So, what do you think this is?
Read on for the answer.
After breakfast we checked out of our B&B and went to see the cemetery designed by Plečnik. The highlight was certainly the Garden of All Saints.
The entrance to the Garden of All Saints. Within are many small chapels dedicated to different saints. |
Our next stop was Radovljica, about 35 km northwest from Ljubljana, and just east of Bled. (We would have gone there yesterday, but it was late and we were too tired after walking around the lake.) Forgetting about the frustration of getting lost and wandering aimlessly all over town, only to discover we had actually driven right up to the edge of where we were trying to go, Radovljica has a small but lovely old town, and a superb little museum dedicated to the history, science, and art (yes art!) of beekeeping. It turns out the Carniolan honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica), which is native to the Julian Alps, makes great honey and has a docile nature, making them ideal for apiculture, and Slovenia is famous for and proud of this tradition.
My favorite part of the museum was the collection of hives (boxes used to raise the bees and collect the honey) and the frontal boards of the beehives, depicting religious, historical, mythological, and humorous subjects (including the one above of the devil sharpening a woman's tongue). This museum has the largest collection of these frontal boards anywhere, and displays only a fraction of the entire holding.
Some of the hives are actual carved figures.
There was also a fascinating movie describing the life cycle of bees and how their colonies are organized.
My other favorite part of the museum was the curator, and charming woman who chatted enthusiastically about the exhibit, pointing out some of her favorite frontal boards. She and I really hit it off when I was able to bring up facts I'd read about Slovenian history based on my pre-travel research.
On the edge of Radlovljica's old town is a gorgeous view point:
From there we drove west, where the road hugs the border with Austria, until we came to the town of Kranska Gora. Then we turned south and began the drive up and over Vršič Pass. The F word comes to mind again.
The Ajdovska deklica (heathen maiden). According to legend, a mountain nymph once foretold a newborn that he would kill the Goldhorn. Upon hearing her prophecy, the other nymphs punished her by turning her into the rock. |
The Soča River descends from the Alps into the Soča Valley. |
I think tomorrow will be very interesting. There is a lot of WWI history associated with this region, and the activities I have planned should bring that history into focus.
Here's hoping the weather makes tomorrow another "up" day!