We are leaving Poprad in the direction of Veľký Slavkov; according to the cycling guides, it should take about an hour to reach our destination. Then we will bike the same route back and hopefully enjoy something tasty to drink and eat. Passing through the local part of Poprad-Veľká, which is even nowadays full of traditions and history, was an experience. Leaving the city over the highway was also interesting. Some bikers in our group suggested stopping for a while and watching the passing cars, but in the end, we continued without a break after a gentle, short descent.

As for the downhill, it is almost over; the climb slowly starts. We are approaching the village of Veľký Slavkov, where, right at the beginning, we pass the popular Salaš. The smell of grilled meat and the beautiful scenery of the Tatra mountains, which is always so close, yet so far, boost us with a lot of energy. There is a slight breeze, it is pleasantly cool, with this kind of road it is better to keep the pace, but we are doing well. We almost see the sign of the Nová Lesná village, meaning that we are halfway there and still have enough energy. We refill liquids and head to the finish in Horný Smokovec. As usual, the strength of the cyclists will be tested the most by the final climb.

We checked some historical buildings, took some photos and headed on our way back. Several team members were looking forward to this more than 10-kilometer descent. On the way up, we agreed to treat ourselves with a hearty lunch on the way back when there is no uphill. We chose Salaš in Veľký Slavkov; the interior consists of beautiful wood decorations, and we feel like a cottage. The space is dominated by a large fireplace with an open fire; one can relax on the wooden chairs, and that's exactly what we needed.

In such a nice place, one craves homemade gnocchi or small dumplings; our tastebuds speak for themselves. The service was excellent, we got a warm welcome, and the staff shared the secret of using fresh local and seasonal products when preparing the food. We were also interested in the food discount - a discounted offer for MYAPLEND members.

 

This article was created in cooperation with the tourist portal Cezhory.sk

Author: Viera Legerská