If Bled is the Crown Jewel of Northern Slovenia, then Bohinj is its hidden gem. Situated just 30km from its neighbour, this lake is longer (4.2km) and more secluded. With less tourist facilities (though there are plenty of these in the nearby towns should you require them), Bohinj is a true natural paradise, lying beneath... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #4: Ljubljana
I could write a book about Ljubljana. There's so much to see and do, and the more time you spend there, the bigger will be the payback. However, the Old Town is so chocolate-box small that you can see the highlights in a day, and I can tell you about them briefly in this blog... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #3: Koper-Capodistria
Situated at the head of the 43km-long Slovenian coastline, the main town of the obala (coast) has a rich Venetian history, which is much in evidence throughout its historical centre. The Venetian highlights of Koper can easily be seen in an afternoon, so here's a quick tour... History of Koper Detail from the Praetorian Palace... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #2: A Circuit of Lake Bled
Situated at the foot of the Julian Alps in the North of Slovenia, Lake Bled is one of the country's best-loved natural attractions. An opalescent turquoise on a clear day; dark and brooding when a storm is brewing; it is definitely worth a closer look. The 6km circumference is a delight to walk around, and... Continue Reading →
Postcards from Slovenia #1: Gorje Parish Church
While waiting to move in to our new home in Slovenia, we have been staying in the village of Zgornje Gorje just above Lake Bled. Outside the window of the Studio Špica tourist apartment, we have a wonderful view of the Gorje Parish Church. It is typical of churches in the North of Slovenia, having... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Part 3: Nice-Slovenia
This was definitely the hardest part of the journey for me; we set off from Nice at 4am so the kids would be able to sleep for the first few hours. Exhaustion was already beginning to set in for me by then and I didn't do much driving because I just didn't feel safe. Although... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Road Trip Part 2: Tortosa-Nice
So much has changed since I wrote the last entry, I'm feeling a bit numb as I write this one. If I think back to this time last week, and the distance travelled both physically and emotionally since then, it's mind-blowing. It puts me in mind of the Ancient Mariner's homecoming journey when the spirit... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries Road Trip Day 1: Malaga-Tortosa
3 days. 4 countries. 2,500km. Of all the road trips I have taken with my family, this was the craziest yet. It was also the most unusual, given that we were crossing a Europe emerging from an unprecedented lockdown brought about by the Covid-19 crisis. It was by turns exhilarating, exhausting and fascinating. Today I... Continue Reading →
The Quarantine Diaries 29: Moving On
Like a long lonely streamI keep runnin' towards a dreamMovin' on, movin' onLike a branch on a treeI keep reachin' to be freeMovin' on, movin' on Not a poem of the day today, then, but a song. This was always a favourite of mine and my husband's, especially when we lived in the U.K., where... Continue Reading →
Guest Post: Adrian the Unloved by Valdis Stakle
Today's guest post comes from the unique mind of Valdis Stakle, who does not have his own blog, but perhaps he should? In addition to writing flash fiction, he paints impressionistic portraits of the characters in his head. For more details you can contact him at valdiss@hotmail.co.uk. Adrian the Unloved Adrian, by Valdis All his... Continue Reading →