One of the most-asked questions about my travelling last year is “Where was your favourite place?” It’s a simple question to answer for me, but my answer doesn’t always elicit understanding, so I thought I’d make a small post with some of my favourite thoughts and snaps from Slovenia.

When I left to go to Europe I didn’t really know of Slovenia. Since the first real stop after a few days in Rome was Croatia (we were there for 5 weeks), when looking for the next destination I did some research online and read a few comments that Ljubljana was a beautiful city. It was on the way to the rest of Europe for us (leaving from Zagreb), so we took a punt and headed there.

Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia. It has a population of about 280,000 people. We stayed in the old town, through which flows the Ljubljanica River. The city is beautiful.

There was a large manicured park easy walking distance from the centre of town that had the perfect mix of autumn leaves and green grass. I think what makes fond travel memories in any case is a mixture of where you are, when you’re there, what you’re looking for, so any experience anywhere is unique. Slovenia just lined up for me.

The old town in Slovenia seems to be dominated by a university town, so the entertainment, the people, the environment seemed very friendly and progressive. My understanding is that English is pushed from an early age as Slovenia, so as an Australian it was very easy to travel there, though we also made an attempt to learn and use the local language on occasion and were happy to find the language similar to that in Croatia, with some local variation.

There’s a beautiful castle there with a view of the city.

Lake Bled was the next destination in Slovenia. I heard about it from one of my rowing mates who realised I was in the same part of the world as where the Rowing World Championships had just been. It’s a popular tourist spot and it’s easy to see why. My pictures can’t capture it that well, though I’ve included a couple. It’s not hard to find out why it features as a popular destination even if you start with the Wikipedia article Lake Bled

Mountains all around, crystal clear lake, blue skies. I asked after good hikes at wonderful tourist centre of Lake Bled, and they suggested I just walk out through the farmland just behind the tourist area and cut through in a big loop. I had an unforgettable hike that day.

Just around the corner from Lake Bled, is a not-as-popular spot, Lake Bohinj. It doesn’t have all the glitz of Lake Bled, so I found it stunning. I stayed in Ribcez Laz, and while the little towns around the lake are clearly geared up to take tourists at peak time, it was completely quiet in October.

There’s a ski field at nearby Mt Vogel in winter, but the rest of the year there are great hiking paths and it provides stunning scenery from which to see the tallest mountain in Slovenia, Mt Triglav. We heard from locals that no one can call themselves a true Slovenian until they have climbed that mountain. Slovenia is at one end of the Alps.

Natural beauty abounds in Slovenia, and I loved the hiking, the people, the atmosphere, the scenery. I’d go back there in an instant and for me, Slovenia is the place that I recount as my ‘favourite’ if I have to name just one place.

From the mountains to the forests.

To the elephants hiding in the forests. I would love to see more of Slovenia.