AN ACTIVITY WEEKEND

ESN Košice keeps its Erasmus students entertained during their stay in Košice in a number of ways. We prepared for our Erasmus students a Saturday (Oct 4, 2014) full of various activities. Our adventure started in Kavečany where our group of about 40 bravehearts sat in bobsleds and set off to experience a thrill of a lifetime. 

The riders were not really keen on holding. After getting some adrenaline to our veins, we moved to a nearby Zoo, which is the largest in Slovakia. 

We were ushered into the zoo by two peacocks and a cat that must have become friends, otherwise the cat would eat them long time ago, we divided into 4 groups and the exploration of the zoo began. It was very nice to meet other groups at the crossroads and exchange tips on what to see on our way. 

Obviously, everybody wanted to see bloodthirsty beasts, such as lions, wolves, and bears, but cute little penguins were number one for most. We were quite tired after a long walk and there was White Night ahead of us, so we decided to postpone a tour to a watchtower and save some energy for the night full of extraordinary cultural experiences.

White Night (Nuit Blanche) is the biggest contemporary art festival in Slovakia. It also takes place in other European cities, such as Paris, New York, Montreal, Madrid, Amsterdam, Milan, etc. It is an international art project bringing together multiple genres whose common aim is to present to the public unconventional art form in extraordinary and often unknown parts of the city.

The city was crowded that night, even our group at times broke up, but we managed to get together again and again and we naturally created smaller groups in which we discussed the art, unconventional setting outside the galleries and museums, the opposition of dark and light in the streets full of people, and the extraordinary atmosphere that we sank into.

The ESN sports coordinator organized on Sunday (October 5, 2014) the climbing in a rope park - Tarzania. The obstruction track is placed 4 km from Košice and this place is called Alpinka what is one of the recreational areas in Košice. It was a group of 14 brave Erasmus students and 4 ESN members who decided to get some adrenaline in their veins.

The event started  in the afternoon with a nice weather and took time till the evening . After the first instructions about the safety with the coordinator of the attraction everybody got a helmet and harness and could try how the equipment works. After the testing, the climbing could start. 

The rope park is built on trees in height of 4 to 10 m. Everybody enjoyed the adrenaline from the heights and also the different 32  hurdles.  Every of us was secure with two snap hooks and could adore the beautiful landscape.  The climbing took around 2 hours. Afterwards we went for a dinner in a nice restaurant to get a new energy and have a rest after this hard but  fruitful work out.  

your ESN Košice team  

authors :  Saturday - Patrícia Miháliková (ESN Košice local representative), Aneta Počatková (ESN Košice active member)

Lukáš Varholík (ESN sports coordinator) 

photos by:  ESN team