GENERAL INFO (Jump to Diary)
The official name is Republic of Slovenia, and it is a
Unitary parliamentary constitutional republic, which covers 20.273 square
kilometres. Here live around 2.100.000 citizens, of which 61% are
Christians, 10% non religious, 2,5% Muslims and quite some unknown.
The currency is Euro, worth 7,46 Danish Krone. The GDP is US$45.917 billion.
The climate variety of relief, and the influence of the
Alps and the Adriatic Sea. The northeast has continental climate, the
coastal region, has a sub-Mediterranean
climate while the Alpine climate is
present in the high mountain regions.
The biological diversity of the country is high, with 1% of the world's
organisms on 0.004% of the Earth's surface area. Among the larger mammals
are the marmots, Alpine ibex, Eurasian lynx, European jackal, Brown Bears,
wolves and chamois.
Slovenia is the third most-forested country in Europe, with 58.5% of the
territory covered by forests. The interior of the country are typical
Central European forests, predominantly oak and beech. In the mountains,
spruce, fir, and pine are more common.
In the Alps, flowers such as Daphne blagayana, gentians (Gentiana
clusii, Gentiana froelichi), Primula auricula, edelweiss (Leontopodium),
Cypripedium calceolus, Fritillaria meleagris and Pulsatilla
grandis are found.
DIARY
20/5
2018. I arrival from Hungary in the
late afternoon, and follow the A1 for 120 kilometres. It is through rather
flat farmland, but in contrast to Hungary, here are lots of small farms. In one
field, I see at least 14 white storks.
As I get closer to Celje, the hills get bigger and bigger.
In general, I would say Slovenia is a significant upgrade
from Czech,
Slovakia and Hungary. The houses are nicer, the roads more
smooth, here are more modern factories and more people talk English.
21/5. The French woman from the camper next door
offers me coffee and biscuits, and give me some hints on what to see. She
speak a god German, but I have a hard time finding mine. Apparently, I
can not skip the capital: Ljubljana. Here are some many different old
building styles mixed together. And while I'm there, I might get the car
serviced and get the brakes fixed - if I'm real lucky.
I program the GPS for the entire country, and get a bit
of a late start. But the first sight is close bye, and I find Celje Castle
right away. Before I reach it, I try to find some food and
alcohol to the burner. The supermarkets don't have it (all Danish does), the
drug-store have tiny bottles with real expensive - and just the same. I try
a huge builders market, and they have half a litre for €32,50 - not that
interested after all. Another is only €5,45. I can't break the seal, but
take the chance, as it is labelled Sprite (which is Danish for what I want).
It turns out to be White Sprit, and useless. I give it to a guy with a
lawnmower, who appreciate it.
Celje
Castle "is the highest", and it sure is a tall square tower in the centre
of the walls. Another is not quite as tall, but still impressive. The views
are fantastic: The city below, the high mountains, the river and the green
valleys. I have it all to my self, and it lack the feel of being alive for
sure. The buildings are rather intact, and a lot of the wooden installations
have been restored
The exhibition is about torture instruments from 1600
till 1850: Ironmaiden and alike. The courtyards are teaming with lizards,
and I manages to get some bad photos of them. I
walk
the entire castle, and even check the bathrooms. They are different: Modern
in steel
and black along with the ancient walls. Never seen a black toilet before.
Besides from the tall tower and the black toilets, I don't see that much
interesting.
I follow the big river of Savinja into the small
mountains and farmed valley along the river. Here are a lot of wooden barns
for hay. Some are used for firewood as well, and here are huge stacks of
firewood everywhere. Along the cosy and undisturbed farms, small towns with
real modern factories are found.
Many
of the small hills along the river are home to small castles, fortress,
churches and chateaus. I stop a few times to get better pictures, and to
have a closer look at the flowers. I make a stop in Zuzenberk to find
lunch, but the fortress distracts me for some time.
Then I find a place selling different meals, and I get a
bread with pasta and fresh cheese in. It is so much like the Georgian
breads, and it turns out the guy selling them is from Croatia. Guess I can
be lucky to find more along the route.
After
well over 100 kilometres of really nice driving, in so beautiful
surroundings, I reach the start of a recommended route. It is along another
river, and here are a bit more farmland. Besides from that, it is not really
as interesting.
Next up is Kamniska Bistrica National Reserve.
It is into the low mountains, covered in mainly conifers.
I find some of the springs, and while walking into the forest, I find a set
of small waterfalls, running over moss-covered rocks.
Can't
get more beautiful than
that! The road end at some Alpine-like huts,
and I head back to find the cableway. Unfortunately, I'm too late.
I head back out to the plains, and find the Arboretum;
Volcji Potok. It should be the country's largest park, but I can see enough
thought the fences to save the €8,50. Big trees and colourful Pelargoniums
are not really me.
Then a "fairytale village with a castle" sounds more right. It should be the
oldest town in Slovenia, and the little I see while driving through it, to reach
the castle, is great.
The
castle at Skofja Loka isn't that great, and I return to the town. Here
are not that many restored houses, but a lot of real old and entreating
buildings. It have not been "discovered" it seems; I fail to find a single
souvenir shop! But it is truly a treat to walk around the streets and
alleys.
The houses at the river is something else - but so are
all the others. They have been build over a long period, and in different
styles. Same goes for the churches, of which here are quite a few.
When
I have seen it all, it is four o´clock, and too early for the camp. The next
is quite a mountain drive away, but the lowlands still have sun.
I follow the river Kokra deep into the steep mountains.
Further in, the barren or snow covered peaks are visible and clear. The road
start to be real twisting, and the scenery absolutely astonishing. One area
have a lot of turnedover conifers, and the road mush have been closed for
quite some time. This is part of Logarska Dolina National Park.
Then,
without warning, I cross into Austria. My Vignette have terminated, but I am
not going to spend €10 to drive 18 kilometres. Further more, I only pass two
private huts. It get better and better, and I get real close to the snow, as
the road exceed 1000 metres.
I get back into Slovenia, and a bit down. Then I find a
road leading deep into a narrow valley. In the end, an Alpine hut offers a
bed for the night. Right next to it is the snow covered mountain. I eat at
the car, as I have vegetables, which need to be eaten. I start working, but
figure I better get into the house, before the two women closes it for the
night. The chair is not as
comfortable as the
car's,
but the location next to fire place, make up for it.
From here, I head into the western part of the country in
Diary 2. |