What a beautiful day! I woke up very sore from my fall yesterday but determined to hike around Lake Bled. And it was a perfect day for it. We started out a bit rocky as we tried a marked path that lead up into the mountains. I had really wanted to stay along the lakeside where there is a nice path all set up for bikers and hikers. So we eventually made our way back down. I did take a couple of pictures while up there so here they are.

The lake is pretty unspoiled but there are places set up for swimming and sun bathing here and there along the way. You can also swim from just anywhere along the lake. The water is crystal clear, turquoise and there are a lot of fish. We saw many tiny fish, probably baby trout. We also saw some nice sized trout as well.

There were also some whimsical things like this gigantic slingshot. Luther commented that if Bled was ever attacked they were all set to defend themselves.

I was smitten with the little island in the center of the lake. There is a church there dating from about 1,100 AD. Legend has it that there was a temple to the Slavic goddess Živa on the spot of the present church. It was nearly destroyed by an earthquake in 1509 and rebuilt in the baroque style which we see today. You can only get there by boat or, if you are a strong swimmer you can swim there. You can rent a boat and row yourself or there are boats that take people across in groups. Here are two pictures.

On the way back we saw a novel way one restaurant kept it’s beers cold. It was icy spring water pouring from the wall!! You can’t tell from the picture but the water hit in such a way as to keep the beers rotating in their buckets.

They also had a some really pretty wooden boats you could rent. Here is a unique one that looks like a swan.

By the time we got back to Bled it was lunchtime and my feet were starting to hurt. Good timing! We were happy to sample the local brews.

Tonight we plan to eat where we ate last night as it was very good and right next to our Inn. Then onwards home tomorrow.