The Parenzana was a narrow-gauge railway line which ran from Trieste in Italy via the Slovenian coast to Poreč (Italian Parenzo) in Croatia. The line opened in 1902 and took 7 hours to complete the 123 km journey. It closed in 1935 when it ceased to be profitable. It may be long gone, but the spirit... Continue Reading →
If you're visiting the Slovenian Coast and you like wild beaches, then you really should pay a visit to Mesečev Zaliv, or Moonlight Bay, a hidden paradise on the Strunjan peninsula which is only accessible on foot. How to get there I am absolutely terrible at directions, so here's the link in Google Maps for... Continue Reading →
Socerb Castle is situated on the Slovenian-Italian border, atop a karst cliff which marks the watershed between the two countries. This site of rich history played an important role in the Partisan defences during the Second World War, as witness the abandoned barracks, gun towers and the cave of Sveta Jama ('The Holy Cave.') The... Continue Reading →
Sečoveljske Soline, or the Sečovlje Salt Pans, are located just south of Portorož on the Slovenian coast, close to the Croatian border at the Dragonja river estuary. This is a poetic landscape steeped in history, where salt has been farmed for over 1000 years. It is also an important wetland bird sanctuary and nature reserve.... Continue Reading →
Today is a public holiday in Slovenia, in celebration of the National Poet, France Prešeren. A public holiday in honour of a poet: how wonderful! I wanted to be the first to wish you 'Happy Prešeren Day!' and tell you a bit more about the poet's life and works. France Prešeren Prešeren was born in... Continue Reading →
'Wait! I hear you cry: 'Burek is not a Slovene dish! It most definitely came to the Balkans via Turkey.' Well, this is certainly true, but burek is to Slovenia what the pasty is to the UK: a hot and tasty fast food item to eat on the go, a cheap lunch option and most... Continue Reading →
Izola is a small fishing town on the Slovenian coast, which retains much of its Venetian character. It boasts a picturesque marina affording stunning views across the Adriatic Sea towards Venice, and some great restaurants serving up local delicacies and of course the freshest of seafood! History of Izola Izola seen from the nearby hill... Continue Reading →
When we moved to Slovenia in June, I started a new series of blog posts called Postcards from Slovenia. These are generally short, image-heavy posts with a little background history of the featured place. There is no particular order to them, though I think that together they form a diverse and interesting series, Slovenia being... Continue Reading →
Today's postcard comes to you from a true Christmas wonderland, the Pokljuka Plateau which lies at an altitude of 1100-1400m (3,600-4,600ft) high above the lakes of Bled and Bohinj. Though the ski slopes are currently closed, it is still possible to ski and sledge here, which those lucky enough to be locked down in the... Continue Reading →
As we are locked down within our borough at present, I sometimes worry about these posts getting a bit monotonous. Thankfully the weather is providing variety as the landscape does not look set to change for weeks to come. I could write about places I've visited in the past, but I think this kind of... Continue Reading →
