https://www.easyjet.com/en/buy/flights?isOneWay=off Archives

Consigned as I am to live in ‘Winterfell’, and as a dracophile, I clearly want to mark ten years of the real House of Dragons.

No, not Daenerys Targaryen, who as my own Queen of Dragons reliably informs me is also to be feared.

But the real House of Dragons as those keen-eyed among you will have noted is Postojna Cave in Slovenia.

Which is, of course, one of the world’s best-known karst caves.

Where we only got to watch the development of the olm in real time.

From the first eggs, embryos and larvae hatching to their transformation into playful little baby olms.

Aw, they do grow up so fast

This year, ‘the baby dragons’ from the 2016 olm brood are turning ten.

And our Postojna pals are giving us an insight into how they live today and the interesting developmental stage
they are about to enter…

And whether dragon adolescence is anything like ours.

The very first olm was discovered right enough, in Postojna, in 1797.

The shy olms had, in truth, probably been around for 14 million years ago moving from the surface into the permanent darkness of subterranean waters.

Now instead of vision, which is unnecessary in darkness, the olm has developed a range of highly specialised senses.

Food for thought

It has an excellent sense of smell, taste and hearing, and can detect vibrations in the water.

And sense weak electric fields produced by other animals and orient itself using the Earth’s magnetic field.

And therefore locate its prey, such as small crustaceans, snails, worms and insects.

Its survival strategy in an environment where food is very scarce includes an extremely slow
metabolism, a low heart rate, and minimal movement.

And doesn’t that sound the life?

This one’s got legs

Slithering about: The olms are on the move

And there’s more…

The olm can live for more than 100 years and can reproduce even at an advanced age.

And because of its slow metabolism it can survive for several years without food, maybe not like a human adolescent then.

While here’s where it gets even more interesting.

They can regenerate damaged limbs and organs, blood vessels, the heart and even parts of
the brain.

And how do we know? Well, here’s where little Viktor comes in, handy,

Still of the night: And we’re in their world

Viktor like most kids likes a scrap and hurt and lost part of his leg in a fight with two other olms.

But like the Monty Python knight, he shook it off as a flesh wound.

Because he knew that within just a year he would have grown back a fully functional limb.

Now if you think all of this is dragon on a bit and you want to see Viktor for yourself.

We found round-trip flights for random dates in October to Ljubljna from under £200 with EasyJet because unlike dragons, we can’t fly for ourselves.

And what else would you be sent away with from a function showcasing Interlaken’s cutting edge than a Swiss Army knife?

Because while you may think you’re the ultimate thrill seeker and fully adapted to Europe’s Adventure playground.

You’ll be thankful for your mini-tool kit if you get yourself in a pickle on the slopes, valleys or lakes.

After all, Angus MacGyver, The Fantastic Four, Dana Scully in the X-Files and Matt Damon in The Martian have all reached for one.

While it’s been part of a NASA astronaut’s survival kit since 1992.

A refresher course

That, of course, is for when we’re back out there in the Great Swiss Outdoors.

While for the evening that was in it we were nicely ensconced in Scott’s Kitchen in Victoria Terrace in Edinburgh.

So we’re tucking into haggis, beef and chocolate mousse modern style with a fork, knife and spoon.

While getting a refresher course in Interlaken from when we scooted about in trotty bikes there some nine years ago.

Now we’re told that you can do almost anything from skiing, of course, sledding, to paragliding, abseiling and ziplining.

Fun on the water

And fun on Lake Thun, all at a more relaxing pace.

Whether on a cruise or raclette rafting, and don’t worry you won’t have to negotiate choppy rapids while dripping cheese.

Be prepared

While for the ultimate in opulence then you can take a hot tub out on Lake Brienz.

And maybe drain a Brienzer Breeze, the bottle green Sea Breeze-themed cocktails we lapped up with notres amis.

All of which activities we dare say might need small knives, scissors and the like to extricate yourself from situations.

Or manicure yourself.

While, of course, you’ll be prepared as all good scouts must be for the greatest emergency.

When out exposed in the wilds.

For when you need a bottle opener or corkscrew for your Hell lager or Alpine wine.

Now as ever second time around we’re better fitted out for our return to Interlaken.

Now we have our Swiss Army Knife.

We found an EasyJet round trip flight to Zurich from our airport here in Edinburgh for a random five nights in November from £648pp.

And you’ll get a high-speed one-hour train to Interlaken, checking out your Swiss Travel Pass.

And went to loveholidays for a five-nighter at Hotel Alpenblick, a saving of £149pp.

Tag: https://www.easyjet.com/en/buy/flights?isOneWay=off

Ten years of the real House of Dragons