1936 On the Continent

trees, and the rainbow shimmer from Alpine snow in the background, the lake is a poem in itself—perfect as a sonnet by Keats. The quiet of the western shore, with its unbroken line of forests and greenery, is in striking contrast with the fashionable hotels (Toplice, Park) and gay life of the eastern shore. Bled is much favoured as a bathing resort in the summer because of the high temperature of its water (28° C.), due to the many springs within the lake itself, and also because of its large iron content. Bled also has excellent facilities for sport, including ski-ing, skating, climbing, swimming and tennis, in addition to dancing, music and entertainments throughout the summer season. Near Bled is the extremely romantic gorge of Vintgar, and an interesting cave, located close to Bohinjska Bela.
    No less beautiful, although of an entirely different character, is the largest Slovenian lake,
Bohinje
, dark and serene in its tranquillity under the austere shadows of mountains and dense woods. Bohinje (Hotel Sv. Janez, Zlatorog) is popular with tourists because of its warm water (23° C.), its winter sports, and the wonderful excursions into forests and mountains. Above Bohinje there is a mountain hut. The rushing waterfalls of the Savica, more than 200 feet high, are the source of the river Sava.
    The whole district is famous for its winter sports. No village is without its jumping board, climbing points, guides and accommodation for tourists.
Planica
(Dom Ilirije), near Ratee, has the highest jumping ground in Europe. The
Pokljuka
plateau, surrounded by firs, is a fine ski-ing ground with a good hotel (Hotel Sport). Much liked is also
Kranjska Gora
(Erika,erne), which is set in forests and is ideal for convalescents. It has a ski-ing school, excellent hunting and fishing, swimming and Alpine sports. Other popular places are
Rate
e
, with its Gothic church in a sunny valley, well known because it has preserved old costumes and customs; the village of
Podkoren
, declared by the English scientist Sir Humphry Davy, who lived there, to be “one of the most beautiful in Europe”;
Bohinjska Bistrica
(Triglav) under the mighty Dolomites; sunny
Mojstrana
, which is the entrance to the Triglav Valley, and little villages like
Kamna Gorica
or
Gozd
.
The Savian Alps
    A short distance from Ljubljana stand the
Savian Alps
, equally impressive with their romantic gorges, deep green valleys, waterfalls and springs. Here also winter sports, ski-ing and climbing are fostered everywhere, and most places offer excellent swimming. A good centre is the old town of
Kranj
(Hotel Stara Pošta), which has a Gothic cathedral and a well-developed modern textile industry. Of its many rambles the one to the wild and romantic Kokra Gorge should not be missed. Other places are
Jezersko
(Kazino) amidst fir woods below the Savian peaks;
Trži
(Pošta) famous for its hunting; and
Kamnik
(Stara pošta), which has old ruins, a three-storied church, and good swimming and winter sports.
    Another interesting excursion point south of Ljubljana is the
Notranjska
district, which is of a Karst-like formation and extremely picturesque with its numerous subterranean rivers and lakes, and its spacious caves of the most fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Noteworthy is the Cerkniško Jezero, a lake which fills in the autumn and dries out so completely in the summer that its basin is regularly cultivated.
    An excursion towards the south-east takes us into the
Dolenjska
district, lovely with its pleasant green hills, its rivers and vineyards. Clean whitewashed peasant houses and small churches perched on the top of every other hill lend this part a very attractive, quiet and homely appeal. Dolenjska is Slovenia’s district of poetry and flowers, song and merriment, to which no doubt the local “cviak” wine contributes its due share. Yet not even Dolenjska lacks a certain wild romantic appeal. The Krška valley, with its rushing waters, is full of the most breath-taking surprises, and well worth a visit.
Kostanjevica
, on the Krška, is called the Dolenjska Venice because of its picturesque position on the river.
Novo Mesto
(Metropol), full of old monuments, with a Tintoretto in its church, is excellent for swimming and trout fishing.
Maribor
    Proceeding along the river Sava we come to the
Zasavje
district, pleasant and homely with its long chains of hills, attractive villages, and white churches perched on hill-tops. It is a nice district, full of fruit,