Tatranska Lomnica

(April 30) The sudden burst of summer weather continues, with up to 27 C expected today.  We took a two-bus trip which transported us south into the Tatra mountains and over them into Slovakia to a little mountain resort town called Tatranska Lomnica.  The landscape completely changed, to hills and mountains and even snowy peaks in the distance.  The houses started looking like swiss chalets and we began to spot a few ski lifts among the trees and meadows.

On board our bus to the mountains.

A complete change from fields of canola.

The houses started looking like chalets.

South Canterbury perhaps?  No.

We stopped here for a stretch and for photos.

These meadows become ski fields in winter.  Snow-making machines.

We arrived at our next stop quite late in the day.  It was now chilly outside but we walked up the track behind our hotel to see the gondola, and perhaps some of the deer rumoured to hang about.

Sue says hello to a deer.

This stop is our "hiking stop", which our guide Jo has made very clear is her favourite activity.  She grew up in the mountains in Germany.  She is keen to get us up one of the trails to one or two of the huts up the mountain.  The weather is beautiful, and she says this is first time she has been here when it is not raining, so we are lucky.  We take a short ride on the local train to the starting point.

Jo assures us she has a whistle to drive away any bears we encounter!

Early on our mountain hike.

The trail followed this river uphill.

Apparently most of these trees are spruce.

Wild blueberries.

At 1,208 metres.  There are quite a few others on the trail.

Cuppa at the first hut.

These "huts" are not the same as the average New Zealand mountain hut.  The first one housed a lady selling hot and cold drinks and snacks.  The second, larger hut had a full kitchen selling hot soup and meals, and also some accommodation.  There was quite a crowd there by the time we stopped for lunch.

Hot soup at hut number two.

Hut number two was much bigger.

The route normally taken by the Intrepid tour groups here would be a circuit, but recent damage to one section of the track means this is not currently possible, so we are taking an improvised alternative route.

Retracing our steps, down towards the cable car.

This snake slithered across the path in front of us.

After our hike up the mountain, we cut across the slope on a different path which took us to a large cable car for the ride back down to the railway station.  Everyone then agreed to continue on to the suggested stop of Strbske Pleso, which is another little ski town about 40 minutes further on by train.  Somewhere along the way Jo suddenly waved goodbye and jumped out, keen to do a few more hours hiking before nightfall.

Strbske Pleso has quite a number of large apartment blocks, shops and restaurants, and a huge ski jump, set around a lake.  The mountain backdrop makes it very scenic.  The main entertainment option here is a walk around the lake, which we did.

The lake at Strbske Pleso.

The lake, with the ski jump ramp above the trees.

Not sure who that chap is.

On the train home to Travanska Lomnica.

Somehow even a little group of towns like these has a shiny modern railway, plus the shiny modern cable car, and various other gondolas.  It is apparently very popular as a holiday destination, with the hiking and also skiing in the ski season.

It was almost an hour on the train to get back "home".  It was warm enough that we were able to dine al fresco on the deck of a local pub across the road.

Our "penzione" accommodation, and our minibus.

We were amused to find out when we came here that we are sharing this guest house with about 40 small children (and their minders).  They are set up to accommodate school groups with dormitory rooms, and the main room in their restaurant was full of little people all sitting down to eat when we first arrived.  They stared at us silently as we filed through.

On the trail we passed a number of large school groups - older teenagers - presumably also visiting the mountains on school trips.

On the last evening we encountered an energetic exercise session complete with thumping music occupying the corridor, which we had to interrupt briefly to get to our room.

Our fellow guests doing their evening workout.

This stop in the Tatra Mountains has been an excellent complement to all the big cities we have stayed in, and everyone enjoyed the outdoor activity.