Lake Bled (Slovenia) - Graz (Austria)

Lake Bled is gorgeous....I cannot say anything else that can describe it.....it is a little gem of a place that feels very special.

We woke to a crisp but sunny morning, looking forward to exploring more of this place that looked so promising even in the dark last night. 

Fuelled by a hotel breakfast (a hotel breakfast buffet is such a treat for the kids - even though they hardly eat anything...they seem to love it - when we got to the hotel last night Eloise spotted the breakfast room as instantly grabbed me and said "Look at that Mummy.....guess what that is?........Breakfast!!!") we set off to the lake to take a look.

And what a look it is. The tiny island in the lake, with one of those picture perfect churches perched on the middle of it, bells ringing across the water.....the castle high up on a hill above the town....the other picture perfect church positioned on the waters' edge.....all against a backdrop of mountains with just a hint of snow.....

We walked down and found some boats that took people over to the tiny island on the lake - so we jumped on board and were rowed by a man across to the island.

On the boat....

The island houses a church, a small shop and a cafe....we were given half an hour to explore the island before the boat took us back to the lake edge. This was just long enough to see the church and do a quick lap around the island to make sure we took in every angle on the view surrounding us..

 

Coming up towards the island

The church on the island

The Dempseys....

My Mum and Neve looking out over the lake to the castle

My 2 global travellers.....

The castle and the other gorgeous church....plus a few hints of snow on the mountains behind. This was the girls first real sighting of snow so they were very excited and are now keen to make snowmen.....all of this about 24 hours after leaving the beach in Sardinia!!!!!

After our boat trip we wandered along the lake's edge...stopping off for the obligatory 'local' cream cake (it is important to respect local culture after all!).

This was probably a blessing because we then had to walk up the mountain to reach the castle above....I didn't count the number of steps but it would have been up in the hundreds! Neve walked the whole lot (and back down)....she said her legs were very wobbly once we got back!!

The castle was lovely and gave a super view across the lake....

The view from the top of the castle

Shane's new Facebook profile....

The girls thought they might see Rapunzel in the castle tower and it took some convincing of Eloise that she wasn't at home today!!

Back down from the castle and another slow walk around the lake until we stopped for lunch. After lunch we were back in the car for the drive "through" the Slovenian alps - I say "through" because we literally drove through an 8km tunnel that went straight through the mountains....so I can't say the view was anything amazing....

The scenic drive through the alps....

I have to say we were all more than a little sad to leave Bled so soon. It was a peaceful, beautiful and the kind of place you could easily stay a week doing activities.....

But onwards we went and we passed the border into Austria. Our accommodation tonight is in a village FAR less scenic than Bled (more of a stop on the highway really) - but we did find a Bunnings-type store that also strangely sold liederhosen and Austrian national dress....

Shane testing out the Austrian clothing.......the pants themselves were 99.99 euro so no impulse buying from us!

We also found they had the best supermarket trolleys in the world.......Eloise was devastated that we couldn't actually buy one to do our grocery shopping when we get home!!!

So here ends another day. Tomorrow we make our way into Vienna (about 2 hours drive away) and also say goodbye to my Mum who has travelled along with us now for just over 2 weeks.....she has been very tolerant of my crazy kids and I hope she has had a good time. I know my girls will miss her terribly (as will Shane and I as there will be no one else to take over the kid-minding reigns!!!).

Villasimius - Lake Bled (Slovenia)

Today we let glorious Sardinia...in glorious sunshine and crystal clear water....and headed back to mainland Italy and then travelled into Slovenia and ended up up at Lake Bled.

It was a big day of travel. We left the resort in Sardinia at around 10ish and didn't arrive in Lake Bled until 7pm. Lots of hanging around airports and driving (1 hour from Villasimius to Cagliari airport and 2 hours from Trieste airport to Lake Bled). The kids were pretty well behaved (as far as a 4 and 6 year old could be I guess....although there were still moments I could have strangled them)

It is amazing how different the scenery can be in just one day of travel. We left rocky, pretty barren (the only things we have seen growing on the hills of Sardinia are prickly pear bushes and 'goats with bells') and hot weather....and are now staying at the foothills of the alps....certainly not freezing cold but definitely not worried about sunburn!!!!

We drove through the Slovenian- Italian border without a hitch









And what a surprise package Slovenia is!!! Is it beautiful! Suddenly the world turned green and the mountains and alps started looming closer and closer. I have never seen so many churches on mountain tops either....it was as if any accessible mountain top (and even those that look inaccessible), sat with a church perched on top of it. It was hard to get a photo from the moving car....but trust me....they looked fabulous.

Sunset behind a church as we whizzed past at 120km/hr.

We arrived in Lake Bled an found our hotel before wandering down the street for dinner. It was a refreshing change from pizza and pasta and the food tasted devine after such a long days travel. We even sat next to an Australian/Danish couple....it was interesting to hear an Australian accent after what seemed like ages.....can't remember the last one we heard....possibly back in Dubllin?

After dinner we walked down to the lake and saw the 'castle' which is high up on a hill...along with another beautiful church (this time not on a hill) and the island in the middle of the lake which houses another castle or a church (can't remember which one).

Without a doubt one of the most picturesque places we have been ......can't wait to see it in the morning light.

We were also harassed by a few local swans looking for food....or perhaps they were friends of Mrs Thornton the bird!!!






After a look at the lake we headed back to bed....not before another gelato (or is it ice cream now?) experience......cinnamon......my new favourite!!!!

Cinnamon....this could possibly be the ultimate champion!!!























Tomorrow we spend the day exploring Lake Bled....maybe catch a boat to the island....maybe go up and see the castle.....whatever we do....this little place will be something special!!!

Villasimius - Villa silly us

OK...another excerpt from Shane's facebook.....

"Each morning since being in Sardinia, I have swum out to a boy (buoy) off the shore. While I estimate 1- 1.5kms, Claire thinks more likely 300mts, but never-the-less, today it ended in a fight for life. On my return swim I was attacked by a Medusa (jelly fish). Its long poisonous tentacles wrapped around my neck and shoulders and a battle ensued. It dragged me 30-40-50 mts below water and we battled life and death. Fists and tentacles were thrown. Ultimately it let go, I surfaced, scarred but alive. I swum to shore ultimately giving it a 50% of a blue bottle sting, to see Italians weeping and putting ice on their hands where it had got them and fleeing the beach. Seriously. It was no bluey. No wonder they dive in world cup football quarter finals."

Hmmmm......SLIGHT exaggeration there from Shane....the REAL story is as follows:

Shane did his daily swim out to the buoy (which I still insist is 100-200 metres from shore) and seemed no different when he swam back to Neve and I - who were playing, neck-deep in the water. "I think I have been hit by a sting-ray?, he says. "Really?", I ask. "Where is it?".......never-the-less, Neve and I got out of the water. I had myself just swum out past the first markers, enjoying the magically clear water which was even clearer today than the other days - I could actually make out had badly my toenail polish was chipped even through the water (even without my contact lenses in) - that's how clear it was.....

A few minutes later we noticed a "crowd" (being off-season a crowd now constitutes 5 or more people) standing at the shore line looking at something. "Must be the sting-ray", said Shane.....until he walked down to find out what it was.....turns out to be a few jelly-fish, probably smaller than your fist in size....

So no, "battle" was fought....no torrent in the water....although to give him credit he was very brave and didn't required the ice packs that a few others were seen holding to various limbs.....and the welts that appeared half an hour or so later were pretty impressive...

Just a shame that on our last day in the resort and on the beach, the water (and it really was more beautiful today than ever before - if that is possible) was off-limits!!!

Neve - before "invasion"

Look at the water....it's terrifying!!!

And the beach looked SO inviting!!!!!










Not to be outdone by a bunch of jelly-fish...we moved to the pool area and continued our last morning in the sunshine and swimming....

Last night, at the "Baby Dance", we were treated to a 'spectacular' by Neve, Eloise and 2 other children, on stage, doing the Italian dance routines....

They had a great time - although I cannot understand why they need to have a "baby dance' that starts at 9:15pm!!! Italy is a crazy country where none of the restaurants open until 7:30pm and it doesn't seem like ANYONE (children included) go to bed before 11pm.....which is OK when you are on holiday and can sleep in until 9am (which I must admit our children have been getting close to...these late nights aren't doing them any favours)...but how do you sustain that long-term! I actually cannot remember the last time our girls were in bed at 7:30pm (their usual bed-time)....possibly a night or two in New York...maybe?

Anyway, yesterday was also the last day of the kids club. The girls had fallen in love with one of the staff, Cristina, who was so patient and lovely with the children and we owe her our sanity...
 





The girls with Cristina - who insists she will miss them as much as they (and we) will miss her....







Anyway...after lunch we decided on one last visit to our favourite gelato shop. 

Shane was excited to have FINALLY parked within the blue lines on the road....today the summer season officially ended so all parking restrictions were shut down...

Our favourite place..















The funny thing about Sardinia (and it might be all of Italy, but I have never noticed it in such an extreme example in other places I have been in Italy), is that EVERYTHING (besides our beloved gelato shop) shuts down for hours everyday. Nothing is open from about 1pm to 5 or even 6pm.....which I guess is good for the staff who get to go home and have lunch and siesta or a swim...but painful for us when this is the prime-time for getting out of the sun and spending some serious money shopping!).....

Villasimius main street at 2:30pm.....ghost town!









But thank goodness the gelato shop is open....Shane got his daily fix of watermelon gelato (and a bit of dark chocolate gelato on the side) and the kids got their favourites too...

Dark chocolate and watermelon gelato......made in heaven!!

The girls enjoying their gelato on a kid-size chair by their seagull friend....although I must admit we haven't spotted "Mrs Thornton" while in Sardinia....this must be the substitute!

The biggest jar of Nutella I have ever seen.....5kg of hazelnut/chocolate gold!!


























After our gelato it was time for one last swim (where the girls met up with one of their 'baby dance' friends)

A few last 'laps' of the pool and it was all over....finishing off the bread, proscuitto, vino, cheese and gelato...and then it is Arrievaderichi to Sardinia - we wish we had another week here...it is SO beautiful (apart from the man-eating jelly-fish!!!).

Tomorrow we get on another plane and fly back to Trieste...then drive through Slovenia to Lake Bled, where we spend the night....

Villasimius - Villa paradise

The last two days have been bliss.....sunshine...beach....swimming....wine....gelato....kids club......what more do you need in life??

Yesterday was a little cooler and windier than other days - but this didn't stop the kids from doing more swimming and playing with new friends at the kids club. The resort here is pretty quiet, the summer season is winding down, which is perfect for us - the beach is very quiet, the town is quiet and most of the time it almost feels like we are the only people here.....

 

Hanging by the pool with my friends......excuse the tan marks from my shoes.....my toes look very pale!!















Coffee anyone?.........anyone????




















Neve fighting the crowds at the kids pool....

It's like our own personal resort






















It was Mum's birthday yesterday so (at her request) it was a relaxing day of chilling out at the resort. No complaints from us...Shane and I were still stuffed from our anniversary dinner the before. After agreeing to only have a 'small' meal and not go crazy.....it seemed that we somehow ended up having a seafood festival.....our 'entree' was 9 separate plates alone!!! The girls were also exhausted from their late night out at a pizza restaurant with some new friends and some hotel staff (God bless them!)....

 

Two very tired girls....they like to fall asleep together (they truly are getting along SO well!!) but they don't sleep in the same bed all night.....

Shane did manage a quick 9 holes at the local golf club. He was thrilled to hear that his handicap was equal lowest of any of the club members - although he did nearly take out a German couple with a wayward tee shot!!

We had a quiet night sitting in the warm evening outside our villa....some pasta...some vino....some ice-cream.....happy birthday Mum!!

Our villa











Today began as it ended.....warm and sunny.....actually...it didn't 'end' sunny since it was night-time.....so I rephrase....warm with clear skies!!

So the routine began again.....swimming, eating, some gelato, more swimming, more eating, some vino.....and blogging....

Beach babe #1

Beach babe #2

Shane sunning himself on the floating pontoon...

Neve and Eloise with a new friend and one of the hotel kids club staff.....pick which ones aren't Italian?

Is it just me or does this shot look like the footprints are coming 'out' of the sand rather than 'sunken' in???

Even the local gelato shop owners know who we are....the lady actually chased us down the street to give the girls these balloons! Shane is in love with the watermelon flavoured gelato while I am getting fond of a strange one that tastes a bit like trifle.....

Took me ages to get this shot.....everytime I started writing the waves would come and wash half of the words away!!!

Time for another swim perhaps...




















Tonight was the last "Baby Dance" disco thingy for the kids. They were up there on the stage dancing and singing (or trying to) to all the Italian kids songs. I must give credit to the hotel staff who still performed and sang with gusto even though there were only 4 kids on the stage.....like I said....it's REALLY quiet around here.....but I love it like that!

Anyway - time for bed for me.....got to rest up for another relaxing day tomorrow.....although kids club isn't on tomorrow (Sunday) so not sure how I will cope having to look after the kids all day again!!!!