To Bled and Beyond

Salzburg is a beautiful city and we really enjoyed our time there, but it was time to move on.

Leaving Salzburg on the train was easy enough, but we had to transfer trains in Villach and that was not easy at all. There were nine of us looking for the train to Bled and we were all lost. First they told us to get on one train and the people on that train said it was the wrong train. It happened over and over again and each time we switched trains in that station we went down a long flight of steps, under the tracks, and up a long flight of steps. After doing this four or five times a young British guy started carrying my suitcase up and down all those stairs. Thank you, thank you young British guy! We split up and five of us (Bob and I, a newlywed couple from Egypt, and the young British guy) settled on the train to Bled.

We could either get off at Lesch Bled and take a cab or bus into Bled, or get off at Bled and walk around the lake. Bob and I chose the walk around the lake which was a nice trail but remember, we were both pulling a suitcase behind us.

The pony cart was cute, and the driver seemed happy to have his picture taken. His passengers, not so much!

What a surprise! We stayed in the Gornik room, and I felt like I was in Steelton!

Bled’s Castle looms above the town offering fantastic views of the surrounding area.

Bled is well known for its Church of the Assumption in the middle of the lake, and it’s one of Slovenia’s leading mountain resorts. We only stayed in Bled one night. It was the starting point for our trip into the Julian Alps.

Before we left town we sampled their famous cream cake called kremna rezina and is it ever delicious! It’s a layer of cream and a thick layer of vanilla custard sandwiched between sheets of crispy crust. YUM!!

I carefully planned this trip. Carefully. When we went for the rental car we learned that the route I planned, over the Vršič Pass, was a no-go because the Pass was closed for construction. Now what? We had reservations at a sheep farm in Kobarid! We had two choices: drive south and then take the auto train to Kobarid, or drive northwest through a part of Italy and then head south. Off to Italy we went.

There are no border crossings in this area because of the European Union, but the drive was a little confusing at first. We had our map, and the route the car rental guy gave us, but the exits weren’t marked. Yes, it said exit here, but they route numbers weren’t on the sign. How do we know where to exit the highway? We guessed, got lost, stopped at a gas station to ask and they told us not to follow the map. Just get off the highway and ask someone where you are. People are friendly, just ask!

We reached Italy and it was lunchtime. What do you do when you’re in Italy at lunchtime? Eat pizza!

A small town along the highway had a pizza restaurant, and the pizza was delizioso!

Hmmmm, we can‘t speak Italian and they couldn’t speak English. We ordered marinara hoping for the best, and we were very happy!

We’re happy now! We ate delicious pizza, we have the map figured out, and we’re back on the road. This pretty park with a lake and mountains was just off the road and I decided that it was time for a picture!

Yes! We’re back in Slovenia, right where we should be. Slovenia only has one national park, but it’s huge. This is where we’d like to do some hiking, but first the drive continues.

Bob drove along and I rubbernecked and tried to point out the things I thought he’d enjoy seeing. Quaint villages, ruins along the road, and shrines were everywhere in Slovenia.

This is the “sheep farm”. No sheep! I asked and they said the sheep were still in the mountains, but there was no pasture anywhere in sight. Perhaps it used to be a sheep farm, but the location was good and the mountains were so beautiful.

This was our view of the Soča Valley, where some of WW I’s fiercest battles were fought. I read about it before our trip, and remembered that Ernest Hemingway wrote his novel A Farewell to Arms about the battles here.

Tomorrow we’ll explore the area and, hopefully, go for a little hike.