Day 4 – Lake Bled, Slovenia

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To reach Slovenia, we drove straight down the middle of Austria after buying our vignette sticker. A vignette sticker allows drivers to legally use the autostrada. Stickers are good for a specific amount of time and must be displayed in your window. Autostrada on-ramps are staffed with cameras to verify each vehicle has a vignette. We were told at the boarder that our vignette was good for 10 days for BOTH Austria and Slovenia. The drive through Austria on the autostrada was easy and I’m sure would have yielded some breath-taking scenery as we drove through the alps, however, the weather was not cooperating. It rained the entire drive with just a few breaks in the clouds that gave just a glimpse of  the alps that were soaring above. 

By the time we reached the border, the weather broke and we were finally rewarded with clear skies and big bold mountains covered in snow. The old communist boarder crossing at Slovenia was now a relic, but you could tell at one time it would have been a serious check point.

--> Once across the border, we had to wait for our turn to enter a major tunnel system. Everyone just parked their cars along the 3 land highway and waited for the green light.

 

 

The hostel was extremely friendly. Anya checked us in and we later learned she was studying to get her degree in Office Management, but truly dreamed of working in a National Park and traveling. She had applied  for a job in Yellowstone for next year. The hostel was pretty standard in that everything looked clean, however, when the little voice in your head says, “maybe I should sleep in my bed liner tonight,” you heed the advice.

Lake Bled is idyllic, quaint, and very friendly. The town sits above the lake and cascades down towards the lake front. Above the town is a castle (of course). It was still off-season, and there were very few visitors. It is a 3.5 mile walk around the lake and there is an island out in the middle which can be reached by row boat. We started the walk at the top of the lake and watched as a few people attempted to row against the strong head winds coming down the valley. There was no way I was getting into a row boat. The lake was so choppy I was getting woozy just watching the boat house bob up and down. Around the lake are huge villas nestled in the trees from the 19^th century.

By the time we got to the bottom of the lake, it was much more sheltered, so we took a row boat out to the island. The water was calm and it was considerably warmer. The island is simply called “The Island.” On summer Saturdays, a steady procession of brides and grooms, cheered on by their bridal parties, head for the island. 99 steps lead from the island’s dock up to the Church of the Assumption on top. It’s tradition for the groom to carry his bride up these steep steps. 4 out of 5 are successful proving themselves “fit for marriage.” 

Inside the church, is a rope hanging in the middle of the aisle just before the altar. Local superstition claims that if you can get it to ring 3 times with one pull, your dreams will come true. This sounded easy, but it was not and required all your muscle. We both managed to get 3 rings.

The day ended with wood-stove baked pizza and Slovenian beer. LOVE Lake Bled!