Entry By: Jaromíra Císařová of Korek Jelínek spol. s r.o.
The Czech company Korek Jelínek s.r.o. and her daughter company in Slovakia, Korok Jelínek spol. s.r.o. have decided to improve their interrelationships, get fitter and learn more about cork by organising a teambuilding trip to Slovakia.
First day was spent in the town of Nový Smokovec in High Tatras. Originally created as a curative settlement, the first where patients could be treated through the entire year, it became the most luxurious spa of its period. Gradually tourist services were added with a skiing centre for less demanding skiers.
From Novy Smokovec, which is 995 meters above sea level we continued to Zbojnická Chata, situated in Velká Studená dolina (Great Cold Valley) in the High Tatras. Year-round open chalet offers lots of 
opportunities for hiking, climbing and skiing. It was a real challenge for most people having to climb to 1960 meters above sea level. The accommodation was great fun, as we had a big room in the attic to share between about 17 people. As you can imagine no one got much sleep, apart from the snorers!
The next day, the weather changed for the worst. It has rained most of the night and it was foggy and wet. The climb down was as difficult as going up, as we had to be careful 
not to slip on the wet stones and snow (in the higher altitudes). But we managed it without harm.
After this, we decided we deserved a bit of pampering and went to a big thermal resort in Poprad. This modern town of forty-four thousand inhabitants south of the High Tatras is a centre for tourism and leisure and the main gateway to this mountain range. We spent almost 3 hours of pure bliss there and recuperated a little from all of the climbing.
Our last stop was at a village of Mala Trna in the Trebisov region, near Hungary border. We were accommodated at Penzion u Macika, whose owners are winegrowers of the famous Tokaj wine. We enjoyed a presentation about cork, mainly cork stoppers.
We enjoyed a wine tasting evening where we had the chance of tasting many Tokaj wines. The tasting took place in a cellar situated in an underground tunnel cut out of the volcanic tufa rock. We found out some interesting things about Tokaj wine, for example The Duke of Transylvania, Frantisek Rákoczi II, sent his own six putno wine to Louis XIV, who termed it "V
inum Regum, Rex Vinorum" - "Wine of Kings, King of Wines." In the 18th century Tokaj wine became famous as a medicine for healing anemia and nerve illnesses. Tokaj was also the favorite drink of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, Voltaire, and Goethe. Beethoven and Schubert dedicated songs to it.
Overall, we all had a really good time and hope our next adventure is as good as this one.
Jelinek Cork Group was delighted to participate in the annual West of the City event "Girls Night Out". This event, held on November 26, 2008 in Oakville, Ontario, was well attended with over 900 ladies all eager to browse the shopping bazaar. Many local retailers participated in this festive event by setting up fun and interesting booths. Retailers offered a wide variety of tempting products and services ranging from belly dancing lessons, jewelery and fancy socks to cork products from the Cork House. At the Jelinek Cork booth, the new Jean Cristoff collection of ladies handbags, weekend bags and executive lap top bags made 
their first official appearance. The reaction to the collection was fantastic. The ladies just loved them and couldn't believe the stylish bags were made of cork. For more information on the Jean Cristoff product line, visit our online catalog.
