Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

After a good night’s sleep, we woke up to an overcast day, but at least it wasn’t raining! I cooked a hearty breakfast of eggs, ham and mushrooms on fried bread (we couldn’t find the toaster!) By the time we cleaned up, showered and dressed, it was after 11, but it’s only half an hour’s easy drive to Bled.

On the drive, I commented that it wasn’t raining or “mosty”! I seem to be losing my power of intelligent speech. I don’t know if this is because I’ve been exposed to so many different languages, or I’m just losing my brain, but wrong words are often coming out of my mouth. It’s keeping Keeley entertained, in any case. Of course, I meant “misty”!

The sun pepped through the clouds just as we arrived and was shining brightly by the time we parked the car and walked along the foreshore to where the boats go across to the little island where the church is. Of course, the operators accepted cash only which we still don’t have, so it was no boat ride for us today. We both took heaps of photos: Keeley focussed on the ducks, and me on the magnificent trees- I am a little obsessed with European trees; the different sizes and shapes and varieties. (see photos)

We decided to continue on to Lake Bohinj, but of course the stupid GPS took us back into town, then told us to do a U-turn. We turned it off! Let’s just try to navigate on our own! I knew Bohinj was further upriver then Bled so we headed in that direction.

It was a very pretty drive. Keeley saw some dirty white stuff on the side of the road and asked was it snow. Of course not, I answered confidently. I have just so much experience with snow! We drove a bit further, and what do you know? It WAS snow, and LOTS of it. We continued driving along Lake Bohinj looking for the waterfall, but couldn’t find it but found some of the prettiest scenery ever. It was like we were in a movie. Keeley wanted me to drive so she could take a video, but had to be content with me videoing. She stopped in the middle of the narrow road, put the car in park and hopped out to take some photos, confident that it was a one way road. We hadn’t seen a single car on this road up to this point, but suddenly not one, but two cars appeared out of nowhere, so she jumped back in quickly and pulled over to the side of the road in the snow. We kept heading up and up thinking we’d have to get somewhere soon, but the road wasn’t even marked on maps. We were getting close to the Italian border, and I think the road must have led to a ski resort, but I wouldn’t let Keeley drive to the top to find out. We managed to find a place to turn round and head back down to the lake, and drive along the end of the lake still looking for the elusive waterfall. We didn’t find it, but we had seen such beauty we didn’t care. I think it may have been frozen!

By this stage, we were both starving so I reached back to get the jam donuts and bananas out of the back, only to find I hadn’t put them in! I’d left the bag on the kitchen bench!  We did have a quarter of a packet of chips left from Austria, and some cookies from Hungary, which we ravenously devoured. We headed back to Zbilje via Bled, and headed down to the Gostisce Jerero restaurant on the lake only to find it closed. We did, however, find the largest flock of swans I’ve ever seen. Several of the cottages along the street leading back to our car had dried corncobs hanging from their rafters, or even suspended over gates and doorways. We surmised they might be to protect the house from evil spirits, but after some research, we think it’s probably to grind the corn to make cornmeal, or to use the bits of corn as seed for next year’s crop.

We arrived back at our mansion before dark, and quickly made some ravioli for “lunner” (lunch and dinner), washed down with a Stella Artois or two. We turned on the TV and started watching the history channel’s program on Istanbul, as I wanted to find out about its history. I saw the part about the hareem, before falling asleep. I think Keeley was asleep before me. The lounge here is just soooo comfortable. I woke up and watched a really interesting program about the Etruscans, which I only learned about a few weeks ago on my visit to the British Museum. Obviously, I didn’t take Ancient History at school, but it fascinates me! Then Keeley woke up and we both watched an excellent program on William Tutte’s and Tom Flowers’ contribution to Bletchley Park and the British code breakers of World War 2.  I was so pleased I had been there, and was able to explain some of the background to Keeley, who was completely intrigued by it.  We continued to watch Mysteries of the Museums, then decided we’d try the bath out. Pity it was only lukewarm! We needed to stay awake a bit longer, so switched channels to watch “Across the Universe”. Keeley said she likes this music, so I explained this movie was written using the Beatles music!  Great to see the Beatles music has survived at least one generation, all those naysayers of the sixties!

After a coffee and Baileys, we should start thinking about bed- it’s after 11pm. We were planning to drive down to Plivitce Lakes in Croatia tomorrow, but it’s over 8 hours drive there and back, so I’ll have to cross that off the list for now. Maybe, we’ll check out Ljubljana or try out another spa.