Óbidos

Estremadura

Portugal

May 18, 2013 

I’ll never forget the exact moment.  Noon, July 5, 2000. 

My first solo adventure.  Central Europe.  Slovakia.  From Košice to Spiš.  I was driving north through the countryside. 

And then, there it was!  To my right, on a hilltop brooding over the landscape.  Enormous.  Imposing.  Inspiring.  The nine hundred year old ruins.  Spišský hrad.  Spiš Castle. 

Out loud I spoke, “This is why I travel.  This is what I came to Europe to see!” *