Bled, Slovenia
I had the privilege and the good chance to be on a photo-travel to the beautiful scenery lake Bled in Slovenia with some of my friends from our photographic club about an year before the Covid pandemic was declared and the lock down initiated.
It was one of those slow-travels with a bus and many hours spent on the roads and highways that sometimes could be exhausting, considering the crossing of the country borders and the pain in the buttocks from seating for too long. However, these two complete the list of the Cons related to such travels and the Pros are much more - I could talk to anyone about anything, not only photography, as we had plenty of time; much more places could be seen when riding and not flying, singing songs and telling jokes to everyone also isn't possible on a plain, right? ;) Quite an interesting perspective as well, for me crossing a country border could tell you so much only observing the attitude of the border authorities - both border police and Customs. Just sit and watch them and you'll know a lot about that country from both cultural and political perspectives. Of course, the outlook of the check points also tells a lot! As we crossed the borders of Bulgaria, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia on our way there and back, I could tell the differences. That, however, is probably a topic for another publication ;)
Our first day there started with a planned visit to the Bled Castle Museum, that's a fairy-tale castle built on the highest of the nearby mountain hills surrounding the lake. It was quite interesting inside, a cellar, artisan workshop and of course a souvenir shop but I was enchanted by the views it was presenting toward the lake in that cloudless sky morning:
Beauty! How could one not spend a lot of time enjoying it. Me too, more time filling my eyes and soul than filling my camera memory card! ;)
I saw from the latitude of the castle the place where later that same day we were going to take one of those boats an sail to the island with the church.
Next in our schedule for the day was an early lunch. You know by now that I am not quite passionate about photographing food but that day was an exception as I was deeply impressed by everything I tasted. The local beer was amazing! Yes, one of the perks of not having to drive is I could have a beer at lunch ;) The appetizers, the main dish, fried squid rings but that special breading of them with beer instead of water that gives them divine aroma, do you know what I am talking about? ;) The desert was extraordinary as well. The score... ten out of ten! I don't remember the name of the restaurant, all I remember it was close to the post station and the owner was a slim tall guy who looked like Eric Roberts :) Yes, the actor, the brother of Julia Roberts.
Here I've changed my camera lens to have that special bokeh effect:
Here we are to the next bullet point in our Bled agenda :D
Hopping onto the boat and sailing to the island inside the lake. What our young "captain" told us that day, there is a low prohibiting the use of motors inside the lake. I loved that - preserving the amazing nature here along with keeping the noise down, great work! That meant we're going to be sailing quite a long time but I didn't mind at all - great views, several different perspectives around the lake and a pleasant company, what else could I wanted?
By the way, here is one view towards the castle from the morning ;) It is like a fairy-tale, isn't it? We enjoyed a bit of a competition between the boat captains here as well :)
The views towards the Alps are stunning as well, don't you think?
Finally we got near the island:
After our debarkation, hehehe, we had about an hour and a half to enjoy the Bled Island with the beautiful Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria.
Plenty of ducks on that island! I have sinned here though, I have to admit to you, as I couldn't resist the temptation of eating a huge ice-cream at the local cafeteria. :D
It was time to sail back to the main land and enjoy some of those scenery views again from another perspective and another light.
A lot of sports activities here at the lake, I saw tens of kayaks that day apart from the leisure boats available for renting. I would love to have a full day and a picnic in a sunny spring day there, in the middle of the lake! Putting that on my to-do-list as we speak :)
Another view with another perspective to the fairy-tale castle:
Feeding the swans... my closest rendezvous with those amazing birds!
I deeply enjoyed having the opportunity to photograph the beautiful church from many points of view.
Most of the properties around the lake are preserved in their original outlook.
Once our sail back to the land was over, we decided to take a walk around the lake or as long as the day allows us as it was in the late afternoon already. Feeding the swans with bread sticks was mutually decided to be included as our next activity too :)
I've gotta tell you, they were not shy at all :) It seems the birds, generally, are always hungry, LOL :)
We kept enjoying the lake with its views, calmness and clean air until the day was over:
Loving that perspective ;)
Check out this lovely creative idea of a narcissus garden inside this retired grand piano :)
The dusk was here already:
The night added another culinary fiesta to another local restaurant with traditional dishes and then an hour walk in the forest back to our village hotel where we spent the night recharging our energy for the next day.
The next morning we woke up quite early, a couple of hours before the dawn so we have the necessary two hours to hike up to a mountain hill and meet the new day with its sunrise. We spent there several hours admiring the nature and being grateful to the chance to be at this amazingly beautiful place in Slovenia! Of course, I used some of the time to experiment with my camera and lenses :)
Like birds on the rocks shortly before the sunrise:
A day and a half I will always remember!
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