Prague, Czechia

From Ljubljana, I made the short 1-hour trip to Lake Bled, a picturesque castle above a crystal clear lake.

Sat in the middle of the lake is a small island, home to a small cathedral. The island cathedral, accessed only by traditional Pletna boats then climbing 99 steps, is a popular site for those looking to make a wish, as visitors can ring the bell inside to make a wish.

It is a mighty trek to reach the castle itself as stairs climb from the lake up to the top of the hill, but the view is worth it.

I did a self-guided tour of the castle before heading back down to the town where I happened upon a little farmer's market. While perusing the wares, I got to talking with a local woman who takes washed-up driftwood and carves scenes onto the pieces.Read more