Chopok

You all know that I am a huge fan of winter sports. Over the last years, we have been skiing in Poland and Switzerland. Today, I will take you to Low Tatras, a beautiful 80 km wide mountain range in the middle of Slovakia. Lower Tatras are a part of Inner Western Carpathians. I have chosen for you their most popular peak - Chopok. First we need to arrive to Jasná, 943 meters above sea level. Jasná was hosting the Alpine Skiing World Cup in 1979, 1982, 1984 and 2016. So this should be a proper place for skiers at our level.

Look, I am not the first horse here!

Those of you who do not feel yet fully comfortable on steep slopes can stay in this snow kindergarden. There is plenty of fun there.

Those who are masters of black pists will need to take cable car up to the summit.

The cars are nicely decorated so that you can start smiling already on the way.

If you will be happy with a blue or red piste, you can choose one of the chair lifts.

But before we can go up, we need to get into the queue. It goes quite fast and we can sunbath and discuss our day plan.

The cable car goes steep up.

Finally we arrive at the top.

Ladies and gentlemen, plese meet Demián the dragon, the strongest guard of the treasures hidden in the valley of Demänová. He weighs 1.5 tonnes and is 3 metres tall. Two of his heads spit fire and steam, inside the third, there is a copper bell in the throat which brings luck when rung. He came out of his Demänová cave especially todat to meet you.

Chopok is one of the top peaks in Low Tatra, so you can for example look south and see Slovak Ore Mountains.

But when you will look North you will understand why these mountains are calle the Low Tatras. Ladies and gentleman, please wave your hands to the High Tatras, shining bright especially for you.

When the weather goes bad or you just get hungry, there is a nice place here.

How do you prefer to go down? By sledge? Just make sure to pull the break really hard.

Or maybe your prefer a snowmobile?

But I would really recommend you to put you ski on and move gracefully down the slope.

The trails are well prepared by the snow groomers.

But please ski carefully, so that the mountain rescue service does not have to bring you down.

See you again in Jasná, near the Smile point!