Postojna Cave Tour and Predjama Castle, Slovenia

 Postojna cave is the largest cave system in Central Europe, stretching a serpentine path for more than 15 miles. It was one of the first cave systems in the world to introduce electric lighting and today operates a train that runs tourists deep into the cave. 

                              There are incredible stalactite and stalagmite formations at every turn. 

Predjama, a 16th century castle, is built into the mouth of a cliff cave approximately 400 meters high. 

The castle is known for its dramatic exterior. Legend has it that a local knight, Erazem of Predjama, withstood a Hapsburg siege for months, largely because secret cave passages allowed him to smuggle in supplies. 

The knight was supposedly killed when a local informant told the Hapsburgs that the knight used the toilet everyday at the same time. They assaulted the poorly fortified structure, top left in the photos, and killed the knight to bring his story to a rather unglamorous end. 

                                     The cave walls were integrated with brick, stone, and wood.

                                                                 Views from the castle.

Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj

 Visually stunning, Lake Bled has captivated visitors for centuries. Not difficult to see why!!

The boats, or plentas, to the island are a tradition dating back years. In the 17 century, the Hapsburg Empress Maria Theresa granted villagers in the lakeside town of Mlino the exclusive right to ferry visitors to the island. That right has been passed down through the same families for generations. 

                                 Nearby Lake Bohinj is also stunning, with crystal clear water. Located in a protected region, it is much less developed than Bled. 

                                                                 A view of Bled Castle. 

Kamnik and Velika Planina

                             Kamnik is a small, beautiful medieval town surrounded by the Alps. 

From Kamnik, we traveled to a cable car, followed by a chairlift, to the mountain plateau of Velika Planina. We enjoyed a hearty lunch, on a cold and windy day, at the hut below before beginning a long hike. 

                                                                  View of the chairlift. 

 

Ljubljana, Slovenia

 With a population of only 280,000, of which 50,000 are college students, the capital city has a great vibe. The River Ljubljana winds through the old town center and its banks are lined with shops and restaurants. 

                         Bridges are frequent and make ambling around the charming city a breeze. 

                    Triple Bridge, designed by the city’s famous architect Joze Plecnik, who also designed many of                                 the beautiful buildings in the capital. 

                Dragon Bridge—the dragon has been the symbol of Ljubljana for centuries, ever since Jason, of                     the Argonauts, is said to have slain one in a nearby swamp. 

                                                               The Parliament Building 

                                                                            City Hall

                                                                  A ‘Love lock” Bridge

A statute of Slovenia’s greatest poet, France Preseren. He is said to have written more than 50,000 poems alone in homage to an unrequited love interest (a much younger woman) who never read any of them. 

Lake Balaton and Tihany, Hungary

 Lake Balaton is the largest freshwater lake in Central Europe, encompassing an area of approximately 230 miles. It is extremely popular for recreational purposes and several resort villages line the shores. 

                                           Maintaining traditional thatched roof homes in Tihany

                                                            The popular Paprika House

                                                               Church along the lakeshore.

Budapest, Hungary

 Budapest is a fascinating city of nearly two million people, divided by the Danube River into the hills of Buda and the flatlands of Pest. Although the skyline is occasionally marred by Soviet-era construction projects, the city seems to have an architecturally striking building on every block. 

                              The UFO structure, the top of which is accessible by funicular.

                                              The lobby bar of the art deco Four Seasons hotel

                                                                       Four Seasons

                                                                     Budapest Castle

                                                                    Lions Gate Bridge 

                                                           Hungarian State Opera House

St. Stephens’s Basilica, Budapest’s largest church, which displays the saint’s desiccated arm and hand. 

                                  The Hungarian Parliament building, third largest in the world. The interior is stunning. 

The Tural Bird, which legend says led the Hungarians from the steppes of Central Asia in the ninth century. Where he dropped his sword would become the home of the Hungarian people. 

Matthias Church, named for a popular Renaissance king. The moniker is unofficial, as he was not a saint, and the official name is Church of Our Lady.