11.09 - Day 240 - Vrbnje (Lake Bled), SLO
Wednesday 11th September - Vrbnje (Lake Bled), Slovenia (Day 240)
Still on holiday, but still schoolwork to get done, now half way through Wk8 term 3. Once complete and a pack lunch made we hopped in the car 10 minutes to the town of Bled to begin the 6 km loop around the famous lake.
It's surrounded by sloping forests, the central focal point a small island in the middle with only enough room for a church.
It’s a popular walk though not over-crowded, and as the sun starts to shine brighter a dip in the lake becomes more appealing. Midway round then, opposite the town at the east end, and next to the Olympic (which explains the faintly marked out lane running through the lake), Seb and I wade into the lake, bobbing around for a little while, with lunch after back on dry land.
Continuing our lakeside walk a little further we then hire a row boat to take out on the lake. Sienna particularly is keen to get involved in the handling of oars so she and I take us in a vaguely straight line on the glass flat water out to Cerkev Marijinega Vnebovzetja.
The tiny island is heavy from tourists who have been shuttled out to the island and after a quick lap on land we glide back in the boat to the mainland.
Back at the house, and after seeing the Himalayan Goats and the chickens in their portable coop, I end up sitting down with the dad where he offers me some homemade spirit which is surprisingly ok, but combined with a single beer leaves me feeling the effects.
The family house, 150 years old, had been added to and added to over the generations - he has plans for a pool for next year. A friendly guy and impressive how much of the work he’s tackled alone.
In the near distance is a tall dome building which he tells me is a climbing centre - he names a Slovenian climber that I don’t know, but thanks to our comprehensive viewing of the Olympics I do remember that Slovenia was well represented in the rock climbing.
Dinner is in the small town of Radovljica next door, pizza at Baffi’s restaurant which is well received by all.
That evening we planned more - currently our accommodation is only being booked 24-48 hours beforehand, we’ve learnt there are always places available especially as we move out of peak season.