5 An Enchanting Lake

Perhaps Bled is to Slovenia as Lake Tahoe is to California … but smaller and if you can believe it, a brighter shade of blue. Rental cabins, zimmers, condos, a campground and a casino surrounded the lake. I don’t say this lightly but Bled is the most beautiful lake I have ever seen. It’s about the size of Lake Kaweah shaped as a teardrop. In the morning and evening the fresh water shines like glass. One side of the lake is framed by a 200-foot rock cliff rising over the lake as a natural guardian. Atop the guardian cliff mounts a large castle. It’s a spectacular sight to look across the lake at this enormous granite wall rising from its shore and see the outline of a grand castle the size of your thumb poised on top. Beyond the cliff off in a distance is snow-covered Mount Triglav acting as a glorious backdrop. But wait, there’s more. On the fat part of the tear sits a small island the size of the combined Valley Oak playing fields. On the island stands a tall onion-steeple church built in the 17th century. A wide marble stairway connects the blue lake shore to the church compound. I counted 100 steps. Surrounding this picturesque lake is a walking/biking path. We rented bikes and circled the lake. I drained my camera battery … every 50 feet was a photo-op … breathtaking.

That night, we dined lakeside as the sun patiently lowered itself behind Lake Bled. Every 5 minutes we turned to see another color, another angle of God’s glorious creativity, His glorious creation. And what meal in Bled would be complete without the country’s most sought-after dessert? “Two orders of kremsnita please” (a frosted, flaky, cream cake) ... Sweet!

The next day we hopped in Janik’s pletna (traditional wooden barge operated by one oarsman). For 12 EUR each he glided us to the island church where I attempted to carry Petey up the marble stairway as any good bridegroom traditionally does. I made the lift … no steps, just the lift. On our way down the steps Petey flirted with a Speedo clad local who was draped over the stone rail. He was sunbathing. "Hey buddy, don’t you have enough wrinkles?" Before Janik ferried us back, Donna and I toured the little chapel. We took turns tugging on the rope to ring the “make-a-wish” chapel bells that echoed across the lake. "What did you wish for Donna?"