Slovenian Caving and Bosnian brandy.

I’m going to apologize in advance if this little story for today turns slightly slurry. I have a glass of Bosnian cherry brandy in one hand. It’s slightly sweet on the first sip, before the onslaught of alcohol kicks in. I’m worried that I’m going to grow hairs on my chest after a few glasses of this stuff.

The co-owner of our hostel has insisted that we try it, bringing out 4 unlabelled bottles (but warns it’s not a home brew). They’re all a different colour and we are clinking glasses with some Americans. This could get dangerous.

Yesterday was our final day in Slovenia. We needed an action packed day mainly because we had a looming overnight 12-hour bus ride ahead of us. So the decision was made to visit the Skocjan Caves. But that too meant a 2-hour journey to get there.

I’m always hesitate about visiting ‘tourist site caves.’  Mainly because I’ve seen too many glossy brochures that show a camp family sitting in a tuk-tuk train cruising through a well lit cave. That’s not really my kind of day out, or probably yours?

Most of the caves were discovered in the early 1800s.  Stretching over 3km in length, taking 1hr 30 to get through the chambers are impressive (even when your sharing the space with a German singing choir group).  It completely amazed me in the engineering feats within the cave. A large bridge guided us across a roaring river below, cable wires leading to beacons of light in every nook and cranny. The journey included the common ignorant tourist, who still takes pictures even when they’ve been politely asked to not. But at least there wasn’t a choo-choo train in sight.

I’ve loved my time in this amazing and wicked country. And also learnt to stop using the word ‘wicked’ as a compliment. Any Slovenian will think your referring to something horrible and no one likes to hear bad things about their country.

Back to cherry brandy; no wait, this time it’s a walnut concoction as there are more bottles now coming out for tasting.

Živjeli x (that doesn’t mean Toodle pip in Bosnian but Cheers)

Oh HI THERE. Bike ride to Lake Bohinj. Stunning.

Surrounding scenery enroute to Lake Bohinj,

Lake Bohinj. 

Slap Savica (river for the waterfall).

Slap Savica.

Skocjan Caves (main entrance) Memorial to the intrepid cavers who have died there.

A 'classic' tourist. Eye always to lense. Even at the train station. Priceless.

Ljubljana: A double meaning?

This is going to be kept short and sweet. Mainly because I’m half attempting to get ready for dinner whilst realizing that I did aim to write something every day. But that’s getting hard when you’re traveling (and having too much fun). The goal is now to put fingers to keyboard at least every second day.

But onto more important matters. Like what I’ve been spotting around Ljubljana, Slovenia so far. They are everywhere, stretched across between two buildings on almost every street corner. Some only have a couple of pairs on parade. Others seem like they’ve taken on more of an art form dangling from a piece of wire a few feet in length with several pairs displayed for all to see.

You may have not quite caught on yet what I’m referring too but if you’ve visited this city before this will soon all make sense. In New Zealand, a pair of dangling shoes (no particular brand needed) usually means that a ‘tinny house’ is located nearby. For those not familiar with the term, this means that within walking distance (if not right in front of you) a house is selling weed, marijuana and maybe something else, who knows?

Somehow, I just don’t think that dangling shoes has the same meaning here. Especially when most of these are on display in the most beautiful parts of the picture perfect Old Town. 

That just doesn’t make sense.

I’m yet to find a local who will explain this to me. In the meantime I’m assuming it’s given a local a good excuse to buy a new pair of shoes. If you know otherwise, please let me know.

Toodle pip x

Lake Bled: I'm taking up residency.

I learnt yesterday that the Slovenian word for ‘take picture’ isn’t Pods Slap instead this means ‘under the waterfall.’ These words became the repeated phrase (thinking that it meant ‘take picture’) over these past couple of days in Lake Bled.

A short 40min drive from the capital, Ljubljana, Lake Bled is stunning – beyond words and therefore you’d want to ‘take picture’ at every given opportunity. It kind of reminded me in way of Queenstown in NZ, funny that when the town is based around a lake. But what sets this place apart completely from any destination in NZ is the colour of the water. A rich, vibrant emerald city green. It’s crystal clear and unfortunately not quite warm enough yet for an onslaught of swimmers.

But back to the infamous Pods Slap. What a word. I love it. After a visit to Vintgar Gorge where you wander along the riverbank and end up standing atop of thundering falls, you were desperate to follow the Pod Slap sign so you could get under the waterfall and no surprises here, ‘take a picture.’

Slovenian’s are slightly reserved at first but once they get talking and laughing (particularly at you) they are quite the opposite.

Every trip to the lake should include a row out to Bled Island. It was a sunny afternoon when we did it with our new friends hailing from the UK, Ireland and Scotland (just had Wales missing). We where on a high thinking life can’t get any better until the rain, hail and thunder crept up with us (it’s getting sick of causing carnage in Germany, Hungary and Poland) and decided to make face here. Rowing in thunder and lighting isn’t fun. I can though, have a laugh at the woman who we rented the boat in stitches at us as we returned the boat looking like drowned rats. I’m sure she’s still having a chuckle over it.

We are back In Ljubljana now. Staying in a apartment for the next few days. But just quietly I think I’d prefer to be in Lake Bled.

Toodle pip x

Bled Island (and the lurking rain clouds)

Before the rain, thunder... etc etc arrived

The after shock. Stunning.

Spot the river. Oh you can't. It's green.

Vintgar Gorge.

Pod Slap.

Surrounding countryside.

Bled Island.