A Fairy in a Castle 🏰

Choices. 

And consequences. 

Dear Reader, yes, I did just quite John Wick. And Ballerina, but it's fresh in my mind. 

This Free Spirit yearns for adventure. 

And adventure is to be found in so many ways. 

Maybe I could continue to gallivant around the world incessantly. 

However, last year, I found myself growing weary and needing longer breaks between. 

Not because the travel is strenuous. 

Not because the planning is complicated or the logistics take time. 

But because I found myself increasingly full of love. 

And I wanted someone to give it to. 

Someone who's in my life for more than a few days. 

The kind of person who will give it back. 

I wanted to nurture the long distance friendships I have, as I found myself becoming worse at responding to those who I am fond of. 

But I will never fully relinquish the desire to explore and see new places. 

It just has to be more condensed...

Bled

People may say that travelling to 6 places in one week is not really allowing you to see anywhere. And they're not wrong. It is a different kind of adventure. 

For me, I wanted to spend time driving, alone with my thoughts, watching the beautiful scenery pass by and witnessing the subtle topological changes as I moved between destinations. 

It was a magical week. Not without challenges. But full of beauty, reflection, welcome solitude and pistachios. And a reunion with the Adriatic Sea. Damn she's cold. 

***

Arriving in Zagreb, I was eager to leave and make my way up to Slovenia, knowing the little time I would have. And Ljubliana was just as I imagined it. A serene, endearing place, filled with very friendly people. 

And dragons 🐉

I enjoyed a typical meal in a little tavern, and was well looked after by the kind waiters. I enjoyed a walk around the city at night, watching the twilight embrace the canal. 

After the lady at the hotel gave me an extremely strong local drink, I slept well, ready for my next day of driving and adventure. 

And the next day, I eagerly made my way to Bled. 

After encountering the most efficient parking system, I made my way down to the lake. The softness of the hazy morning reflected in the water, made everything look as if it were part of a fantasy. 

I went to a local market and bought a necklace from a local artist, whose smile and genuine warmth melted my heart. 

Then I tackled the comfortable hike up to the castle, where I was treated to even better views. 

Pottering in and out of the intricate castle corridors and endless twists and turns, I thought of my dad, and how we used to visit random castles back home. And I thought of India, where I explored so many forts 🏰

And of course, the typical Bled cream cake was great... Though too expensive, too enormous and too sweet, so I ended up eating half... But at least I had cake in the castle 🤌

As happens with most stunning places of natural beauty, I found peace by the lake and remembered that the universe holds me in its arms when I need it most. 

Alone in this world but never lonely...

And with that, I made my way down, slowly to Zadar, which I did not enjoy so much. Things don't always go to plan, but the trick is to trust your Spidey instincts. 

After a reassuring call with my Star, a walk by the promenade and subsequently an enormous local pizza, I was left happy again. 

And so concludes my brief trip to Slovenia and to the North of Croatia. 

I will write of Makarska, Dubrovnik, Mlini and Herzegovina at a later time, so that I may bask for longer in the sweet memories 🍃

A dream of travelling to Slovenia came true ✨

And I found the peace inside, once again.