Slovenia
Our first destination in Slovenia was Škocjan Caves, where we also enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch prepared by our guides. Škocjan Caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the largest known underground canyons in the world. The Caves were absolutely spectacular! Huge caverns, lots of stalactites and stalagmites, and a footbridge 150 feet over an underground river. Then we drove to Ljubljana, the capital and largest city in Slovenia, where we had a walking tour and learned about the famous Slovene architect, Jože Plečnik, who shaped much of the city. After that we journeyed to Bled, a charming
lakeside town in the Julian Alps, and a gorgeous setting for the final stop on our Eastern Europe tour.
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The next morning our group took two pletnas to Bled Island. A young man played the accordion as we were rowed across the lake. The boats are similar to gondolas and the ownership of each has been handed down from father to son for centuries.
We climbed the steps to the church where we posed for a group picture. Kasia, explained the wedding day tradition for grooms to carry their brides up the 99 steps to prove their worthiness for marriage (about 4 out of 5 are successful). The
church is a popular place for weddings and
has to be reserved at least two years advance. At the church we learned another island
tradition about its “wishing bell”. If you pull on the bell rope and can make
the bell ring, your wish will come true. We both did it!
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We enjoyed a “pastry break” in the Old Town, at Šmon Slaščičarna. Sandi had the town’s specialty, a kremna rezina, a vanilla custard and cream cake. Steve had a grmada, a traditional treat made from yesterday’s cake, rum, milk, custard and raisins.