named "Ignác Schächtl and the Šechtl family - from the collodion process to digital" is open in the Slovak National Museum in Bratislava during the Month of Photography in November 2021. (source: TASR)
A new cinema is under construction in Bratislava.
Open Cellars Day will be held on November 19-20 in the Bratislava Region. See a list of wine cellars and winemakers that you can visit.
The Podtatranské Museum in Poprad’s long-awaited opening of the exposition of an ancient princely tomb will be postponed until next year.
EDUCATION
Hunt for best essayists
LEAF Academy has launched its annual essay competition for Slovak students, ages 14 to 19. The best essays will be published by The Slovak Spectator.
If you know students who love English and are opinionated, tell them about the competition. There are lots of topics to choose from. We want to know what they think about fashion, social media, e-books, dating, climate change, or movements like Black Lives Matter and #MeToo.
The essays are due before Christmas, December 16, and all the details can be found here.
The English Essay Competition is open to all Slovak students aged 14 to 19. (source: Leaf Academy)
CNN: CNN partnered with schools, individuals, and organisations across the globe to raise awareness of environmental issues on November 10, and one of the schools that took part in the network’s Call to Earth Day is from Bratislava.
WEEKEND READ
Artist with eventful life grew up in Kysuce
Miroslav Cipár, one of Slovakia’s most versatile artists, experienced a life that covered all of Slovak history in the last century.
This encompasses the emigration of Slovaks to America, poverty in remote areas, WWII, Nazi terror, Russians and the Slovak National Uprising, the repeated defeat of democracy by fascism and communism, violent nationalisation, totalitarianism and its fall in November 1989.
But it was art that played an even more significant role in his life, creating plenty of original visual works.
Only last year, at the age of 85, the talented illustrator, painter, graphic artist and sculptor received a special gift - the main prize for the most beautifully illustrated book of 2020 for Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. He did not reveal how long it had taken him to illustrate the book.
The Slovak artist died on November 8, 2021. He was 86.
Painter and illustrator Miroslav Cipár died at the age of 86 on November 8, 2021. (source: Marko Erd)
SOME MORE SUGGESTED READS FOR THE WEEKEND
People who made it across the Iron Curtain. People running from Communist-era Czechoslovakia searched for holes, either physical or those in the guarding system.
Forget James Dean. Slovakia’s religious rebel had a cause.Darina Bancíková, the first female pastor ordained in Slovakia, faced many barriers during her lifetime under the communist regime.
That is it for now. I will be back with another edition next Friday. Have a great November weekend! – Peter
Do you have any tips? You can reach Peter at peter.dlhopolec@spectator.sk
