My latest detour has been to Slovenia- a small country sandwiched between Italy, Austria and Croatia. It looks familiar although I’ve not travelled here before- pretty villages nestled under alpine panoramas, piercingly tall church steeples. I never put my finger on what was typically Slovenian about the place but it feels unmistakably European.
I visited the capital Ljubljana with its imposing castle towering over the old town. The town is split by the winding Ljubljanica River and among the squares, monuments and Art nouveau buildings it is the bridges that Ljubljana is best remembered for – the Triple bridge, the Cobblers bridge and the Dragon bridge.
The stunning alpine landscapes, sapphire lakes and karst cave systems are another draw card for the little country. I travelled to Lake Bled for a taste of the ‘earth, sun and air’ that was sold at spa retreats lakeside since the 1800s. A walk around its sapphire waters was tonic for the soul.
It’s been a lovely short break to discover Slovenia. Cheese and spinach stuffed bourek pastries, honey and fig liqueurs, quaint villages, and the pink flush of new peach blossom in the spring lining village streets. And of course I found love in S-LOVE-NIA!
