To Travel Is To Live: Slovenia 3: Bled

Lake Bled has been a popular resort for generations and a major destination for travelers to Slovenia these days.

We leave Ljubljana mid-day after finding out Plecnik's Museum is closed for renovation. A visit to that old house of the beloved Slovenia architect was going be our last activity in the capital before driving an hour or so north to Bled.

After a short time on the highway, snowcapped mountains come into view - they must be the Julian Alps range and so we are heading in the right direction. How about navigation by these natural cues like in the ancient times.

On the way to Lajke Bled, the eastern end of Julian Alps comes into view. From Bodice, not far from Ljubljana.

Driving around the lake to the north side, we pull into out hotel parking lot - no Old Town here! Yet again we receive a free room upgrade and yet again it's a fantastic view out the window - this time the small island inside the lake which graces many a poster and a guidebook cover.

Bled Island is visible from our room window.

We take a leisurely walk around the lake where the views of the Bled Island and the equally evocative Bled Castle keep changing. I am looking for that perfect angle to photograph both until we run out of daylight.

Bled Town across the lake

First close-up view of Bled Island

First close-up view of Bled Castle

Bled Island in full glory

Bled Castle in full glory

How about some ducks in the picture

How about a human in the picture

The following morning we drive to the Bled Castle instead of the original plan to walk up a steep .pathway since the sun was already getting pretty high. We are sandwiched between two large Korean groups. In addition to the views, there is some interesting stuff there, including and old printing shop which has a replica of the original Gutenberg printing press which they use for souvenir printing. A photo of Laura Bush is hanging from her visit in 2001. And she did not tell George the correct name of this country?

Bled Island seen from Bled Castle

Bled Castle: a small chapel contains centuries-old frescos

Bled Castle: a replica of the Gutenberg printing press is used to produce souvenirs.

While waiting for a boat to take us to Bled Island, we finally taste the Bled Cream Cake everyone's talking about. I'd like to believe that having such a heavenly concoction in a heavenly natural setting is just what I need for my pre-diabetes.

Blejska Kremna Rezina (or Kremsnita or Bled Cream Cake) at lakeside. Bled Castle in the background. Mid morning.

A Mute Swan passing by

Birds recognizing the local specialty and licking our plates

We finally get on the boat from the harbor.

From the boat: Bled Castle and St. Martin Church

From the boat: Bled Castle

On Bled Island

Bled Castle from Bled Island

a Pletna boat near Tito's Vila Bled

The person at the TI is extremely helpful. As I suspected, the high mountain pass in the Julian Alps (Vrsic) is still closed with snow and the only way to make a loop through the mountains and see the valley is to get into Italy, which we don't have enough time for. So we opt to go to Lake Bohinj instead which is popular in its own right. But the cable car up Mt. Vogel is dominated by skiers and at the top the lake vista is not easily had because of snow.

Lake Bohinj seen from Mt. Vogel. Photo taken in two feet of snow. You can see the peaks of Mt. Triglav, the highest mountain in Slovenia

Savica Waterfall, a 20 minute hike from Lake Bohinj with the marble monument commemorating the Hapsburg Archduke Johann's visit in 1807

Lake Bohinj

Returning to Bled, I go back to the spot I scouted out yesterday where both the island and the castle can be seen in the late afternoon sun. It feels like a privilege to be able to enjoy such a view to die for. Or bleed for? Some wouldn't have bled for it. (I suppose the view can be improved with snow or fall colors covering the island - an excuse to return.) And after that, dinner and another round of cream cakes and such.