Day 8- Bled By Sam Macks
We started a little later this morning to prepare for a full day in what I think is the most beautiful city we have visited. First on the list was the hike up to the castle that over looks all of Bled. After meandering our way around the lake to the foot of the trail, we see look up and see the sharpest upward incline that is to be the hike for the morning. We started the trail and after the first switch back our legs felt like lead and our breath was short. But it was all worth it, once we reached the top of the trail we were in awe by the breath-taking sights that over looked Bled and the timeless castle before us. Wandering around the castle and taking pictures of the town of Bled was worth the hike, but the thing I will remember the most is bottling our own wine. Underneath the castle is a wine cellar, and for 12 euros you can fill, bottle, wax and seal your own bottle of wine under the supervision of a monk.
Next on our to do list was go on a hike that over looked all of Bled and is said to have even more breath-taking views than the castle. This hike to the lookout of Bled was long, steep, and treacherous, but worth it. Our lungs burned and our legs were shaking while we took pictures of what I think is the most beautiful city in Europe. I led the way on the hike down and with my extremely accurate sense of direction led myself off the trail to the edge of a cliff, Tim and Jeff had no intention of telling me and were already 30 feet ahead on the actual trail before I realized I was no longer being followed.
Once we reached the edge of the lake we met up with the rest of the team and ate lunch at a quaint cafe overlooking the lake. After lunch a group went to see if they could ride on the Alpine slide that occupies a side of a hill in Bled, only to discover it was closed. The rest of us went out in a boat ride to the middle of a lake, where the most beautiful church sits upon an island. The boat ride was a small craft manned by one person rowing, and it seemed he was having difficultly manuevering his vessel due the unaccounted access weight on the craft, the unaccounted weight being Tim, who tipped the boat a considerable amount. Once we got to the church we walked around to take in the insatiable views that Bled offers at any view.
After the boat ride back, Meghan and I convinced ourselves that after all the hiking we deserved a treat of gelato and made our way back to the hotel to prepare for our game. I will not go into detail of the game due to, I will put this nicely, technical difficulties we encoutered during the match.
After the hiking and the games we played we were all a little bit delirious after the game, but no one so much so than myself. For 30 minuties during dinner myself, followed by a number of other girls started hysterically laughing at nothing in particular. Ending with me going up to the front desk with Melissa and while I asked for the key proceeded to duct under the desk while the attendant retrieved it so she would think I disappeared; which brought on another bout of laughter.
After a day filled with hiking, sight seeing, and unrelenting laughter I am excited to see what our hike to the gorge of Bled will bring tomorrow.
