05/08/2022 - Stage 2 from Bled to Ljubljana / Slovenia (48 kilometers)

Igor called in the morning and told us that he will pick up a new tube for our car after work, bring it to the workshop, and have the car ready to go by 3 PM. So we still had plenty of time for activities. We took the public bus from the small suburb Lesce to Bled. We strolled along the promenade, enjoying the view of the crystal-clear lake, the island in the middle of the lake, and the Bled Castle up on the hill. Truly a beautiful vacation destination. Probably even more beautiful if it wasn't so crowded ;-). The trip to the gorge was canceled again today because we didn't have a car. So we decided to have a typical delicacy - Blejska Kremsnita. The cream cake consists of puff pastry, a filling of vanilla cream, and a crispy puff pastry top sprinkled with powdered sugar. The people of Bled have already produced 15 million cream cakes since 1953, so they know how to make it perfectly, and our slice tasted just as good. We took the bus back to our accommodation, cooked a small meal, packed up all our things, and waited for Igor. He came home with the news that there is also a broken belt in the car that needs to be replaced. That was the one that caused our tube to break. So our departure was delayed by another hour. While waiting, Igor received a call from his wife Magdalena telling us not to drive along the highway because a plane had landed there and there was a traffic jam. Igor took us to the workshop at 4 PM with all our luggage. On the way there, we saw a small plane upside down on the highway. Hopefully, the pilot is okay! The car was repaired, we loaded all our things into it, and set off for the capital and largest city of the country. We arrived in Ljubljana around 5 PM and moved into a small apartment. We took the bus to the city center. The sun was still high in the sky and it was hot in the streets. Nevertheless, it was fun to explore the beautiful city center with its noteworthy buildings and many bridges. We arrived at Preseren Square, a round main square in the pedestrian zone, which is very popular as a meeting point. And since many people gather here, water pipes have been installed at a height of about 10 meters to create artificial rain for refreshment. Very imaginative. One of the main attractions of the city, the "Three Bridges," is located next to the square. Actually, it is the Tromostovje Bridge from the 19th century. Two pedestrian bridges were later built next to it, each running diagonally towards the middle bridge. From here, it's not far to the central marketplace. Every Friday from March to October, there is a market with open kitchens here. The various restaurants in the city offer their delicacies. Of course, we couldn't pass by without trying something. Our walk continued to the Dragon Bridge, one of the many bridges crossing the Ljubljanica River. Two dragons guard each side of the bridge. According to legend, a dragon used to rule over the city of Ljubljana in ancient times, so it is the symbol and heraldic animal of the city. We then went to Ljubljana Castle, which is also one of the city's important landmarks. The castle towers above the city and can already be seen from below. We could hike up, but we decided to take the funicular that took us up in a few minutes. We could even visit some parts of the castle free of charge and enjoy a great view of the city. Once back down, we walked along the river bank. Countless cafes, bars, and restaurants lined the promenade and welcomed the numerous visitors. We arrived at Kongress Square, a huge open area next to which the Congress Square Park and the Slovenian Philharmonic are located. It was founded in 1701 and is therefore one of the oldest philharmonics in the world. We returned to the Three Bridges because they are supposed to be beautifully lit at night. A duo was playing in a bar right next to them. We spent the evening here with a drink and live music, admiring the city and its special bridges even in the darkness.