Category: Walk

Oldest UNESCO heritage in Slovenia

19/9/2017

One of the most common questions I get from foreign visitors is whether it is more beautiful Postojna Cave or Škocjan Caves.

More than 30 years ago Skocjan Caves were listed under UNESCOs natural heritage and have been, until recently, the only site in Slovenia with such protection.

When visiting Škocjan cave you can choose among three trails. The most known and popular and probably the most essential is Through the underground. This is guided tour with entrance fee. Another option is the Škocjan Education Trail which doesn't take you to the underground but is is absolutely free and almost equally beautiful than the first one.

But of course, the best is to do at least this two. I assure you that the third option is very beautiful as well, but I can't ask you to see all in one day.

Pictures in this post are from the first mentioned option, i.e. from a guided tour to the underground, which, please do keep that in mind, can be challenging for people that are not used to walk much. But it is doable.

,In case you are still wondering which cave to choose, I won't give you an answer. Postojna cave is much older and for that reason quite different from younger Škocjan caves, but both are very impressive.

Besides, there are more than 12000 registered caves at the moment in Slovenia. Why limiting your choice only among the two?

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From Ljubljana with love

23/8/2017

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Social Ljubljana Tour, named romantically - as a lot of things in sLOVEnia- Ljubljana with love, invites you to pay a visit to independent social companies that are part of a local ‘Think Social. Buy Local.’ movement.

While getting to know many stories of today's life in Slovenia and its capital you walk through the beautiful medieval part of Ljubljana and get to eat some food. Food with background, of course.

On this tour you visit two restaurants, one is the Slovenian equivalent to Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen restaurant, which trains and employs young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and the other employs people with learning disabilities.

For anyone that loves shopping there will be many opportunities to buy a special gift. Choosing from glamorous garbage, unique gifts made from reused or recycled things and materials, or digging into first thrift store in Slovenia. My favorite? "Plant me" souvenir.

One stop is very important for Slovenians and I am sure you might enjoy it too, that is to sit down and drink a cup of coffee. And yes, the story follows. The owner is all about coffee and has only fair trade or direct trade organic coffee and he is, naturally, roasting coffee himself. But don't worry, there is more. And you'll hear about it there.

Talking about social awareness goes together with sustainability and ecological movement so the tour reveals all about Green Ljubljana, the Green Capital of Europe 2016. Prepare to hear about water, trash, recycling management, shared bike system, so called gentlemen, parks, vegetable market and so on. .

The tour starts at Stari trg street next to the fountain (check the map below) with prior booking. Usually runs at lunch time but can be adopted to the needs of visitors.

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Piran is missing red house

10/8/2017

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Pearl of Mediterranean. Little Venice. Slovenian Rovinj. A bit of Dubrovnik. Reflection of Venetian republic. There are many words describing most famous Slovenian coastal town and each has a bit of truth in it.

Piran is known for it's red roofs, many churches, narrow streets with no cars, hidden squares, amazing views and it's beautiful main square. The view of Tartini square with violinist's statue in the ellipse, colourful houses and a church atop of a hill which bell-tower reminds a lot of the more famous one in Venice, is a typical postcard view. Or instagram post if you want something modern.

The square used to be a small port, called mandrač by locals and than filled up for square and later become, for some time, even the final station of electrical railway.

On the square there was one of the most known houses in Piran, no, in whole Slovenia! Red Venetian - Gothic house. Did I say was? Is it lost? Was it destroyed? Did it fly away?
No. It was painted white because the oldest paint that was found on the wall was white. I miss red.

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Ljubljana Alternative Tour

29/6/2017

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A group most known for its graffiti tour of Ljubljana launched a new tour this May and I just had to check it out. I like seeing and hearing what fellow guides have to say, especially on one of my favorite subject, alternative view of Ljubljana.

The tour is great combination of street art and places that are part of alternative community and/or history. You can imagine that such tour can't be made without stopping at Social Center Rog and Autonomous Cultural Center Metelkova City among others, which you'll get to know on the tour.

Imagine knowing what numerous yellow dots in the town mean or why there are so many foxes sprayed...

The tour starts in the old Ljubljana and it is 2 hrs and 2.5 km long.

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The greenest neighborhood in Ljubljana

15/5/2017

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Straight from the shoulder, the most green neighborhood of Ljubljana is Murgle. Murgle is very well known among the locals, mainly because hot shots like former presidents lives there (Milan Kučan) but also because of its green urban plan.

The idea behind the residential development was designing family houses with gardens and other green spaces and while keeping to as few cars as possible. One block of houses is approximately 35 houses connected with foot paths and surrounded by a small street, where the parking spaces and garages are ‘stashed’. And this was built in the 1970s, in our long-departed Yugoslavia!

Semi-detached or single ground-floor houses, each with an atrium, are planned simply but with extra caution with their ground-level plans to be utterly functional. Architectural plans incorporated nature in every possible detail, from sun movement to positioning houses to fit the environment that was here before. Trees along old ditches were suddenly the theme for the newly built streets of the Murgle neighborhood.

And this is the most unique aspect that you can find here. There are some streets around Slovenia that carry names from trees, but Murgle consists only of those.

‘Beneath the birches’, ‘Beneath the oaks’, ‘Beneath the chestnuts’, Beneath the alders’, Beneath the linden trees’, Beneath the ash trees’ and others.

These streets got their names from the trees growing in that street. So imagine a beautiful walk, a relaxing bike ride and learning all the trees you might have forgotten in a quiet and charming neighborhood, Murgle. No tourists there, guaranteed.

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Around Ljubljana

5/5/2017

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There are a few events in Ljubljana that bring together young and old and if you happen to be in Ljubljana tomorrow, consider yourself lucky.

This years is the 61st edition of march along where used to be a barbed wire fence which surrounded Ljubljana during World War II. It is approximately 35 km long path leading around Ljubljana and there are 8 points (a bar, shop or a restaurant) which can serve as starting or ending point. Of course you can only join for a little part of the circle if you don't feel like marching all the way.

On the eight points you can get a paper for collecting stamps on every point. You don't need to finish the circle in one year, though. And even if you are not here tomorrow you can pick up your paper for collecting stamps any day in the tourist information center and start walking. The stamps are in restaurants through the year.

PST, as is most often called by the locals, meaning The Path of Remembrance and Comradeship (Pot spominov in tovarištva) is popular for recreational run, bike ride, walk and even cross-country skiing in the winter. Today they are promoting it under more contemporary name: The Green Ring, but note that signs on the path refer to it as POT (which means a path).

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One of the most spectacular trails

3/5/2017

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It is strictly personal, but Škocjan Education Trail is one of the most spectacular one in the country. And even though you don't need to be very fit to manage this trail, you will be highly rewarded. I can't emphasize this enough, but for everyone on the lazy side, I assure you, it is not a hard walk.

50 minutes
2 kilometers
sports footwear

The trail is circular and explanatory signs with illustrations, photographs and a short text begin in front of the Information Centre in Matavun, that is where tickets for Škocjan Caves tours are purchased. With signs you'll be able to understand the natural phenomena and cultural heritage. The walk will take you through villages Škocjan, Matavun and Betajna, into the karst doline, huge sink hole, and to the edge of the abyss. Amazing vies, tranquil nature and antique villages. A must do while in Slovenia. And absolutely free.

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Hen Hill

19/4/2017

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Kokoš - name of a hill - might remind you of a coconut but it has nothing to do with it. Kokoš is a hen. Or, in this case, a hill that offers an easy and pleasant walk.

1 h walk
230 m ascent
sports footwear needed

You can start the trip on Karst Plateau (Kras) in a village called Lokev. The signs are easy to find in this tiny village and the trail is well marked. At first the slope is gentle and then it become more steep. On top of Kokoš there is a nice Mediterranean style mountain hut with simple offer.

If you are in the area on 30 April, be sure to join the traditional, organized night hike that commences at Bazovica on the Itaian side of the border.

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Tjaša

After writing a blog in Slovenian language for 10 years I have finally come to my sense and started writing one in English as well. I'll share with you beautiful places worth visiting in Slovenia and around it. I'll also talk about general things tourist should know and of course I'll write about food, drinks and accommodation, essentials for any visitor. I am writing about my personal recommendations that are not influenced by any sponsors.

Oldest UNESCO heritage in Slovenia

From Ljubljana with love

Piran is missing red house

Ljubljana Alternative Tour

The greenest neighborhood in Ljubljana

Around Ljubljana

One of the most spectacular trails

Hen Hill

Tjaša

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