This may have been our second most picturesque day. Slovenia is a small country (smaller than Maricopa County in Arizona and less than 4 times the size of Utah County), but it is very photogenic. Predjama Castle (yesterday's entry) and the pictures below are just a sample.
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| This is the "Triple Bridge" (or "Tromostovje" in Slovene). The stone bridge (in the middle where the tour group is) was built in 1842, but because it was narrow and crowded, a pedestrian bridge was built on each side of it in 1931. Now they are all pedestrian bridges. The pictures in yesterday's entry were taken from the left side (toward the bridge where the lady has a green bag) and today's picture (2 below) is taken from the right (toward the bridge where the lady has a blue bag). |
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| When the "Dragon Bridge" (or "Zmajski Most" in Slovene) was opened in 1901, it had the third largest arch in Europe at the time. It was dedicated to the 40-year reign of Franz Joseph I of the Hapsburg Dynasty (hence the 1848-1888 on the side). There are two green dragons guarding the entrance to each side. The back of two of them can be seen above. |
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| This picture was taken from the Dragon Bridge -- looking toward the Triple Bridge. (There is another bridge between them that partially obscures the view.) |
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| Škofja Loka (pronounced Shkohf-ya Loh-ka) has one of the best preserved medieval urban centers in Slovenia. The column (above the mini-van) was erected in 1751 in thanks for turning away plague and fire. |
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| This stone bridge in Škofja Loka was built in the 14th century. |
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| Looking across Lake Bled ("Blejsko Jezero" in Slovene) to the north, Castle Bled ("Blejski Grad") can be seen. Parts of the castle date back to 1011. |
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| Looking to the west across Lake Bled, you can see the only natural island in Slovenia. The church on it was built in the 15th century. |
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| Upon entering Austria, we stopped at a gas station and I snapped this view of Wörthersee (Lake Wörther), which is a 12-mile lake that used to be an exclusive summer retreat for Vienna's nobility -- sometimes referred to as "Austria's Monte Carlo." Even though "normal" people are now allowed at the resort, we were content to glimpse from afar. |
