It seems that we saved the best of our trip for last!
On our final morning in Slovenia, we set out early to walk around Lake Bled.
The trail along the lake is only ~ 7 km and perfectly flat.
It is a beautiful walk past handsome villas and quiet towns.
The lake was so still and peaceful in the early morning.
We took about a zillion pictures like this one
(all from different places on the trail)
because every time we stopped to look it took our breath away.
Just over halfway around the lake,
we rented a beautiful row boat to go out to the chapel.
We docked the boat on the back side of the island
and walked around the grounds of Cerkev Marijinega Vnebovzetja.
From the main boat dock there is a large staircase leading up to the chapel with exactly 100 steps.
It is tradition that the groom carries his bride up the flight of stairs to be married,
and the bride is not allowed to talk the whole ride.
The locals joke:
Who it is harder for:
the bride or the groom?
Before rowing back we had a little picnic on the boat.
Ignore the weird baby voices,
we'll pretend that we were practicing for future children...
The country was having some fire training on our last day.
It was cool watching this helicopter circle the lake
then drop packages and people all around town.
I should clarify,
packages were lowered from the hovering helicopter,
and people scaled rope ladders to the rooftops.
After our boat ride we continued our walk around the lake,
drooled a little at the President's Mansion (now luxury hotel),
and watched the swans.
We made a pit stop by the post office to send a special person a postcard for her birthday.
We had a couple hours left before needing to leave for the airport,
so we picnicked on the lakeshore again,
walked through a small artisan market,
and soaked in as much sunshine and beauty as we could.
Of course, we couldn't leave without eating
one more glorious piece of Bled cream cake.
We wanted to take some home with us for dessert for FHE,
but worried that security would make us throw it away at the airport :(
But, I have a recipe!
On the way to the airport, we transferred busses in Kranj and saw a pair of Sisters street contacting.
Anyone have a sibling serving in Slovenia?
On our short flight home,
we cruised low enough to stare at the majestic alps of
Slovenia, Italy, Austria, and Switzerland.
If you ever have the option to fly Swiss,
DO IT.
They treat you to Swiss baked goods and chocolate, even on short 1 hour flights!
It was one pretty fantastic trip
and a much needed break from
the stressful student life.
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