Shoe launch billed as a tourist attraction

The launch of a new sports shoe would not ordinarily be a tourist attraction.

But this is no ordinary sneaker launch - and it will be held in a spectacular location.

On September 16, Slovenia's basketball superstar Luka Doncic, who plays for the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA, will be at picturesque Lake Bled in his homeland for the launch of his Luka 2 Lake Bled shoe with the Jordan brand.

It will coincide with a 3x3 basketball tournament, which will be played on a unique floating court in the middle of lake. A floating sports arena is something new. 

 

The Slovenian Tourist Board (STB) sees the event as "an unparalleled opportunity for increasing Slovenia's global visibility".

So there you go: shoes mean headlines.

The event even has its own website. 

You can check it out here: 

https://www.grosbasket.com/en/air-jordan-luka-2-bled 

Discover one of the most beautiful places on the planet

Lake Bled was recently named one of the 25 most beautiful places on earth by CNN.

The US broadcaster said: "The glistening blue water. The soaring backdrop of the Julian Alps. The famous church perched on an island at its centre. It’s no surprise that Lake Bled has developed into one of the hottest destinations in Europe in recent years."

Bled has a population of just 8,000 people, but its is a hugely popular tourist destination in the Upper Carniola region, and in Slovenia as whole.

You can get there by bus - it is just a short ride from the capital of Ljubljana, but so is everything in Slovenia.

There can be crowds in summer - but such is the beauty of Lake Bled that any hassles are worthwhile.

The lake is 2.12 kilometres long and between 0.5 to 1 kilometre wide. In summer, the surface water reaches 25 °C (77 °F) but during winter, the entire lake freezes and can be used for ice skating.

The island - and the much-photographed the  Assumption of Mary Pilgrimage Church can sometimes be reached on foot when the lake freezes.

Here are a few snaps, most of them from a visit last summer.

For more details see https://www.slovenia.info/en