Days 98-100: Bled, Slovenia

Next stop- the picture postcard town of Bled. This place is ridicuously picturesque- the town dominated by a small, calm lake, with a church stationed on a small island at its heart. A gentle castle looks down on the town, and the alps frame the whole scene, hanging in the distance like a giant curtain.

One of the best things you can do in Europe, and especially in a town like Bled, is to hire a bike and set off for a ride and see what you discover. You can cycle through small villages, stopping for a beer at a local cafe, gazing up at the alps as you go. Europe is so well set up for this sort of thing- there are plenty of cycle lanes, all the routes are clearly marked and, most importantly, the drivers are used to cyclists and are patient and courteous.

And then, sooner or later, you'll come across another world class hiking trail. In this case, it's Vintgar gorge.