I took a very round-a-bout and long trip from Budapest to Ljubljana. I arrived there at 5am, from where I promptly took a nap in a lovely park. I wandered around the old town, and walked across the lovely bridges in the center. While strolling around in Slovenia's capital, I saw probably one hundred bikes, and maybe a dozen cars. There was also graffiti across the city, which said "CARS KILL." After enjoying the center of town, I walked up to Ljubljana castle. They had books to peruse and chairs in the castle courtyard overlooking Ljubljana. It was a lovely afternoon. I walked back to the station through a park before taking the bus to Bled.
The road to Bled was probably beautiful, but I slept through most of it, so you'll have to ask someone else. I was, however, awake for the stunning walk around Lake Bled from the bus station to my host's apartment. We chatted about Slovenia and what life in Bled was like before going to sleep. After an exhausting day and a half, I fell asleep almost instantly.
The following morning, I left early to walk to Vintgar Gorge. It is a part of the Triglav National Park. It was about 5 km to the Gorge, and the views there were breathtaking. It was a great feeling just walking for a while across the countryside in Slovenia nearly alone. I would pass the occasional Gorge visitor on their way back to Bled, but mostly I was just walking through a roadside town where the villagers were going about their day. It gave me some perspective on the urgency with which I sometimes go about my life.
Vintgar Gorge was every bit as beautiful as I had been told, and walking along the path with rapids and streams was one of the most wonderful (and wet) parts of my time in Slovenia. The walk back to Bled from Triglav National Park was just as lovely on the way back.
After returning to Bled, I climbed up to Bled Castle. The Castle wasn't particularly remarkable-- the trouble with being in Europe for a while is that castles stop impressing you as much-- but the view from it was incredible. It was certainly worth the trek up the hill.
I walked back to my host's apartment, and we chatted for a while before we went to watch the 10K around the Lake. The yearly run starts at 10PM, and people from all over Slovenia, and the rest of central Europe participate. It was such a blast to cheer everyone on, even though I'm sure many of them didn't understand my encouragement in English. The next morning, I started my 13 hour trek back to Budapest with thoughts of beautiful Bled swimming through my mind.
The road to Bled was probably beautiful, but I slept through most of it, so you'll have to ask someone else. I was, however, awake for the stunning walk around Lake Bled from the bus station to my host's apartment. We chatted about Slovenia and what life in Bled was like before going to sleep. After an exhausting day and a half, I fell asleep almost instantly.
The following morning, I left early to walk to Vintgar Gorge. It is a part of the Triglav National Park. It was about 5 km to the Gorge, and the views there were breathtaking. It was a great feeling just walking for a while across the countryside in Slovenia nearly alone. I would pass the occasional Gorge visitor on their way back to Bled, but mostly I was just walking through a roadside town where the villagers were going about their day. It gave me some perspective on the urgency with which I sometimes go about my life.
Vintgar Gorge was every bit as beautiful as I had been told, and walking along the path with rapids and streams was one of the most wonderful (and wet) parts of my time in Slovenia. The walk back to Bled from Triglav National Park was just as lovely on the way back.
After returning to Bled, I climbed up to Bled Castle. The Castle wasn't particularly remarkable-- the trouble with being in Europe for a while is that castles stop impressing you as much-- but the view from it was incredible. It was certainly worth the trek up the hill.
I walked back to my host's apartment, and we chatted for a while before we went to watch the 10K around the Lake. The yearly run starts at 10PM, and people from all over Slovenia, and the rest of central Europe participate. It was such a blast to cheer everyone on, even though I'm sure many of them didn't understand my encouragement in English. The next morning, I started my 13 hour trek back to Budapest with thoughts of beautiful Bled swimming through my mind.
