Auf Kultur folgt Natur

5.7.20

On our journey to Jasna, nature takes center stage. Our daily stage to the Low Tatras is relatively short, allowing time for activities. And so we take the cable car from Donovaly to the Hausberg Nova Hol'a, 1361m. It is a beautiful Sunday weather and many families with children are out and about. We take a "walk in the heights" in beautiful nature to the nearby summit Zvolen (1403 m), always keeping an eye on the surrounding mountains. Alpine flowers are blooming everywhere. After 1 ½ hours we go back down again.

We make a short stop in Liptovsky Mikulas and only visit the center.

In the Demanovska Valley south of it are two world-famous caves, the Demanovska Ice Cave and the Freedom Cave. We have to pass both on the way to our accommodation. We decide to visit the Freedom Cave. We already notice that everything here is very touristy on the parking lot, because there is immediately a parking fee of 7 €. We find out that admission is at 2 pm and we only have 10 minutes left until then. So we hurry up the mountain to the entrance and just make it. The entrance fee is another 8 € per person, taking photos costs 10 €, which we skip. With a guided tour we go steep and deep into the cave and later back up, but the effort is worth it. We walk through a wonderland of colorful stalactites and beautiful stalactite water lilies. There are explanations at some points, but unfortunately we don't understand them. In between, it is not possible to admire the beauty too much, because it progresses quickly. The visit is less suitable for those who are not very mobile.

Afterwards we continue to our destination, the Hotel "Ostredok" in Jasna at the end of the valley, directly below the north flank of the 2024 m high Chopok peak. We like it. We have a spacious room with a great view of the mountains.

We take a look at the surroundings in this valley and explore how to get to the mountain ridge with the cable car tomorrow. Then it's enough! Tomorrow our muscles will surely be sore!