Exploring the Real Slovenia

Guest Post by Michal Kniec

It was in the pub that a few friends and myself concocted the idea that we should go backpacking somewhere in Europe. Unlike many plans devised over a pint of lager we set about creating a plan and decided that we wanted to explore parts of Slovenia. We wished to get away form the hustle and bustle of tourist traps and other such events, focusing on getting to the heart of Slovenia. After a few weeks of preparation and all our bags packed were ready to explore the country.

Making it to he beautiful nation we made our way to the little known Tolman, located near the Julia Alps.  Armed with hiking boots, as much of the western part of the country was quite rocky, we took the back roads through villages, seeing a more rural aspect of the country. Finally making it to the famous Tolman George we climbed down the staircase and were rewarded by turquoise water melting into various colors. The massive rocks lined the walls and you can explore the cavers for yourself. A truly rewarding experience, I’d love to explore it again.

Turning east, the amount of people started to thicken but the beauty of the sights remained the same when we reached the Predjama Castle. The narrow path up is not to be underestimated but the hardship was rewarded with a two level castle building into a giant side of a mountain. Picturesque, it also housed a gorgeous cave, or jama, that was the home of the Slovenian Erasmus Lueger, the local variation of Robin Hood. Containing dangerous, multiple stories, and a tone of stunning rooms, with a cost of £25 for the package, it was certainly worth it,

Moving slowly down through the nation we were starting to get a little tired from all the walking. Trying a place to stay we found that Slovenian Hotels came in all shapes and sizes, and varied quite a bit in cost. Locating the Hotel Alp, costing around £40 a night, the outward appearance hides the excellent service and hospitality provided by the staff. Located on the main street in Bovee, it came with a Slovenian breakfast as well as provided quite a comfortable bed.

Waking up at the crack of dawn we marched onto explore the nations ancient past by venturing into a museum. One of my friends stumbled upon the Kobarid Museum  which was dedicated to exploring the local battles during the First world war. Not simply a collection of artifacts, the place spoke to a cultural unity that could only be expressed when faced with extreme peril.

Nearing the end of our trip we all felt that we needed somewhere to eat at a quality Slovenian restaurant. We came across the Picikato in Celije and thought that it simply couldn’t get better than this. A great atmosphere with English menus, it specialized in Italian food for all ages. Priced between £10 and £15 there is something there for everyone. As we laughed about our journey chewing on the warm pasta, I wasn’t prepared to leave at all. A truly brilliant trip, don’t hesitate to explore Slovenia as it will certainly surprise you.

Michal Kniec is a travel blogger and automotive news writer who I still somehow finds the time to study law. Apart from his love of anything historic, he enjoys writing, cooking, and traveling as much as possible on this pale blue dot. 🙂 – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel blog

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.