Bohinji Lake and surrounding area.

Yesterday we ventured away from Bled to Bohinj, a larger and much less developed glacial lake  about 30 minutes away. Bohinj is a very long thin lake, far less tourist based than Bled. Having said that, there are 1 or 2 hotels, numerous sobes and apartments, plenty of restaurants and cafes for coffee and people watching. While the whole area of the Julian Alps is renown for trout we have been able to see smaller specimens, up to about 15 cms swimming in the river through the gorge or in Bled Lake itself. However Bohinj lake is "swimming" with them. Everywhere you look in the lake you can see trout of varying sizes. These fish are not afraid, they come very close to the water edge even when I was paddling. And for lunch. . . Yes, 2 that didn't get away. 

Deliciously fresh, caught by local fisherman and on sold to the restaurant, our lovely waitress told us in her broken English. 

The delight of Bohinj appears to be camping, hiking and cycling. Huge camping areas are available surrounded by fur trees, right on the lake shore. Slightly different from a NZ camping ground where everyone seems to be cheek by jowl, camp sites here have plenty of space with each tent site  a personal oasis with cars, bikes, kayaks, tables and chairs scattered around the tent. Signs stated this was a cycling area as we approached the lake and they were quite accurate. Whole families were out on bikes enjoying the surroundings, mostly the tall aspens and fur trees on one side and the lake on the other. 

The meadows, see how easily I adopt to the language, have been cut for hay, which can be seen drying in the most unusual hay racks.Pictures still to come.  The wild flowers are beginning to  grow and make the country side look very pretty.

34 years ago I travelled through Austria and loved the picturesque country side. The 3 story houses with steep roofs, the germaniums planted in boxes at the window sills, and the fire wood stacked  ever so neatly beside the wall of the house or in a shed. Slovenia country side is no different. The whole environment is very pretty, and very green.  I am loving being here.

Our visit was cut short by yet another electrical storm followed by heavy rain. Each night we have listened to thunder claps of varying decibels, with a few visible lightening flashes, with no rain in Bled. Yesterday the thunder was definitely rolling around the Julian Alps and over lunch we had a heavy down pour lasting about 30 minutes only to clear to a very hot bright afternoon. Then suddenly the thunder rolled again, with very heavy rain all the way back to Bled. Temperatures have plummeted to a chilly 16 degrees. For an ex desert dweller and now a simmering Saigon citizen, anything below 24 is on the chilly side. 16 degrees finds me wearing a camisole, a t shirt AND a sweatshirt. I am cold!!