Author Archives: Mark Rossiter

timor mortis conturbat me

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

These are the days of dying: Christopher Hitchens, Vaclav Havel, Kim Jong Il. Famous people, of whom I know nothing. Closer to home, the Saab marque died; we have had Saabs since we first married, and we still have two … Continue reading →

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comes to all

Posted on December 12, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

The bloke next door is dying, in hospital, of cancer. Apparently he’s doing so rather grouchily.  This seems understandable; who would want to go, after all, especially when it seems inconceivable that you could have done everything you wanted to … Continue reading →

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the end of the road (for now)

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

From Trencin, another train journey, this time across the Czech Republic to Prague. Prague was undeniably beautiful, especially the buildings: but a tourist zoo: I guess I arrived 15 years too late, i.e. just in time for the opening of … Continue reading →

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trans-Slovakian

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

when I left Levoča this morning I took the bus to a quite ordinary town called Poprad – quite ordinary, that is, apart from its view of the High Tatras: These are the highest mountains in the whole Carpathian range, … Continue reading →

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Levoča

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

Levoča is a sleepy little walled town in eastern Slovakia with beautiful old buildings, surrounded by rolling green hills. At 10.30 on a sunny Monday morning, the women are congregating in the parks with their strollers, and the men are … Continue reading →

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in Arkada ego

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

Here are some photos of my luxurious room at the Hotel Arkada in Levoča in eastern Slovakia – which costs €35 (about 175 dirhams)! So cheap that kids’ allowance savings could cover it…

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forest

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

on the way up to Spiš castle there was a forest. Boys and girls, this is what a forest looks like – the depth and the colours and textures! You can click on it to get a more detailed picture..

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Spiš

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

The next stop was even better. Spiš castle completely dominates everything for miles around: I climbed up to it – quite a hike – and looked around the ruins, some of which go back 700 years or more: It has … Continue reading →

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Košice

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

I had to get up at 5.30 in the morning to catch a train, but it was worth it – what a great day! The train on the left is the one I caught (actually the third one, after I … Continue reading →

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into the valley

Posted on July 9, 2011 by Mark Rossiter

This morning I Ieft Budapest and got a train to a small town in the north-east of Hungary called Eger (that’s pronounced egg-air). Its main claim to fame is that it fought off a large Turkish army that was trying … Continue reading →

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