Dear friends-welcome to the Slovenian keyboard. And welcome to Slovenia! Just a brief update in between adventures–
Prague finished up wonderfully. A really unique city, not as tourist-blitzed as many of the more western European cities, with lots of charm and cool nooks and crannies to explore. I really, really enjoyed the Strahov Monastery Library, with amazing views of the city and lots of old things-books, but also mummified sting rays, giant conch shells, and a 12th century coat of mail! Also really enjoyed getting to hear a classical music concert–so, so beautiful.
Next was a blitz stop of Vienna–arrived late one evening, ate Thai food courtesy of a jolly Austrian proprietor, and had just the next day to see the Singing City–where music was being perpetually played, memorialized, or advertised for later that night! We got cheap standing-room tickets for Madama Butterfly at the Vienna Opera House, and enjoyed the 1st half of the performance before deciding we would expire in the wave of un-air-conditioned humidity and body odor if we watched the end. A lovely, grand building, though. Another highlight was Wiener Melange–delicious Viennese coffee. Goes excellently with Sacher Torte (more chocolate than I care to tell you about)!
And now, Lake Bled, Slovenia! I spent a bleak Winter Quarter fantasizing about a turquoise lake with a pointy-spired church on an island in the middle (please, do yourself a favor and Google Image Search it…I spent 3 months doing it, and it is quite an effective daydreaming technique) and… today I went swimming in it!!! I walked along the lakeside, admiring the distant green hills, the church on the island, and the swans sailing the turquoise waters (they really are turquoise!) and then laid down my towel and waded in! I feel like I am dreaming! It is glorious, and now I really need a shower.
1 more week left of the Grand Adventure–after here, Italy is the final country! After doing 4 countries in a week, that sounds like a stroll in the park! It is truly lovely here, though, and nice to have a secluded lakeside town in which to relax after that massive bombardment of cities. Met an American couple on the bus who were from San Francisco. It is a small world…but not that small. I also saw men walking around the train in lederhosen today. Never a dull moment.
Well, the strange kezboard sazs, ĆGood night!Ć Donćt ask me how to saz that in Slovenian…
Adventures Abroad 
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