Balkans 2 (巴爾幹半島之行-2)

After some 20 hours of flight and then another four-hour coach journey from Zagreb to the Bled Castle, where we spent some two hours, we were badly in need of some good rest. So after a simple dinner of fish, salad with some local white wine, we were finally given our rooms at a local hotel.

Our hotel. One can see a car parked outside with two bikes on a roof-rack because the area is quite good for biking.

Bled is a sleepy resort town, full of pensions, inns, boutique and one or two larger hotels and restaurants. After a shower and a good sleep, I went out early the next morning hoping to see the lake at close quarters. I saw this very special newstand, in wood just opposite to the hotel.

Nearby there was a "golf garden", the extension to a nearby hotel. I love the morning fresh air and the smell of grass and tree leaves. The signs of the rain last night were visible on the mini golf putting track.

The streets are all very clean and the style of some of hotel buildings reflect a trace of German influence: cleancut, spare, functional, minimal with plenty of glass to take advantage of sunlight.

The streets were lined with terrace bars and restaurants the parapets of which were decorated with a local red flower like Begonia, creepers and hedge plants with metal or wooden garden chairs. Everything seem to be in green.

This is biggest local church, at the foot of precipice with its typical high tapering German bell tower.

Lake Bled, called Blejsko jezero in Slovene and in Bleder See or Veldeser See in German,   is a 7000 feet long and 4500 feet wide glacial and tectonic lake of  the Julian Alps in northwestern Slovenia, where it adjoins the town of Bled, some 34 miles from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. It's has a maximum depth of about 100 feet, is excellent for rowing  and  also the venue of many international rowing competitions. At its west is the Zaka Valley and to its north is the famous Bled castle.



The water of the lake is so crystal clear and makes an excellent mirror.

In the morning light, the Bled Castle looks magnificent.

A look-out house at the side of Lake Bled. In the distance, one can see the Bled Castle.

There were many boats ready to take tourist for a tour of the beautiful lake close to the local church. A really nice way to spend the morning after the Sunday service.

One can see some kind of kind underneath the clear surface of the lake. Perhaps for rearing fishes for the nearby restaurants?

One can see some early morning mist rising from the valley opposite

Here and there, one finds some floating water plants.

The hillsides are thick with evergreens.

Some kind of festival was being held at Lake Bled, an excellent site for exhibitions and feasts, conferences etc.

The trees are old but still full of life.

I really like the light playing upon the surface of the water.

The lakeside streets are full of tourist shops and restaurants

A flower bed I found at the end of the road. One could really feel how time has stopped here.

dews on the orange-red flowers.

Some purple flowers I found on another roadside flower bed

Some of the flowers are frayed at the edges. Perhaps it's time to go?

My last look at the building next to our hotel from the coach window before we move on to visit Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia .

(To be cont'd)