In the groove

Five happy hours in a day: swim, dinner, drink, music, dangling feet in water.

Friday was the day, Bled was the lake, Vieux Farka Touré was the musician. From Mali to Slovenia. The important thing is to move.

He is the son of a late legend, his guitar-playing is hereditary. Doesn’t “Vieux” mean old? He seemed to be inspired by the lake and the pervasive jolly vibe and gave us a cheerful and skillful performance with his band.

Before that I grabbed some spelt risotto with trout from a stand (I know, couldn’t believe it either), a couple of beers, and I was set. Even before that I swam, and my friend captured me in my elephant, I mean element.  And after the concert we were dangling our feet over the edge of a little pier, splashing about in the pleasant water with the orange castle above us, and there was not a worry in the world.

Might be also because (mostly) Bosnian was spoken throughout. Languages change things. Try it.

But first, for Slovenia an extraordinary case of promoting the closest and most competitive neighbour. Here are two photos of the same photo taken by Jošt Gantar. The first was taken by amore in 2012 when he visited Ljubljana for the first time. It is me in front of a photo of a woman rowing on a lake, which was one of several in an outdoor exhibition.

On Friday I took the second photo next to Lake Bled. Apparently the rowing woman photo was selected for this ad that promotes a lake alright, but another lake, Bohinj, where it was taken, with a kind notice that it is very near, only 25 km away, and you can reach it by bus or train.

Bohinj in Ljubljana. Photo: MC

Bohinj in Bled.

Obviously in this case the win-win-win is to love and promote thy neighbour. Good to see, Bled!

And now some other glimpses of our Friday, my second visit to this year’s Okarina Ethno Festival. (First is here.)

Lake Bled. 7.30 is a good time to come swimming in the last sun.

Not Bestia! He waited at home. Either way, he is not a fan of water.

Lovely atmosphere. I expected a more touristy vibe.

This one and next two photos by Zedd. Thank you!

Not a bad scene to swim in. Photo: Zedd

I am Loch Nessie! 😮 Photo: Zedd

Time to move on.

All I need now is a rower.

Local writer and sculptor.

Happy and stylish.

The castle about to turn orange.

We started out in the back so that I finished my risotto.

In Slovenian this is called “mixing table”. It will do for now.

Left of the mixing table, approaching the stage.

On the move, in the groove. We ended up under the stage. No surprise there.

Acoustic for the encore.

Orange castle and dangling feet.

Photo: © signature mmm (+ of me by MC/Zedd)

A sample of father and son: