Rowing Around Lake Bled
After breakfast we left and another friendly Slovenian offered us a ride (much appreciated!) down hill with our now heavier (due to shopping!) packs. We grabbed another capp cappuccino and caught the bus to Bled.
Bled turned out to be a beautiful, friendly, clean resort town with old villas on still, clean water, clear Lake Bled. There was a youth hostel, new and clean for the same price as a private Zimmer Michael hunted down. It was on a street of all Zimmers for rent, and we had a comfortable room next to some Italians, then Hungarians, with a grass area in the garden, and breakfast served by the husband. The couple was so nice and let us use the fridge too.
We walked down to the lake and were scheduled by Michael to rent row boats today. We found a nice launching place and rowed across the lake, switching rowers in the middle. It was awesome!!
The water was so clear and flat, and filled with swimmers all over and row boaters. People were swimming across the lake and o the island in all directions. They swimming like I do, without heads in water so I know I can do it too. We rowed 45 minutes to the Insel which is so small and pretty it contains only an old church from 1330 years ago and cement old stairs leading up to it like in Italy 🇮🇹! I was homesick for boyfriend and our nice time together. Sad face, before emojis!
We rang the bell in the church tower bidding ourselves good luck in love and we ate Eis out on the terrace overlooking Lake Bled. After rowing around more and back to the other side, we took a leisurely walk completely around the lake. We stopped in gift shops and stopped under shade trees to take a nice cool swim. It was so enjoyable and I even swam without touching the bottom, albeit close to the shore, while Michael went further out.
Later we stopped at at a lakeside terrace to sip some wine writing postcards. Then after going back to shower up, we headed to dinner to Okarina – a place Michael recommended from his book. Well we were pleasantly surprised!!! It was incredible from the service; to the candle lit plant hung wicker decor; and the wooden walls and open ceiling with a tree growing through it. It was a converted barn house.
The menu was sooo various and really international blends of all cultures and everything was a good choice. I opted for the avocado 🥑 with toast and alfalfa sprouts – Heaven!!! We drank a very dry Tokay white (much different than Slovakian Tokay). I ordered fried tofu veggie something, more eloquently named and I think we were too full for dessert.
After the meal, I met the owner, who as I’d assumed had traveled widely, including lived in India 🇮🇳 and been to Coronado. He was a very intelligent and interesting Slovenian man and played some Mongolian music for us. They were using their voices as instruments.
He used to be in the tourism business. He said most local people find the food “too outlandish.” I called it Nouveau Cuisine and was surprised that business was not so good; he depends on “business” which we later figured was Mafia(?). It was a super meal and atmosphere!
Friday 30 July 1999
