Slovenia

As I mentioned, we had hoped to visit Slovenia ten years ago, and I think one of the reasons I wanted to see Lake Bled was because my mom had visited many years before on a Elderhostel trip and really enjoyed it. 

The further we drove into the mountains, the more it reminded us of Switzerland.

We thought our accommodation was in this vicinity, so jim knocked on the door to ask.

Nope, not our place... We asked for directions to our address and all I got out of it was " poomp, poomp, poomp". So we asked again, this time from someone who spoke English. He gave us directions that got us even closer.

We drove quite near the lake to a residential neighborhood filled with beautiful apartments for rent.

Nope, this was not our place, either. Our place was the most run down of all the houses, definitely in need of a little TLC. 

I referred to it as the " Addams family mansion" and our host fit right in. I imagined a fantasy where the house had been owned by an elderly aunt who willed it to her only nephew( our host) who didn't really have the money to keep it up,so rented out rooms. It had a great view of the lake from the balcony, though, so I could overlook the shortcomings, like the fact that the toilet was down at the far end of the  long hallway,and the shower was at the other end. It definitely gave us the feeling of being in someone's home from an earlier century, so we kind of liked it.

Up on the far hill sat a little castle? Monastery? Whatever it is it was cool. 

Across the street was some interesting religious art.

Where does this come from? Who decides to erect a cross in a neighborhood? I'm fascinated by it all. 

We decided to walk along the lake before the light faded. We really wanted to go out in a boat, but without 6 other people, the cost was 180€!

View across the lake during the day.

All very picturesque...

We had dinner overlooking the lake,too. Why ever not, with a view like that? 

We had a house specialty, and I liked how it arrived in a blue enamel pan. 

And this was the specialty dessert of the lake. Essentially two layers of puff pastry filled with whipped cream. 

As we were eating, this couple came walking down the road! They were fresh from entertaining a big tour group in the fancy hotel( the same place my mom stayed?) so I asked them if I could take their photo. They happily obliged, then the woman called out " 10€!" We all laughed. 

At night, the castle and hillside were lit up for dramatic effect, and it was quite magical.