A very suspicious accident?

I make no secret of the fact that I love Slovenia, everything about it really, well maybe with the exception of Slovene politics and bureaucracy. However, I have found a way to distance myself from the bad and the ugly and just have the good.  Utopia!  The only sad part of this fact is, that in order to do that, I actually had to move out of the country and now just dip in here and there to savour the good points and the best it has to offer. It is always difficult when the time comes to pack my bags again and leave, its at times like that when I start to forget why I moved away in the first place. Only this year I have been so lucky, you see I had this slight accident, quite painful really, but it means I get to stay an extra SIX WEEKS!  I am sure the doctors in the hospital thought I had fallen on my head rather than my ankle, I couldn't stop smiling and joking as the knowledge that I had broken my ankle sunk in and I realised it meant I could prolong my visit this year.  I am so fortunate.

So my poor put upon friend drove me back to the apartment where we are staying, helped me hobble up the stairs and here I sit, by day sunning myself in temps of over 28 degrees still  and gazing on  beautiful mountain sunsets from the balcony while I eat my dinner and all in the knowledge that I still have another four weeks of this before I can finally drive  home.  But who knows?  there are an awful lot of stairs around here.... 

taken from my balcony with an iphone

I think I'm facing West, don't you?

Not for the feint hearted! MANGRT ROAD

One of the not so pleasant aspects of tourism is the increase in traffic on the roads. Now it's bad enough on motorways when there are traffic jams and hold ups at accidents and border crossings, but on narrow country or mountain roads, it becomes a game of who dares wins.

The trend for larger and larger cars  is all very well on modern roads but our roads in Slovenia are just about wide enough for a horse and cart in many regions and even then you hope you don't meet another one coming in the opposite direction.  Last week I ventured up Mangart road for the first time in several years. I knew it was scary but had forgotten exactly how scary it was.

The road itself is the hightest mountain road in Slovenia and although it doesn't connect any towns or places, i.e. it just goes up, and up, and up and up to the top, it provides the most spectacular scenery you could imagine. As you would expect with any high alpine mountain road, it is not accessible for long periods of the year due to the weather conditions. This year was no exception, and when it  opened late in June there was still evidence of the severe winter on the more sheltered slopes. The road, for those with the nerves to drive it, is twisty and narrow with several tunnels and the occasional serious drop. The largest vehicle to be able to go up it, is a mini bus for 8 passengers, and even then some of the hairpin bends might need two attempts. I feel the most frightening thing about this road is the number of visitors and the amount of traffic it gets in the summer months. It is best avoided at the weekends!  There are motorcyclists, cyclists, motorists and hikers (not to mention the wildlife)  all vying for a place on the narrow strip of one lane concrete,  and meeting or passing any of them calls for some serious manoevering (and praying).  Surprisingly enough, I have never heard of, or witnessed, any accidents on this road but whether that is due to the skill of the road users or just pure luck, I have yet to decide. Either way its an absolute miracle. 

The locals in the village of Log Pod Mangartom organise two things for this mountain, one is the collection of  a 5 euros fee, charged to motor vehicles who use the road,  which helps towards the maintenance of the road and the other is an annual cycle race which starts in the village and races to the summit, at a height of  2,679 metres. (the 3rd highest peak in Slovenia).

A mountain hut is found near the top of the mountain and is open in the summer season for hikers or visitors, to provide refreshments or maybe even shelter if necessary.  The 'sedlo'  ,or saddle, is also a popular place for the paragliders to launch themselves from the mountain side.

I believe one of the best reasons for visiting this mountain is the goat and sheep farm. This is the only one of its kind in Europe and has been approved by the EU. It is a collective farm and each farmer with animals put to pasture there in the summer months, has to do a proportionate number of days on the farm milking and cheese making. The cheese, a mix of goat and sheep milk, can be bought directly from the farm or a tasting and tour can be taken.  The animals, of which there are approximately 400, are milked twice daily by hand (5am and 7pm) and the cheese is produced on site in the traditional method with the milk being heated over a wood burning fire. 

For those who do not wish to drive themselves but are not scared of mountain roads and heights, who would still like to see the farm and the spectacular scenery, then there is a guided excursion offered from Kranjska Gora and Bovec once a week on a Monday afternoon and it is even possible to attempt the milking too. 

What a beautiful lake.

Many times a week I pass this lake just over the border in Italy, and it never fails to impress. The lake is on the other side of the Mount Kanin in Bovec, Slovenia and is on the way to Sella Nivea, the ski slopes that were recently joined with the Kanin slopes.Any guests arriving to Bovec from the North and entering Slovenia via the Predel Pass, will pass this lake on route. It always used to amaze me that this beautiful natural lake, so close to towns and accessible by every size motor vehicle, was not commercialised  or exploited. Apart from a small chalet selling drinks and two choices of main courses, that was the only sign of civilization around the lakeside for many years. And, until recently, the lake was rarely used by sports enthusiasts but now it is starting to become an ideal environment to  learn the basics for some of the more popular water sports such as kayaking, wind surfing and canoeing.  Many of the Bovec sports agencies also choose to take their guests here as it is only a 20 Min's drive and it provides a safe environment for people to learn the basics before they attempt the faster running waters of the river Soca. In fact, when packaging activity holidays for the travel puzzle, I always try and include at least one visit to the lake, especially when recommending activities that the whole family can take part in. There is  a small water sports centre on the lakeside that operates throughout the summer and also provides pedalos, kayaks and windsurfs with the various necessary accompanying equipment and hosts lessons with qualified instructors. The chalet still provides the opportunity of taking lunch or refreshments there, although a picnic in the designated area would be perfect. The Tarvisio municipality has recently organised proper parking areas and benches for this purpose.

This lake is different in every season, it freezes over in the winter and is so still in the autumn that the mountains and trees are reflected in it's surface like a mirror.

Lepena and the Soca Valley

Today we had a request from some guests from Brazil to take them into the Lepena valley, one of the valleys that lead off from the main Soca Valley.  How is it that four visitors from Brazil on a fleeting visit to our country managed to discover one of the prettiest hidden gems in Europe?. It was only driving them into the valley that I remembered how beautiful it actually is.  Living here for the last 30 years makes you take things for granted and only seeing them through someones elses eyes, can you then appreciate, once again, the magnificence of the area.
I asked them what it was that made them want to go into Lepena valley, they told me the pictures sold it to them and the canyons, so here I have attempted to do the valley justice with a few photos. I don't believe anything can beat seeing it for real though.

Canyon at the entrance to Lepena valley

 This is taken from the bridge spanning the river Soca at the entrance to the valley.

 There is a path the whole length of the canyons and riverside from the souce (Izvir Soca) high up in the Trenta Valley down to Bovec, the tourist resort and sports mecca.

The Lepena valley has a couple of tourist spots, one is Camp Klin, a motorhome and traditional campsite open throughout the summer months, and Pristava Lepena, a tourist village of small bungalows and riding school.

Both of these places have excellent restaurants for lunches or dinners. 

This section of the river soca is very popular with anglers and only fly-fishing is allowed during the open season. The Soca trout, indiginous to this river, is the catch the anglers are after. One of the reasons this section is popular for fishing is  because this upper section of the river has less sporting vessels on the water. The licences can be bought at Kamp Klin.

   At the end of the valley where the road ends, the path starts for one of the most popular walks in this region.  This is an average walking time of 3 hours (uphill) to reach the Krn mountain glacial lake.  There is a mountain hut close to the lake where refreshments can be bought and if hiking over the whole ridge then overnight accommodation can also be found here but it is advised to reserve it in advance in the summer months. Most of the path is in the shade of the trees but on reaching the lake you will find it very exposed.  The lake is home to some small pyranah style fish, tadpole sized creatures that will nibble on anything so it takes a brave person to swim with them.

As with most high mountain hikes, it is wise to check the weather forecast before the start and also go prepared for walking in the mountains.  Many people underestimate the speed at which the weather can change. Essential equipment includes a very good walking map, proper hiking boots (not sandals) and at least water, if not some food too, waterproofs, first aid kit, compass, and mobile telephone are also very useful and although not essential, highly desireable that at least one member of your party has them. Again, it is always better to walk/hike in company rather than alone but not obligatory. ALWAYS tell someone where you are heading, which route you are taking and when you expect to be back by. If you lose the path or think you may have gone wrong, do not try to find an alternative route but double back and try and pick up the route you came by.  Enjoy the mountains and scenery but keep safe.

Team Building

Team Building is designed to encourage workers and colleagues to be more dependent and reliant on each other in order to increase performance in the work place.  There are many ways to build up this trust from simple bonding exercises to multi day team building holidays. 

Slovenia is an ideal destination which has already a well developed infrastucture, and natural resources for the perfect team building retreats.

The travel puzzle has years of experience in organising such team building exercises and these can range simply from one or two activities over the period of the annual seminar or conference, to a specially designed week solely for the purpose of increasing confidence and performance in the work place.

The activities involved can be tailored to each companys' needs and can range from the simple adrenalin park and zip lines, to the more demanding sailing weekends which include cycling and hiking. Other activities may include rafting, kayaking, orienteering, underwater diving etc.  The beauty of choosing Slovenia for your team building holiday or events, is that it is easily accessible from the UK and main land Europe, the events can be held at any time of year suitable for you and that the country is stunningly beautiful too.  If the travel puzzle does not offer what you are looking for then one of our many partners certainly will so don't hesitate to contact the travel puzzle for advice.

weather in Slovenia

Well for all of you already in Slovenia you have probably realised that the weather is not what it should be. The good news is that it should be getting better soon.  The plus side of this, as there always has to be a positive, is that the water levels are high in the rivers.  That means for adrenalin junkies, the white water kayakers and rafters,  the conditions are ideal for maximum thrills. The canyoning is at its best and it's still possible to find quieter secions of the river for tubing and canoeing.  The lake sit on top kayaking is an alternative to those who maybe don't have the experience for white water activities. Remember though, book with a reputable company and don't attempt the activities alone.  The travel puzzle have years of experience in this area so ask them for their advice on which agency to use.

The Soca river in Bovec, which recently hosted the world kayaking championships, is in full flow. The activity holidays have started and the hotels and campsites around the Soca Valley are filling up quickly.