Ljubljana turned out to be a spectacular little city, easily walkable in a day, with a charming Stari grad, clean, easily navigable streets and paths, and a likeness to Budapest that I didnt fully grasp until after I left.
Lake Bled was all I could ever want and than some. And than some more on top of that. Easily a place I could see myself living. A picturesque castle perched atop a cliff, overlooking the most robustly colored lake I've ever seen with a fairytale church on a small island in the middle of said lake! The word surreal is the closest I can get to a word that rightfully can describe this place.
Vintgar Gorge is very close to Lake Bled. It has been carved out through the mountains by a fast flowing stream, and has become a popular tourist attraction for hikers and families alike. Wooden bridges and pathways have been built along the length of the gorge...I'd say between 75-85% of the time you are completely suspended over water.
I also visited another alpine lake, Lake Bohinj. Almost three times as large as Bled but with five times less fanfare. A haven for outdoor adventurers, this place is probably kicking during the summer months. I had lunch in a small village tavern near this lake and it was excellent.
My final excursion in Slovenia was to a town called Scofka Loca. Its town square looked like a postcard right out of the 16th century. Buildings appeared just as they did hundreds of years ago and it was exhilarting to see this kind of preservation.
Other random tidbits:
-Slovenia has done a hell of a job marketing itself as a tourist destination. Signs in ALL towns, not just Ljubljana, are clearly marked in both Slovenian and English, making it a cakewalk to find your way around.
-Some of the best scenery I've seen during my travels.
-The old Slovenian grandmoms reminded me of my own grandmom.
No way in hell people can consider Slovenia "Eastern" Europe. It's as westernized as you can get.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Slovenia
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