Best of The Adriatic Tour -
Rick Steves Travel 2014
Slovenia - Day 1 -2
Slovenia is a small country (just over 2 million) south of Austria, Italy to the west, and Hungary to the east. Unknown to most; in fact, when I called the credit card company to let them know I would be traveling to France, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the Netherlands, they asked “Is Slovenia a city?” No. It is not.
Old, old town by the river.
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Old, old town by the river.
Ljubljana
Our first stop was the lovely city of Ljubljana in Slovenia. Around 200,000 population, the inner city feels like a small village since blocks and blocks are closed permanently to cars--allowing pedestrians and bicycles to roam freely on the old cobblestone streets. A beautifully restored castle high on a hill looks out over the city with the old medieval village surrounding the base of the castle hill, and across the river (unique pedestrian bridges get you across) the “new” old town has Baroque-style homes built in the 1800’s.
The biggest crime is a bicycle theft now and then. Maybe a pickpocket (we never had a problem, but we still wore the required money belt!). How relaxing it was to stroll about without fear and simply enjoy the ambiance of an old European town.
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Lake Bled
Against the blue skies, the Julian Alps loom large over the crystal clear blue water of the lake. It just is not enough for this to be a stunningly beautiful lake, but add an island with a Venetian style church and a 1,000 year-old castle high on a cliff.
The usual method to visit the church is by Pletna boats. The family-owned boats have been visiting the island since the 17th century. We elected to walk 3.5 miles around the lake rather than take a boat to the island. But one of our tour members took the boat ride and fell in love with the oarsman. She described his silver-streaked dark, thick wavy hair, tanned craggy face and his stories of generations rowing to the island. She said, “he was impressively fit from all that rowing –all muscle”. This was her “wow” moment of the whole trip. Maybe I should have taken the boat…
Mopeds vs Harley Bikers--It is all fun!
Our bus driver navigates 50 hairpin turns over the Julian Alps.
Mopeds vs Harley Bikers--It is all fun!
The Julian Alps
Up and over the Alps—the Julian Alps—via the Vrsic Pass and the Soca River Valley. I have been over my share of mountain passes, but never one with 50 hairpin turns (24 up, then 26 down). Each one is marked; so there is no denying the count of 50. And never in a large tour bus. The bus would turn ever so, s-l-o-w-l-y, around each.
A stop at a mountain-top restaurant for some hot chocolate. Had to chuckle at the sign. Bikers Welcome. In the States, a Bikers Welcome sign would indicate a stop for the local Harley motorcycle club. Here we encountered a group of French adventurers on mopeds! Only know a bit of French, but a shout out of “Comment Ca Va?! (how’s it going?) to the group brought out the smiles and waving back with the comeback of, “Bien, Merci!” (good, thank-you!) We saw them buzzing past as we headed down the mountain still waving a happy good-bye.