Plitvice Lakes

August 14th

At 6:00 the alarm clock rang and at 6:50 we were already at Entrance 1 of the National Park. And you won't believe it... we weren't the first and not even the second or third, no, the parking lot was already well filled and there was already a considerable queue at the ticket counter. At 7:00 the park opened its gates and the 3 ticket counters did a great job in a routine manner. Barely after entering the park, the first impressive view over to the other side of the canyon to the Veliki Slap waterfall presented itself. The water masses of the Plitvica River plummet 78m deep down into the main valley here and at the same time give the park its name. After the first extensive photo stop, we determined our route through the park using the trail maps and set off with all the other visitors. We went down into the canyon and then continued along the shore. By crossing one or the other cascade, it was possible to experience and of course capture the wild rushing action up close. Unfortunately, a ranger blocked the further path for us and we all had to go back up and take the park train for a stretch of the way. Something allegedly didn't seem safe enough on the path. We asked another ranger about the alternative and then walked our way in reverse. So we took the train to the end and then followed along the lakes back to the starting point. On the way back, the blocked path was open again. After the slight frustration about the action had subsided, it turned out that this might actually have been the much better option, because we had achieved the unbelievable: we had found a relatively quiet path. You have to imagine that there is really only one circular path, which can be cut short at different points, but in the end, everyone(!) has to walk on these narrow paths, which sometimes comes quite close to queuing. Especially at the marked viewpoints and photo spots. Suddenly, everyone stops abruptly, which is absolutely understandable, but this huge crowd of people takes away a bit from the actual enjoyment of the natural spectacle. Nevertheless, we are impressed and take the things we have seen and experienced home with us.

Turquoise lakes and countless big and small waterfalls, embedded in lush green that mixes with the color of the water, limestone rocks and moss-covered stones, bubbling spray and calm water surfaces... this is how we will remember them - the Plitvice Lakes.