It was family visit, but also remembering hikes in Tatra Mountains some 40-50 years ago. The rocks remain the same making it all look familiar despite big changes in villages and valleys below. I wish I had more time for longer walks (perhaps next time), but in some ways, not surprisingly, I like remembering the way everything was back then.
Zakopane has great location as hiking base and immediate great views of the mountains. Many places to stay and eat. Overdeveloped in my opinion (rentals and restaurants). The weather was good, even if cloudy the first couple of days. We did driving tour on the first day just to look around: Zakopane and Krupówki (main=touristy street), town cemetery, Kościelisko (late lunch=dinner by polish clock at ☞ Gazdówka pod Lasem), Jaszczórowka, Cyrhla, Bukowina Tatrzańska, Murzasichle, Olcza.
Next day was all talking, but we managed short local sunset walk on Olczański Wierch. The following couple of days we did two short and very popular walks: to Dolina Białego and Dolina Strążyska. We stopped at Villa Astoria (family history), continued up the Biały stream to Sarni Wodospad (waterfall), stopped for late lunch/dinner ☞ Karczma Biały Potok) and ended the day on Gubałówka. Gubałówka may be over commercialized, but so what – the panoramic view of Tatra Mountains is great. The following day we walked up to Siklawica (waterfall) at the end of Strążyski stream valley, just against north face of Giewont. The weather was great for hiking and the crowd was thin (by Zakopane’s standard). More Polish food at ☞ Javorina.
View from Gobałówka
Now we are heading to Zakliczyn via scenic, winding road along Dunajec (River) Valley. Panoramic views from the road of Tatry Bielskie and Tatry Wysokie (Slovakia). The river, lakes/reservoirs (Lake Czorsztyn, Lake Rożnow), castles (Czorsztyn, Melsztyn) and small towns (Stary Sacz, Zakliczyn). Some remnants of the past Małopolska atmosfere still left. Krzysztof Penderecki European Centre for Music and Lusławice house were shut closed = disappointment.
Some of the (Polish) food we tried. Yes, we ended at ☞ Golonkowo in Biskupice Wlkp.
