Intentional traveler: As the End Nears the Action Continues!

Today was Saturday, April 27. We left home n April 6 and have been on the go ever since. Five of our eight flights are over. We have had eight different accommodations and visited five countries plus provinces. I will say that, with this many hotel changes in 21 days, packing cubes came in very handy as it never paid to actually unpack. I look forward to doing that on Tuesday when we board our boat. So tomorrow is our last day of the first tour and today we went out in style! We visited the iconic Lake Bled which lies about an hour outside of Ljubljana and is in the Julian Alps.
I asked Tina what the difference was between these and the Dinaric Alps we heard about earlier. She thought it was just location but at first Wiki glance I think it might be composition. However they are all connected to the Swiss Alps which I thought were the only ones. I also thought perhaps height has some thing to do with it. What can you figure out and if you do, please let me know! But today the countryside looked what I imagine Alpine to be! And this best picture also captured part of an billboard.

First view of the city of Bled. Yes a few rain drops on the window, but fingers crossed it will not spoil the day!

I will tell you a little about these pictures but mostly I think they will speak for themselves. I know that the Church of the Assumption of Mary on the island in the middle of the serene alpine lake bled is on the cover of my guide book and is a picture most of you will know. What isn't on the pictures usually is the extremely precariously perched castle! Today we visited both.

First view of the iconic church also through the bus window but the drizzle has stopped!

A Pletna boat is flat bottomed and rowed by a man, never a lady, who has inherited the boat and the job. The boat we used was inherited from a grandfather. They are kept in perfect condition. They are also the only way to get to the island except for construction needs or emergencies. Then a powered boat may be used.

The oarsmen and boats are perfectly suited for the small but 100 foot deep lake.

Tito's Villa had a great view which we could see better once we got to the island.

I think maybe Karen likes a natural look or thought she was not in the picture.

When we docked I declined the 99 stone steps and took the circular path, rocky and in some places steep. But eat shoreline views including this of the sheer rock outcropping that supports the Castle Bled.

Real people live in Bled. Here was a futbol stadium across from the back of the island. The front shore is all lhotels, pensions, restaurants, and shops.

Rita and Rick - it takes two to pull the bell rope but I bet their wish was the same.


I actually did it! And on one pull got the bell to ring 3 times granting that all my wishes come true. I must admit that at first I thought the rope would lift me right off the ground! Got to love having two new shoulders!

It did take some effort!

Then the rope swung and I ducked!

The legend of the Wishing Bell.


Although I went up the path, and glad I did because I saw more, I came down the steps to ur Pletna.

A short ride around the lake took us to the Castle Bled. A steep cobbled walk took us up to the booth where Tina secured our tickets. Then steep set of uneven cobbled stairs and a shorter, newer flight took us up to the upper courtyard. Here we got lakeviews, visited a print shop with a replica of a Gutenberg press, and also there was a museum. I heard their was a chapel but ran out of time. I may have actually seen it and not realized it because I did see the pink frescoes friends talked about.

The Slovenia symbol on the flag is the mountain we could well see from here. The three peaked icon is called Triglav.

Look how small the boats look from way up here!

Triglave


I am so glad that Tina encouraged me to come along on this optional tour. When she was describing it I thought maybe it would be too much for me but it wasn't. I even wasn't the last one dragging behind the group! #neversaynototrying

Castle fireplace of ceramic and all of the interior of the castle seemed to be softened by a feminine choice of colors.

Kids resting outside the chapel.

Across from the castle is a driveway I would not want to use in an Alpine winter!

Upper courtyard.

Yep stairs!

Looking up on the low climb side!

Down the road a ways was a charming little village where we stopped for lunch.

Yep, I think they sell chocolate here.

And they have wine! Not a bad price.

The iron fence spike mimics the tree behind it.

And then there was this guy! But in all fairness he was advertising for carriage rides, particularly for weddings.

When we got to our restaurant we went in by the back door to the basement to where the family makes gingerbread. You may remember that when we visited Tito's home village museum that gingerbread is very important in the countries of the old Yugoslavia. This family specializes in these confections. Although some of our group bought them no one special ordered one with names on it.

Beautiful antique baking oven is still used.

As son-in-law of the family he helps with the baking and then glazes with a gelatin 'Dracula's Blood.'

She is the family daughter and artist. And she works fast with the delicate decorations.

Slovenia is the only country whose anthem and name speak of love! sLOVEnia!

The worst curse you can utter here is to say to someone, "I send you to100 hairy bears!"

Views from the back of the restaurant.

This is not our group but it was a pretty room. We had a room with a view and lots of glass. Lunch was a beef rouladen stuffed with plums. Dessert was a chocolate biscuit soaked with rum and fresh whipped cream beside it. All of it drizzled with dark chocolate and sprinkled with walnuts!

The father and son-in-law not only took us through cookie making, but served the meal and then added great music! Even a polka which I would have gladly danced if I hadn't been wearing my Sketchers!