Fourth year in the raw Botanischer Garten prepares a trial in the night through decorated with lights parts of the garden. Nice walk with children - fairy tail atmosphere. I only recommend to come short before the opening - at the beginning is less people (and maybe short before closing too) because in the middle the crowd can spoil the atmosphere.
Blatensky vrch is 1043 m high pick in the Ore Mountains. To the pick goes short and easy walk from Horni Blatna main square. On the way there is ice hole and wolf pit (holes left after mining industry extracting tin and iron in the area of the mountain) and the observation tower on the pick. Nice walk suitable for kids.
In the beginning of October the weather in Greece was, for us used to Baltic, like in the middle of the summer. Water 24, air 28 degrees, what to wish more. The landscape was fresh green - it looked like a second spring this year. We were swimming, sunbathing, sailing, walking through beautiful islands. Food is local and delicious (we eat lot of fresh vegetables, fishes and sea food) and people very nice and most of them sufficiently English speaking. We liked it more then Croatia. Harbors are very cheap (4-5 euro for a night on 33ft yacht, comparing to 40-50 in Croatia) with lots of Taverns serving great food and wine, so we also enjoyed some night live. In Ermioni we had a dancing party on the wharf with nice crew of neighboring catamaran from Romania. The most picture square views we had on the Island Hydra (we walked to the old monastery and mount Eros). On the Methane Island we had a bath in warm spring going from under the volcano. Some members of the crew were also catching tuna fishes, octopuses and others so we had a lot of delicious food on board. This time we had a crewed yacht with captain (Jirka) who took us and recommend us the best places everywhere around and told us many stories about Greece as he lives there already since 3 years. We can recommend his services to take cruise with him. Just go and try sailing in Greece.
Great place for a stop on the way Berlin - Prague (by car you need to go around 10 minutes from highway). Scenic place with restaurant and a tour thought the ruins of the castle from XIV century. By the entrance is offered paper guide in all European languages. Easy to walk even for 3-4 year old kids. (Not suitable for the pram).
Liptovský Mikuláš has perfect train connection with Berlin (train to Prague and then short change into the night train Prague -Liptovský Mikuláš). Theris is an offer to buy a place with a bad in the train. You fall asleep in Prague and weak up in the morning in Liptovský Mikuláš. On the spot there are of course great hiking tours (fir bigger children) but also huge aqua park (Tatralandia) lake and river. Enjoy.
Nice nature and calm river of Spree invites Berliners, and not only, for very nice route. We were lucky to do it by hot weather so we stop and swim and grill on the way. Start and endpoint are near bey train station so kayaking from A to B creates no problem on how to get back. Kayaks or canoes can be rent e.g. in KSS Canoeing Spree GmbH .
This time we went on a trip without kids. Whole Finland is very safe and kid friendly, however kayaking on the sea was a bit too much for our kids. It would be definitely possible taking them for one day but not for a one week round trip. The winds might become quite heavy or waves too high. Plus sometimes it is nice to spend some time just as a pair.
To begin with: there were very little mosquitoes (because of the wind from the sea) and it was warm (20-25) which was perfect, because in the middle Europe it was this week when was 35-38 degrees. So all that we were afraid about, did not happen.
The coastline in National Park Archipelago is very beautiful - maps don’t lie, just islands, islands and island. Just behind the corner you see that the land you have seen from the distance is actually yet another island. Not prolonging of the one near you. The rocks smooth in the last ice age are heated from the sun, inviting you to land on the island and rest there. There were no people there(!). One can just choose some island for a rest or for a night and have it exclusively.
On lots of islands is some cottage or sauna, but even in the top season most of the cottages were empty. On the island Noto we camped on the camping site with sauna and open kitchen. As everywhere in Finland the camping sites are perfectly prepared, with wood and very clean. There is almost no plastic waste anywhere.
It is highly recommended using GPS and electronic maps for navigation. It would be too easy getting lost. Check the weather forecast regularly is a must. The cell phone coverage is excellent everywhere. At the end of our journey we’ve paddled during the wind 9 in Beaufort scale, however it was manageable while being hidden behind the islands. Just do not go against the wind or on open water. Even by so strong wind the waves are not too high between the islands. On the open sea it could be too much.
There were no people but we also have an impression that there are not too many animals and we did not manage to catch any fish.
We enjoyed a lot. Kayak is good choice for Archipelago (without kids). I can also image to visit that place again with kids on a sailing boat.
