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Letter Of Invitation from Mr Miroslav Knezo, Host of the placement
Dear students,
in a short time you will come to Slovakia. Some people say Slovakia is in the central Europe or there is a geographical middle point of Europe there. Our nations are living far away from each other and therefore some differences have to be between them. You will see our habits, customs, way of life, a piece of our nature and our history, food, beer and wine. They sometimes could be strange for you but not bad.
The aim of the GrEASE programme
The best way for graduated students is to read the article Archaeological
Findings in Stropkov Area. We presume to find some findings that could prove
a settlement of people in the Bronze Age. Any findings, any prove will be
great for the Stropkov history. It is a virgin archaeological area and progress
of the site will depend on findings and decision of English and Slovak archaeological
leaders.
This year site is an open area, an arable ground, just behind a village -
1 km from Stropkov (a part of Stropkov). You will have a shade (disassembled
shade with a plastic table and chairs).
We can offer mattocks, shovels, hand shovels, spades, nails, brooms, buckets,
dustpans, boards and we can borrow surveying equipment.
Accommodation - you will live in boarding school in Stropkov. You will live in two-beds rooms with a shower and WC and one flat (bedroom - three beds in it, kitchen and living room, including bathtub and WC will be to your disposal).
Food - breakfast will be brought every morning to the kitchen (fresh bread and rolls, yoghurts, cheese, fruit, salami, ham, vegetable, etc.), - according to our mutual agreement. In the beginning we prepared lunch for you but better was when we brought something suitable for you at breakfast time. Dinner is in a restaurant. Once in a week you have a hot meal on the site.
Saturdays - we will do our trips on Saturdays. The
plan you know. We can choose some of them or we can add something if you want
but the dates sometimes will depend on weather etc. We will agree our program
for Saturdays (we can change it to be Sunday or Friday sometimes) after your
coming here.
You have a plan of our common actions but if you would have any other proposal
we can judge it together.
Sundays - usually will be your days off. Also depends on our agreement.
Working hours - could be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with lunchtime break (your leader can change it).
After working time - I will have couple young helpers (all of them about 20). They will help me especially at the time of your leisure time. They can show you the places visited by Slovak young people. The program of your leisure time you can do by yourselves. Discos ...
If anybody does not want to participate any common action
he/she need not but at any time of your staying in Slovakia I (or my helper)
have to know where you are. You must not leave your group without comment!
If you have any questions do not hesitate and contact me by e-mail: mirdo@pobox.sk.
Proposals for Saturday's trips:
Towns: Kosice or Presov (the biggest towns of the area - shopping day)
Bardejov - one of the oldest towns with beautiful Main Square, church of St.Egidius,
Museum of Icons, marvellous Bardejov Health Spa with 300-year-old wooden church
Svidnik - Beautiful Open Air Museum with 22 old wooden buildings, Death Valley
(tanks from WW II are still on the field)
Krosno - a Polish town near the border (about 40 miles) - shopping day
Levoca - one of the oldest towns with beautiful church of St.Jacob
Hiking trips: The Break Point of the Hornad River in Slovak Paradise (beautiful
hiking trip along the river breaking high mountains).
Zadiel Canyon (you can see trees and plants from higher and lower altitudes
growing together
Short hiking trip over the edges near Stropkov including visit of wooden church
in Potoky
Cold Brook's Waterfalls (5 waterfalls in the High Tatras - our the biggest
mountain with
the highest peak of the Carpathian Curve)
Castles - The Spis Castle, The Stara Lubovna Castle
Boat trip - 90 minutes boat trip in mountainous The Dunajec River (border
river with Poland)
Domasa Lake - only 20 km from Stropkov - possibility of swimming
Some proposals could be joined into one trip. Some trips have
to have good weather. We will discuss about them.
Each participant will have a business card of the host and the most important
phone contacts to hosts.
Doctor will be introduced them but the first contact anytime (could be also
at night time) will be to the host (because of language and his ability to
help anyhow).
Internet - Internet Café is near the boarding school.
Phone - a pay phone is in a vestibule of the boarding school. They can use
calling cards.
Slovak language lessons - one lesson in the beginning of your staying (the
most frequent phrases and a bit about Slovak grammar), others according to
your demands.
Mushrooming possibility - sometimes you can join us to do mushrooming on Sunday's
morning if it is not rainy (2 - 3 people).