Wow…what a blast this last month has been – I don’t know where time has gone.  We have just had an amazing four weeks in the absolutely gorgeous Croatia, island hopping our way from top to bottom…and will have to write these up in installments.  I am so far behind on blogs ….sorry about that…but sometimes it is just more important to go outside and see what is there rather than sit at the PC and write.  Still….we have so much to tell so let’s start with our short stay in Slovenia….crikey was that really at the beginning of July??

Leaving behind the medicinal waters of Hungary, we drove into the green, green forests of the land-locked Slovenia.  After being stopped by the police and having to dig out documents from deep within secret places in the van, we accidentally took a wrong turn and instead of heading to Ljubljana, ended up in rural northern Croatia.  Slightly dazed and slightly lost, an hours detour saw us back in Slovenia and stopping for lunch in a delightful village called Kamnik which was having a celebration of a special local cheese (as you do) called Trinč – a pear shaped hard cheese made from heated sour milk, which is decorated with lace like patterns, dried on sorrel and smoked over an open fire.  It was scrummy on buckwheat pancakes eaten in a small square in the village!  Full and happy, we headed on, stopping for ice cream at Kranj, before settling for a few days at Lake Bled.

Lake Bled is an absolute jewel of a spot – a pristine lake surrounded by pine covered granite mountains, and blessed with an island right in the middle on which a small church sits, beckoning you to put your (Deane’s) rowing skills to the test (or take a gondala if feeling lazy).  We camped in a large four star site in a narrow granite valley and were promptly joined by most of Slovenia, half of Germany and the remaining Dutch folk that hadn’t managed to camp with us up to this point.  This was to be the start of a two month high season endurance test for three well worn travellers more used to quiet campsities and historic sites occupied by locals and fellow travellers only.  Despite this, and thanks to a dedicated cycle lane that ran most of the way around the lake, we were able to enjoy some great rides (and runs). The ice cream stop half way with Carte D’Or for €1 was a bonus for us all!

As is the norm when we come to town, the peace of the valley was broken by an almighty storm and the thunder rolling around the valley was something else again.  Unfortunately it meant that rafting the Soca Vally was not an option and we have had to put that on the ‘to do later’ list.  Instead, we headed south (purposely seeking sun and warmth again) with Croatia in our sites, stopping only to visit Postojna Cave.

Discovered in the 19^th century, and now a rather slick operation, Postojna Cave is one of Slovenia’s prime tourist sites, and although I was slightly cynical about the authenticity of the experience given that we were to catch a tiny train into the cave, I had to eat my words as it really was fabulous.  We did indeed board a tiny train, but rather than Disneyland’s small world (my Mum’s favourite ride ever – do you remember Elise and Dayna?), this bonkers little caboose went at speed through tiny tunnels where we literally had to duck to avoid losing our noggins on the rocks.  Arriving at the station about 3km in, we walked another 1.5km through an incredible underground world of stalagmites, stalag-old lady tights and eyeless salamanders (Proteus anguinus).  But it wasn’t only the natural wonders that caught our attention.  The caves have an interesting political history too. During WWII, Germany stored aircraft fuel in the caves and in April 1944  the Slovene Partisans blew it up – with the fire burning for seven days.  As we left the cave, we passed through about one kilometre of dead and blackened rock formations evidencing the event.  Next time you are in Slovenia, do go visit – I’m a fan. Hvala Slovenia for a short but pleasant stay!

So….that was Slovenia, Croatia is still to be written up and we are now in Italy – today all roads have indeed led to Rome.  Two weeks in, we know that this month will barely scratch the surface and we could easily spend three or more months in this epic country.  Fingers to the keyboard Bron!