New Zealand - Thermal Wonderland Wai-O-Tapu
Foto: The beautiful Lake Bled (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Slovenia - Lake Bled is one of Slovenia’s major tourist attractions. On the small island in the lake stands the Church of the Assumption of Maria, dating back to the 9th century. Together with Bled Castle on the cliffs and the snow-capped mountain range behind it, this creates a picturesque scene. We are clearly not alone. In Bled itself, we cannot find a parking space. We follow the stream of cars circling the lake. The view of the church is beautiful from every angle. Even on the opposite side, the parking lot is full. It’s Sunday, and many local Slovenians are enjoying the good weather on the lakeside beaches. The girl at the parking area advises us to drive on to the train station. She says there should be space there — and she’s right. We walk back to the lake. Children play in the water, and boats sail to the island. We cross the road and begin climbing one of the hills surrounding the lake. There’s said to be a beautiful viewpoint at the top. Other descending hikers point us in the right direction: “Just keep following the path,” they say, adding a warning that it’s quite steep. The oppressive heat makes the climb challenging, but the view from the top makes it all worthwhile. Below us, we see Bled, the island, and the castle. The way back is easier. At the bottom, we settle down at a terrace for lunch.
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