Newest Article for Matador Network: How to celebrate Thanksgiving in Slovakia

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advice, Matador Network, Slovak, Slovakia, thanksgiving, tips, Travel, travel advice, travel article, travel blog, travel story, travel tips, travel writing, writing

As travelers, it’s easy for us to forget that not every country celebrates Thanksgiving.  It’s even easier for us to forget that not all countries sell frozen turkeys.  Recently, I wrote an article for Matador Network on my improvised Thanksgiving meal that occurred in Slovakia in 2008.  That was probably the best Thanksgiving I ever had and it was a really special memory.  Check it out!

Figure out a menu that will show your new Slovak friends how Thanksgiving is your most favorite holiday in the world. Feel slightly intimidated that many Slovaks make their meals from scratch, so obviously instant mashed potatoes will not do (not that they really exist in Slovakia…). The trepidation wears off as you recall that part of Thanksgiving’s charm is having an excuse to eat everything in sight.

How to celebrate Thanksgiving in Slovakia

Travel Writing Exercise: Feasts and Food Fests

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Holidays, narrative, Slovak, Slovakia, thanksgiving, Travel, travel blog, travel narrative, travel story, travel writing, travel writing exercise, writing, writing exercise, Žilina

Celebrating Thanksgiving in Slovakia.  Photo by by best friend, Dana Soady.

Thanksgiving is upon us! It just so happens to be my favorite holiday of all time (check out Matador Network Thanksgiving Day for an article about how I celebrated this unique holiday in Slovakia). But even if you don’t celebrate it in your country, I’m sure there is some kind of large, food-based celebration that is worthy of discussion.

So this week, let’s talk about feasts. Thanksgiving is a day where Americans gorge themselves on various seasonal dishes before falling asleep in front of the football game. Russians celebrate Easter with elaborately decorated cakes that match the beautiful onion domes of the Kremlin. And in Chile, empanadas are made in abundance to celebrate Fiestas Patrias(Chilean Independence day). At some point in your travels, hopefully you’ve had the good fortune of experiencing a celebratory feast (and sampled heartily).

Write about a feast or food festival you’ve experienced during your travels.

If you do celebrate Thanksgiving, have a happy one. If you don’t live in the USA, find some American friends and mooch off of their makeshift party. It’s totally worth it!  I’d love to learn about some new food fests so drop a line in the comments or email me with your writing sample.

Happy holidays,

Katka

#FriFotos: Fall

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autumn, Fall, FriFotos, narrative, seasons, Slovakia, Travel, travel blog, travel narrative, travel photo, travel photography, travel story, travel writing, vignette, writing, Žilina, Žilina Slovakia

©KatkaTravels

Spojenie – “connection”

We’re in Žilina, Slovakia as part of a cross-cultural comparison of Czech culture and the arts.  Our hosts at Stanica Žilina-Záriečie are several young people who created an arts center out of an abandoned train station.  Each night they put on performances or host gallery shows in one of the most progressive arts consortiums I’ve ever seen.

Today, my class has set to the task of volunteering at the center.   We have a choice between creating mosaics, or raking leaves.  Only a few people can do each task; no one wants to rake, so I opt for that chore.  We’re supposed to switch at some point but I have a feeling that won’t happen.  Oh well, I need the exercise and fresh air.

©KatkaTravels

Fall in Slovakia is something to behold.  This progressive country has yet to steam-roll over its natural beauty in pursuit of industry, and the concern for Slovakia’s environment is evident in the many still abandoned castles set amongst coloring leaves.  I’ve never seen mountains before coming to Slovakia; the only thing to look up at in New York City is metal and glass.  To be surrounded by such thick piles of sediment excites me. Perhaps, that’s why I’m alright with raking leaves.

In New York, there are no leaves to rake.

#FriFotos: White

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cold, FriFotos, narrative, Slovak, Slovakia, snow, Travel, travel blog, travel narrative, travel photo, travel photography, travel story, travel writing, vignette, white, winter, Žilina

© KatkaTravels

I’m hungover as all hell.

The boys – two Frenchmen and a Latvian – drive me out to the middle of nowhere, in the middle of winter, to hike up the side of the mountain and explore an abandoned castle – Slovakia’s Považský hrad. Normally, I’d be up for such an excursion.  After a full night of drinking in town with Slovaks? Not so much.

I struggle to climb what is probably a small hill; dehydrated, sore muscles, nose running.  Miserable.  I don’t even know if this is part of the High Tatras or just some minor land form that was created to kick my ass. The boys are yards ahead of me, perched on a shelf of the hill, staring down at me and smoking cigarettes.  Smoking, at a time like this. Unbelievable, as I can barely breath.

It’s so French.

I reach the shelf and suck at my water bottle. “Can we go home now?”

The boys oblige my request, and we head back down to the car.  Even descending, I fall to the back, stomping through the snow and trying to avoid slipping on the ice.  Ints, the Latvian, has already fallen on his ass, twice.  I laugh mirthlessly at his misfortune, and consider it karma for leaving me at the bar last night, alone and wasted.

When I get home, all I can do is sleep.