I returned to the croissant café again this morning and enjoyed a blueberry, raspberry and mascapone croissant. The franchise, Lviv Croissants, is a Ukrainian company I discovered. Of course, the clue was in the name.
Catching the funicular up the side of Gubałówka, the mountain to the north of Zakopane, returned me to where I left the E3 trail previously and saved a lot of climbing. I did not have far to go today so I had another coffee while admiring the view, which included city spread out beneath me, and beside me, a giant, plant encrusted teapot.
After a kilometre or so I left the stalls and tourists behind and continued on quiet roads. Although not all was quiet, half a dozen quad bikes passed me going one way, then returned a little while later. One of the many activities on offer around Zakopane. Sadly, beside the road I saw two monuments to people who had been shot by the Gestapo in 1943. Eventually the road turned into a farm track and climbed a few hills. A tractor was out cutting hay in the fine weather. Behind me the view of the snow streaked High Tatra peaks was slowly receding, ahead of me I could see the high ridge I would later be following in later days.
Around 2 pm I descended into Chochołów, and as advertised there were lots of wooden buildings, challet bungalow style, with their gable ends pointing to the road. Made of logs, to keep out the wind and water the gaps between logs are sealed with what looks like rope, but is a product made of wood I have read. Houses are roofed with wooden shingles and strung out along the busy road. A few people were washing the walls of their houses, maybe to brighten them up, removing the grime and dust kicked up by passing vehicles. The church was the only anomaly, being stone built in a gothic style. I paused for a blueberry ice cream before walking to my accommodation.
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