The real journey begins.
An 8am start and everyone is on time. Our tour director is Andy Major, and Englishman, living in Malta, and married to a Slovakian. The coach is extra long, which will make for some interesting manoeuvres on the mountain roads.
The first part of today’s trip is across Austria towards the Karawanken Mountains .
Then into the mountains themseleves, with some nasty switchbacks:
The Border between Austria and Slovenia is in a tunnel in the Loibl Pass.
in the to the green hills of Slovenia. Arrive later in Lake Bled, an earthly paradise and your home for the next two nights. A beautiful glacial lake in the Julian Alps, Lake Bled is a picturesque and serene escape set amid forests and mountains.
Lake Bled
The lake is situated in a picturesque environment, surrounded by mountains and forests. The medieval-era Bled Castle stands above the lake on the north shore, and there is a church in the middle of the lake.
The church is only accessible by boat, and is the site of many weddings. Slovenian tradition says that a husband has to carry his new bride up the 99 steps, and the length of the marriage will be determined by the number of steps he manages.
The steps are steep, and I have no intention of indulging in such frivolity.
The boats that ply their trade on the lake are somewhat related to the gondolas in Venice
The climbing of the stairs was the equivalent of a weeks cardio for me, then the guide recommended we go to the top of the tower – another 90 steps!!! No more exercise for next 2 weeks!
The church on the hill and some renovated frescos that have been recovered from an historic dig.
Back from the island, next stage is a bus ride to The Castle
This is probably the most dominant feature of Bled. Our guide Tomara, says not to worry there are only a few steps this time.
What she failed to mention was the long, winding, slippery cobblestone path instead of steps.
Now up to a months worth of Cardio.
But the castle is worth it, and also houses a Slovenian history museum.