After flying JFK to London and then London to Vienna, meeting Ziga's parents at the airport and then driving four hours across the Austrian-Slovenian border into Bled, it was time to sleep. No sooner had our eyes popped open the next day than it was time to meet as much family as possible. This picture was taken during the first visit with Ziga's paternal grandparents (who live in a place called Bohinska Bela, L-R his mother, me, him, his grandpa). His grandmother, a notoriously emotional type, actually cried upon meeting me, and then proceeded to force-feed me. She wanted me to drink a glass of wine (it was barely 11am), but sadly I remain the designated driver as long as Ziga remains more committed to the Army than to bothering about a driver's license.
That afternoon we drove around in our newly rented car and did some sight-seeing of the places Ziga haunted as a child. This is me in front of Lake Bohinj, which is the next city over from Bled (which is the city to which Ziga's town, Zasip, is attached).
For every one of these pictures there are at least three or four, "getting ready" shots that he'd take while I would just stand around, look at things, sometimes look at the camera. Some of them are hideous, and ye shall never look upon them.
After lots of drinking, eating, laughing, drinking, sleeping, etc, it became a new day, and we used this one to see what Bled had to offer. One of my favorite places in the world is now Castle Bled, which sits high above the city and has been cared for to the point that one feels one could live there. It is truly a fairy-tale castle come to life, and it invites the visitor to linger (and we did). This is the window out of the room that Ziga and I agree we will make the Master Bedroom when we become King and Queen of Bled.
The next day we drove south to the coastal town of Isola (shown in the background of this picture), in which we had an apartment graciously on loan. Isola was strategic, because it is the port from which the Prince of Venice departs - a boat that takes day trips to Venice. We spent the evening before our boat ride exploring various coastal towns.
In the town of Piran (which is so far down the coast it's all but in Croatia) we found a castle and climbed up to the top, where we met some people who spoke German, but not very well (according to Ziga). They, however, are not in this picture (in case you were confused).
The most beautiful pictures are yet to come - Next Page
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