Very Many Steps

Yesterday, as we drove through Croatia, we noticed many abandoned houses and new structures being built.  We weren’t sure whether the abandoned buildings were due to neglect/poverty or war.  The area we were driving through was near to the Serbian war in the 90s.  Sure enough, in one town we drove by a burnt out building with old military vehicles near it, then looked at the houses and saw little pockmarks in them--most likely bullet holes.  It was hard to balance that view with the area we were driving through:  people out working in their fields and gardens, walking along the roads and talking to other people.  

Last night, while we were waiting to get into our apartment (we were early), we went to a nearby shopping area.  First, the market was closed, then we found 80 euro shoes for Joshua (his have literally fallen apart)--but we did not buy them, then we found there was internet in the courtyard from one of the clubs, and bought ice cream cones.  Randy had to Skype the owner because no one showed up in the first half an hour after the time we were supposed to meet.  In our apartment, the grocery store was already closed, so we went to the restaurant literally at the bottom of the steps to our apartment--the Balkan Grill.  Good food and inexpensive, even though you have to pay for each packet of ketchup! 

Our apartment has a bedroom, bathroom, and common room.  The common room has two couches that fold out (we have to make them each day because they do not fold in--they kind of flatten out).  There is also a table with 5 chairs and kitchenette in the common room.  The bathroom is unremarkable.  At least our towels (one each) are normal sized bath towels.  

After our dinner, the children and I watched the EuroCup while Randy worked on his blog (I did mine in the car).  Still no wi-fi, so Randy went to the shopping center to use the wi-fi and uploaded both of our blog posts.  That will probably be the plan tonight as well.  We do not have a washing machine or dishwasher (we had both in Venice), so Randy is washing out a few shirts at a time in the kitchen sink and hanging them out on the balcony to dry (I fold) and we’re taking turns washing the dishes.  

Today, Randy went to the local (tiny) grocery store to get food for the day (it was only open until noon because it is Sunday).  After breakfast, we walked around Lake Bled to the other side to rent a rowboat to row out to the Church of Mary the Queen on Bled Island.  It is the photo that is always shown to represent Slovenia.  There are 99 steps from the main dock up to the church and the wedding tradition is for the groom to carry the bride up the steps to show that he is strong enough for marriage.  In the church is the “wishing well.”  Our entrance fee also included ringing the wishing well to get your wish.  There is a legend of a young widow that melted all of her gold and silver to make a bell for the church.  It sank on it’s way to the island so, even more devastated, she went to Rome and entered a convent.  After her death, the Pope donated a bell for the church and those who ring the bell to honor the Virgin Mary and make a wish, will see their wish come true.  A very old church with a lot of history, and takes up the entire island!

After we rowed back, we walked up the mountain to the castle--a very modest castle.  It was a long walk up very many steps.  The stories about the church, the castle, and the area were interesting, but the rest was uninspiring.  

Then we walked back to our apartment for a late lunch and a short rest.  Then off in the car to a nearby lake with a waterfall near it.  Slovenian language lesson:  slap is waterfall and grad is castle.  Anyway,  we then paid to walk up very many steps again to see the waterfall.  It was pretty in the middle of woods, but exhausting to walk to.  The air was slightly cooler there too (until we started sweating from climbing up the steps!).

More EuroCup tonight--the Netherlands!   Then maybe a game of cards before bed.