Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Today
pletna
boatsarestillhand-builtaccordingtothatsamecenturies-olddesign.
There'snokeel,sotheskilledoarsmenworkhardtosteertheflat-bottomedboatwith
each stroke—boats piloted by an inexperienced oarsman can slide around on very
windy days, especially when empty. There are 21 official
pletnas
on Lake Bled, all
belongingtothesameunion.Thegondoliersdumpalloftheirearningsintoonefund,
give a cut to the tourist board, and divide the rest evenly amongst themselves. Occa-
sionally a new family tries to break into the cartel, underselling his competitors with
a “black market” boat that looks the same as the official ones. While some see this as
a violation of a centuries-old tradition, others view it as good old capitalism. Either
way, competition is fierce.
