Whether you spend an afternoon or a week in Bled, this book aims to help you find the best, the hidden and the most exciting aspects of the town whether that be food, drinks, activities, entertainment or sights. Davy Sims For more information FIRSTHAND GUIDE visit http://bit.ly/2NWkJTi TO BLED SLOVENIA 2018 Special Edition BLED SLOVENIA 2018 Special Edition A Firsthand Guide Davy Sims 手 Copyright © 2018 by Firsthand Guides Ltd ISBN: 9781977024985 www.firsthandguides.co.uk In association with Lake Bled News www. LakeBledNews.com @LakeBledNews 1 手 Firsthand Guides This is the May 2018 edition of Firsthand Guide’s Bled, Slovenia and supersedes and replaces the March edition which has now been withdrawn. At the time of publication, the information is correct. However, additional updates will be added as the year progresses when deemed necessary. 2 With thanks to Eva Štravs Podlogar for trusting me with the Bled Twitter account at the start this adventure. 3 Contents INTRODUCTION ........................................................................... 7 INTRODUCTION to 2018 Edition ................................................ 9 PART 1 – THE HARD FACTS ...................................................... 13 What’s new for 2018? .................................................................... 13 A quick word about language .................................................... 14 Arriving in Bled ......................................................................... 14 You are here! ............................................................................. 23 Getting around.......................................................................... 23 The Island ................................................................................. 23 Where to get information when you arrive in Bled - Tourist Information .............................................................................. 25 Shopping for fun and survival .................................................. 26 Money ....................................................................................... 29 PART 2 – BEST TIMES TO VISIT .............................................. 33 Spring (March, April, May) ...................................................... 33 Before Easter ............................................................................ 33 Easter ........................................................................................ 35 Summer (June, July, August) ................................................... 36 Autumn (September, October, November) .............................. 38 Winter (December January February) ..................................... 39 PART 3 – EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR ....................... 44 Music ........................................................................................ 44 Slavko Avsenik .......................................................................... 45 Conferences .............................................................................. 48 Sports Events ............................................................................ 49 Bled Castle ................................................................................ 52 Bled Castle Events .................................................................... 53 PART 4 – FOOD AND DRINK .................................................... 57 4 Best places for coffee (and 1 for tea) .......................................... 57 Best pubs .................................................................................. 60 Best pizza .................................................................................. 65 Recommended restaurants ...................................................... 66 Insider Knowledge .................................................................... 79 Donald and Melania Trump at Toplice Hotel Restaurant........ 79 “Too much info. Decide for me, Davy!” .................................... 80 The Best in Slovenia .................................................................. 81 Some favourite Slovenian dishes ............................................... 81 Slovenian Wine ......................................................................... 83 PART 5 – PEOPLE IN BLED ...................................................... 95 Župan (Mayor) of Bled ............................................................. 95 Domen Kalajžič – Founder of 3glav Adventures ..................... 101 Jernej Brence, Founder and Director Festival Bled ............... 108 Jernej Slivnik, General Secretary Bled Rowing ....................... 115 Ana Pirih – Yoga Bled ............................................................. 122 Lea Ferjan – Bled Castle and Bled Cultural Institute ............. 128 Leo Ličof – Okarina Music Festival ......................................... 134 Matjaž Repnik - Diving in Lake Bled ....................................... 139 Vlado "Dax" Dakskobler – Slovene Cuisine ............................ 142 PART 6 – STORIES AND IDEAS ............................................... 146 What should I not miss on my first visit? ................................... 146 The Antimuseum ..................................................................... 150 The Historic Pletna Boats ........................................................ 151 The legends of the Sunken Bell and the Wishing Bell ............. 152 Bled Island – its history and traditions ................................... 153 Seven things to do before 7:00 am .......................................... 155 10 “Must Dos” in Bled and around Lake Bled ......................... 157 PART 7 – BLED AS A BASE ....................................................... 164 5 Insider knowledge - Triglav National Park .............................164 Go to Italy for lunch .................................................................164 Nova Gorica and Gorizia ......................................................... 165 The Heritage Train ..................................................................166 An easy morning and lunch in Radovljica ............................... 167 Kranjska Gora ..........................................................................169 Kranj, Škofja Loka and Tržič ................................................... 170 Christmas Market in Villach .................................................... 173 PART 8 - A FEW WORDS OF SLOVENE .................................. 179 Appendix – Other Information ................................................. 184 To Bled from Jože Pučnik International Airport Ljubljana (Brnik) .................................................................................... 184 Airport .................................................................................... 186 Bus Train and other Transport ............................................... 186 Bus Operators ......................................................................... 186 Bicycle Hire in Bled ................................................................. 187 Emergencies ............................................................................ 187 ATM – Cashpoint - Bankomat ................................................ 188 Mobile Phones ........................................................................ 188 Social Media ........................................................................... 189 About Davy Sims ......................................................................... 195 Thanks .........................................................................................196 6 INTRODUCTION Bled attracts visitors of all ages, interests and tastes. While many arrive in organised groups, increasingly large numbers come independently for a day, a weekend, a week and sometimes even longer. In 2017 there were 1 million overnight stays in this small town. Some people see Bled as a short stopover, just a few hours to visit to the castle, take a short voyage on a pletna to explore the Bled Island, perhaps do a circuit of the lake in a horse drawn carriage. Some only get a snapshot by arriving in coaches to spend a very short time. This guide is aimed at all and any of those people. Whether you spend an afternoon or a week in Bled, this book aims to help you find the best, the hidden and the most exciting aspects of the town whether that be food, drinks, activities, entertainment or sights. I mainly speak directly to the reader and assume you are – even in an organised group – “independent”; that is, you decide what you want to do and where you want to go, are happy to explore something new and don’t mind a few words of advice from people who have been before you and are now coming back. To that end, we travel together and independently. 7 “Every morning, I walk around the lake to my office. Bled is my hometown, but I admire its beauties everyday even more.” Lea Ferjan – Bled Culture Institute 8 INTRODUCTION to 2018 Edition 2018 A year of Culture 2018 is the European Year of Cultural Heritage and Slovenia is anticipating a year of cultural tourism. Bled is an important part of the county’s heritage – the lake, the castle, the island, the pletna and even Bled cream cake. Many of the events held each year are part of the country’s and the region’s cultural heritage. As are the classical music of Festival Bled to the celebration of the accordion held at the beginning of May to the rowing and skiing events to the Taste Bled menus each summer and so many other occasions,