Hi Local Guides
Today I want to take you with me to a particular place in my region: the lake of Santa Croce.
A small, semi-artificial lake, at the entrance to the Alps, in the past known above all because cars passed by to reach the Dolomites. A lake which, like many small alpine lakes, is closed downstream by a dam. A basin of water that served, and still does, to produce electricity. Water that passes from one lake to another, up to the valley, feeds hydroelectric generators, which for decades have been the only source of electricity in my region.
Next to the lake, a campsite and a small beach attracted few foreign tourists and some locals, who preferred to avoid traffic to reach the one and only one that in Italy we consider “the beach”: the beach along the sea.
Recently things have changed, the tourist offer has evolved and, thanks to the combination of water and wind, the lake has become the perfect destination for surfers and kite surfers from all over Europe.
I was there on the 2nd of July, and I stopped to observe how the place had changed. Despite being a working day, the beach was quite crowded. However I managed to park easily, and went to film these amazing athletes who seem to dance with the water and the wind.
Dancing with water and wind is also the title I wanted to give to this post.
When I arrived on the beach I immediately thought of @uavalentine , a personal friend and great Local Guide, and her post about SnowKitting:SnowBording & SnowKiting in Kiev, Ukraine, and the most recent about paradigling.
I am sure that she would like the lake of Santa Croce very much.
In the area there are three kite schools, and a sports club, always crowded with people who want to learn.
The beach, fully accessible, is equipped with various bars, and a public bathroom complete with showers. Since the bathroom wasn’t in Google Maps yet, I entered it myself.
If you want to go have fun, and see the Kite Surf pros in action, you have to go from Monday to Friday, when the lake is uncrowded. Then you will really see them dancing with the water and the wind, as if what they do costs no effort.
I couldn’t help but film. I finished editing the video a few minutes ago, adding at the beginning a part made with Google Earth Pro, to make you better understand how close the lake is to the famous Venice. Did you know that with Google Earth Pro you can create wonderful videos?
And finally, after having talked a lot about it, here is the video.
Turn up the volume and dance too, together with these fantastic “water and wind dancers”
Do you like Kitesurfing or Windsurfing? Are there any places in your region to learn and practice these sports?
Do you like to photograph these “water and wind dancers”? Why don’t you share your experience and photos here in Connect by replying to this post?
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Great post as always!