Bohinj, Slovenia

Well, not completely, but for the next two nights I’ll be back in two familiar cities on my way back west. After two days camping in the rain in a Slovenian campground resembling a combination zoo/German trade show, I’m back in Salzburg for a night and Prague tomorrow. Camping was great, despite rain that turned my $8 water-permeable Tesco tent into a cold, slimy bathtub. The tent, at least, was easy to pack up for the drive today… the photos of me throwing it into the dumpster explain everything.

My $8 tent in action

Lake Bohinj, where we camped, is described by Lonely Planet as “exceedingly beautiful.” I can’t argue with the Aussies; my admittedly uninformed expectations of Slovene beauty were indeed blown away. The lake, about two miles long and only several hundred feet wide, is crystal clear and gorgeous. Green mountains in every direction make for a fantastic view, and the scenery makes it hard to complain about anything, even when you have to wait in back of 90 kids to use the bathroom in the morning. The Lake Bohinj trout served at a nearby restaurant was fresh and delicious. If only I had fishing gear and a grill… I might stay forever.

In Salzburg, I’m planning on meeting up again with Canadian Matt, who will once again (I hope) demonstrate his uncanny ability of making American girls look easy — not that that’s hard to do in Europe. In Prague, it’s one last stop at The Unpronounceable Place and then an early morning train to Dresden, where I will rejoin the backpacker circuit for one last week.