Slovenia

Up the stairs to the church.

On the Pletna heading to the Otok.

One of many beautiful squares in Ljubljana.

Our Lake Bled guide and Pletna captain, Robert.

Relaxing after sausage consumption.

Trying out the medieval printing press.

On the Pletnas, ready to go.

Lazy.

Slovenia's only island.

Our dinner spot. At least it's cheap.

Ljubljana dragons.

On the Bled Castle overlooking the island on the lake.

As Slovenian custom dicates, I carry my bride up the 99 steps to the top of the island.

Making a wish.

A beautiful, sunny morning again greeted us today – we are being spoiled by the weather this year. Our drive through the Alps brought us to Lake Bled. Last year we had a great time on the Pletnas (special flat bottom boats to take people out to Slovenia’s only island) and visiting the Grad (castle) overlooking the lake, even though it was pouring rain. This year, it was warm and sunny. I think that added to the experience. Sorry 2008’ers. We all rang the “wishing bell” in the little baroque church on the island and then explored the tiny island. Our guide Robert explained some local and national history to us, pointing out the former communist dictator of Yugoslavia, Marshall Tito’s mansion on the lake and giving us some of the local folklore. We then visited the castle overlooking the lake, and were treated to beautiful vistas, a demonstration of a Gutenberg printing press, and an explanation of Slovenian wine supremacy by the same crazed monk who greeted us with his sword last year. After we said Hlava (Thanks) to Robert, we were off to Ljubljana for the first time ever. You know a place is pretty exotic on the Europe travel destination list when Rens has never been there! We visited the Ljubljana castle and walked around the old town before stopping for our traditional Slovenian dinner at Red Hot Horse Burger. Mmmm.... I’m always glad to be a vegetarian when confronted with snails or horse burgers or that greasy sausage that Randal keeps eating.
The Bit Center Hotel is half fitness club, and half really low rent hostel. But it has beds, and we can sleep here. Tomorrow we sleep in Venice.