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Diary - Slovenia (22nd Mar to 27th Mar)
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| We woke up on our fifth day but our first day of relaxation and exploring in Slovenia, surrounded by the Julian Alps and bathed in wonderful sunshine. We took our time to enjoy the slower pace of things and took the time to air our smoky clothes from the previous nights camp fire with a fellow Englishman, Neil, who was in Slovenia skiing. |
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| We set off for an exploring day in a very much ‘Sunday’ style drive towards Lake Bled. The weather was wonderful and the setting was amazing for a stroll, a large lake with a 17th century church on an island a few hundred metres from the shore. As we sat in the sun with mountains, churches and Bled Castle looking down from the skyline, we finally had chance to warm up. The afternoon was spent hiking up to Savica Waterfall, a 60metre high fall that escapes the mountain from a crack, fed by an underground cave. Unfortunately after braving snow and ice along the path we were rewarded by a waterless water fall!! Still it had been fun and the views towards Lake Bohinj were still wonderful. |
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| Waking up with snow flakes dancing in the light breeze and adding a touch of beauty to bare winter trees is certainly a lovely thing to climb down from bed too. However this sight is not ideal when hoping to travel a mountain pass through the middle of the Julian Alps. Instead the plans were back on the drawing board, whilst heading down the motorway with our heated seats kicking out some warmth. We found out about an old down called Ptuj in the east of Slovenia, so we altered the GPS and made course for the east. The campsite in Ptuj is also part of a Spa and Hotel complex, so we donned our swimmers and decided that we were due some relaxing time in the various pools on offer. As we were whipping up some dinner, we were invited for a few drinks with a group of German Jehova Witnesses (Though this was established later!) and had an entertaining evening, even finding out that we had been driving illegally on the motorways as you need a Vinetta (permit), and could have been fined 200Euro |
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| As motorways were no longer available as we refused the costly permit we meandered along the small roads back west. This gave us the opportunity to stop in the ‘Church of the Virgin Mary’ in the village of Ptujski Gora, which looked fairly normal from the outside but the 14th century, gothic architecture and a phenomenal high alter with very intricate carvings was unveiled within. Thankfully the friendly cleaning Nun said that she would pop out so we could take some cheeky photos. We were still an hour away from our chosen campsite and the snow began to fall with the night getting closer, as the route Katie had been chosen was filled with hairpin bends. To work on the safer side we took a detour to a closer campsite and found ourselves in the capital, Ljubljana. |
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| The change of plans allowed us to have a day strolling around the beautiful but very small capital. Katie was fascinated with the bendy bus we caught into town that the seats that we used meant that not only did I have zero view of the capital, but also my knee kept getting knocked as we went round the corners! Of which I milked the apologies throughout the day. The weather was yet another sun filled day and joining everybody else we enjoyed the cafes and outdoor lifestyle the city is made up off. On our return to camp we discovered another stunning Defender called ‘Little Elephant’ had parked next to us and the owner, Lutz (another German), joined us for an evening of picking his brains on all the travels and adventures he had already done, not forgetting the two year trip he was currently starting. |
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| On our journey south, after yet another late change of plan (we were going to go north!) we stopped to visit some Slovenian history and went to the Predjama Castle. The castle is squeezed into a high cavern within a 100 metre cliff that had been hollowed out by a small stream. The castle has a wonderful connection with the rock face that it is set within as the natural rock still protrudes into the castle. The uneven rock surfaces are simply left bare as to form sculptures within. Apart from the hoards of school children and the scary looking tourist photos that were taken the castle provided an interesting afternoon. Unlike the few hours that followed as yet again we had issues finding open campsites and had to travel to the Slovenian coast line simply to find one open. We even got lost trying to avoid the motorway and had to rely on a local old man to lead us back to the main road. |
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| Day ten has been the day Katie has most been looking forward to since our travels through Europe began. Through Katie’s own admission she was like ‘a small child at Christmas’, waking early and moving around the tent simply to wake me up. We set off bright and early, not even wasting time to have breakfast, to arrive at the Skocjan Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage site. They were discovered just over a hundred years ago in 1904 and have the largest cavern, height and length within Europe. They are the most fantastic creation imaginable, filled with stalactites and stalagmites, the oldest reaching 250,000 years old. We walked the three kilometres of the subterranean underworld along narrow ledges and crossing a bridge that is 45metres above the river thundering below. |
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| This was the perfect way to end the Slovenian leg of our journey, before we headed for Croatia and the warmer weather. All in all the journey so far has possibly been a bit rushed and at times a little stressful, mainly because of the lack of campsites open, combined with too much time spent in Gweneveer. The cold evening weather does not help maintain a relaxed mentality as you end up being a little tense all the time. Still, with five countries down here is to the next sackful. |
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| For more pictures please goto the Gallery. |
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