Croatia, Greece & Italy

Last stop for the day was a visit to Bled Castle. Bled Castle is a medieval castle built on the mountains above the city of Bled. According to written sources, it is the oldest Slovenian castle and is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in Slovenia. Nowadays, the castle is employed as a historical museum with a collection that represents the lake's history.

The castle was first mentioned in a deed of donation on May 22, 1011 and it remained as the residence of the bishops for eight centuries.

The views from the castle were breathtaking. While there really isn’t much to the castle and at €17 each, it was an expensive view. We did follow our guides suggestion though and try the local cake called Keenan rezina while admiring the view. Very similar to our custard slice from home but a bit lighter.

The story of kremna rezina (or Bled cream cake) began with the arrival of chef Ištvan Lukačević to Bled's Park Hotel, where he modified the Hungarian cream cake by adding the right proportions of whipped cream into it, and in 1953, the hotel presented Lukačević's invention to the public. 

The new dessert was a huge success and became a popular tourist treat, with up to 3,500 slices sold per day. The authentic kremna rezina is not just a cake, but a piece of art – it is said that the pastry is folded seven times before it's left to rest, the custard is cooked for exactly seven minutes, and each cake is cut into a seven-by-seven centimeter square.

It was very delicious and a nice treat to enjoy while admiring the views from the castle.

All in all it was a good tour and we enjoyed our day seeing a glimpse of another country.Lue lisää

The city's symbol is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat of arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge. It represents power, courage, and greatness. With several explanations around the origin of Ljubljana, according to Greek legend, the Argonauts on their return home after having taken the Golden Fleece found a large lake surrounded by a marsh between the present-day towns of Vrhnika and Ljubljana. There Jason struck down a monster which evolved into the dragon that today is present in the city coat of arms and flag.

There are dragons everywhere in Ljubljana, on bridges and buildings, on spires and castles. There are shops that just sell dragon products and drinks called dragon’s blood. The town has definitely embraced its dragon icon.

The town is also home to some odd looking statues that certainly catch the eye. With the other lovely shop displays, statues and buildings, it is an interesting town to explore.

The other thing that caught my eye was the vending machines. The shops do not open in town on Sundays but if you need eggs, milk, bread or pharmaceutical items there were vending machines for all of these products. You can bring your own bottle to fill with milk or purchase a bottle from the vending machine as well. Quite amusing.Lue lisää

To return home we made our way to the Art Park (although there was not much art there) to the entrance of the Grič Tunnel. The Grič Tunnel is a pedestrian tunnel located in the centre of the city and consists of a central hall, which is connected by two passageways to the west and the east, and four passageways extending to the south. It was built during World War II to serve both as a bomb shelter and a promenade but following the war it quickly fell into disrepair and disuse. The tunnel saw renewed use only in the 1990s, hosting one of the first raves in Croatia, and functioning as a shelter during the Croatian War of Independence. In 2016, the tunnel was remodeled and opened to the public, serving as a tourist attraction and hosting cultural events. Planned expansions include a museum and a lift but as yet nothing has progressed. While it is just a tunnel, it was a handy shortcut and the lighting and curves made it interesting to photograph.Lue lisää