26-05-18

Bohinj, Slovenia / 3 nights

Wow, wow and just…wow. If you thought I was obsessing over our last location on my blog and didn’t think it could get any better I can totally confirm it has!!!

I actually don’t even know where to start with our time in Slovenia and it’s funny because out of all 12 countries we were covering on our route this is the country I knew least about and didn’t think it would be overly poignant. If you are reading this and you are from Slovenia you are very blessed. Such a beautifully untouched country resulting in the most magnificent nature.

Our train ride into Slovenia was the best so far based on the views out of our window. We caught the 3-hour train from Croatia’s capital Zagreb to a small Slovenian town called Jesenice. We were blessed with another Harry Potter compartment and blessed even further that we had it all to ourselves for the whole duration.

The majority of the train departed once we reached the capital of Slovenia and we could start to see why because after that the train tracks turned into ghost towns. The train would suddenly stop in the middle of a field next to a wooden shed for some unknown reason until I then looked out the window further and see a train conductor on the railway tracks waving the train off again. Yes, the stopping of the train was actually because this was a station. No need to waste material on building a platform, just have the customers walk along the railway tracks to jump on the train, so utterly unreal you just laugh at the absurdity.

Once we had reached the town of Jesenice it was another smaller train to the town we were staying in, Bohinj Bistrica. It was on this journey that I had to learn to gain more trust with trains or as I would call these trains, rattlers, based on the noise they make. It felt like our train was balancing on the head of a pin at times. Cruising along a hilltop with a step drop down to views to dams and rivers and lakes, I suppose these views make you forget about the ‘steep drop’ part 😉

Once we had arrived at the train station of Bohinj Bistrica a.k.a the new definition of, ‘the middle of nowhere’. After hopping over another 3 railway tracks, checking left and right about 10 times before I did so, it was just a short 5 minute walk to our accommodation, Bohinj Eco Hotel. This was one of our accommodations we treated ourselves too and if we hadn’t I’m not sure where we would have stayed as this was the only hotel in the village! The hotel helped it really feel like a holiday due to having a pool! Something Ben and I have craved especially whilst trekking in the heat with 10kg backpacks on.

Our first day in Bohinj couldn’t have been more blissful. We hired two bicycles from the hotel and cycled 6K to Lake Bohinj only taking about 30 minutes. I recommend doing this instead of getting the bus, yes I know half an hour of cycling is intense but trust me when I say if I can do it with ease then anybody can! Plus I promise you won’t see anymore than 3 people so no need to act like the Tour de France. I think Ben summed it up perfectly as we were cycling between mountains all by ourselves by saying, ‘this is a very cool moment of me’, and that it was.

After cycling along mountains, fields, streams and a handful of cows you reach the breathtaking scenery that is Lake Bohinj. I don’t think I have seen anymore more tranquil and it made me feel so relaxed. This spiritual feeling was shortly disturbed after hiring kayaks and watching Ben try to balance his body weight and counteract the fact he was 1cm from falling in at all times. This was probably the best thing we did at Lake Bohinj. Yes, one of the main reasons may have been the entertainment that came from watching Ben but mostly because there is one thing looking at the lake and sitting beside it but it is such a greater sensation when sitting on the lake and discovering all it has to offer. If you visit Lake Bohinj, make this the one thing you do, you so won’t regret it.

Side note: take a waterproof and expect to get wet underpants, no need to panic, this is the water of the lake finding its way in your kayak.

Timed perfectly we exited our kayaks and to a local cafe for lunch and down came the rain. We admired the downpour whilst indulging in some spag bowl and then managed to make a break for it back on our bicycles back to the hotel whilst there was a dry patch. However, this dry patch didn’t last for too long as it then bucketed it down. I’ve realised I have found a sense of calm whilst travelling as as I was speeding down a hill with rain pelting on my face, having to squint my eyes and only seeing a mini Ben in the distance, all I could do was laugh. I just couldn’t help but wish someone was filming us as it would be a brilliant watch!

If that first day does not sound like excellence then who knew the second day could top it! We caught a bus from Bohinj Bistrica to Lake Bled. The more well known Lake of the two and the one I always see online from following so many fellow wanderlust filled travellers. This was another brilliant head of a pin moment as the bus driver bombs down tiny roads on the side of mountains. I’m sure he could do this route with his eyes closed he does it that much but I’m very happy with the eyes open approach!

The bus places you right by the Lake and walking off that bus and looking up for the first time at Lake Bled was something of a pretty special moment for me. After seeing so many pictures of Bled online to now finally being here and being able to kneel down and touch the water. Sounds very deep but my god, it was incredible.

We walked the whole perimeter of Lake Bled on that day and at the halfway point we sat on the end of an empty pier, took off our shoes and dangled our feet in the water. Very rewarding after walking for so long! There were locals sunbathing on the grassy banks, people paddle boarding on the lake and family’s coming down in their swimwear diving and jumping in. This place can only be described by what I said whilst we were living in that moment. ‘Now this is the way to live’.

We then hired a rowing boat and went out on the lake and I’m sure you’ll be surprised to hear this was actually Ben’s idea after his achievement of water sports the day before haha! But once again it is one of the calmest places actually being on the water, I feel what I was about to write I say a lot in my blog posts but what better way to say it and I’ll say it anyway – pretty damn cool!

If I have rambled for this whole blog post and have sounded like I’ve just fallen in love for the first time it is because that is what happened in Slovenia. I loved it so much and I can’t wait for the day where I return taking everybody who wants to come with me. Slovenia may be very overlooked in Europe as it does not have any major cities but that is what makes it so special. Go to Lake Bohinj and Lake Bled and have your breath taken away.

Peace and love,

Yasmin x