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HOBO ADVICE
LJUBLJANA
COUCHSURFING: MARKO & VISKEY
MY TRIP
SOCA VALLEY
NATURE PHOTOS
LJUBLJANA PHOTOS
LAKES BLED AND BOHINJ
May 2018
My trip to Slovenia began by hitchhiking down from Czech Republic, through Austria and ultimately to the capital city of Ljubljana. I didn't know too much about the country beforehand, other than it was rather small and supposedly had amazing nature, so on a whim, I made my way there. Unlike most trips I'd previously done though, I chose to steer clear of hostels this time and opt for couchsurfing. And little did I know, but that turned out to be the center point of my trip and will be the thing I'll never forget from it.
If I could sum it up, my time in Slovenia primarily consisted of meeting and eating with fellow travelers at Marko's couchsurfing place, walking the dog Viskey, and visiting nature sites (also going on long walks there). I could write about all of that here, but since I already did in other posts (and since I've feeling a bit lazy at the moment), I'll just direct you to those instead. So if you want to know more about each of these things, check out my posts about it. Find out about Marko and Viskey and why they're awesome. See what The nature looked like in my photo album, and see/read about the capital Ljubljana. You'll enjoy it, I guarantee.
May, 2018
Although it is the capital city, Ljubljana still had that relaxed, small town feel. Maybe that's because of the numerous parks, trees, and the fact that it only has 300,000 people in total. For me, this was the central hub of my visit to the country. It was so nice and pleasant to walk through that I ended up spending two full separate days wandering around through it. And for that, I would definitely recommend walking around through the old town in the center. It's located right along the river and the views are absolutely incredible. Its surrounded by picturesque buildings intermixed with lush green nature. The only downside though is that there can be too many tourists in the summer.
On top of that, I would absolutely recommend seeing the castle overlooking the center. It's a bit pricey to get in (therefore I did not do so), but the walk up and overlook has quite amazing views and surrounding nature. Even if you don't go inside it, do the walk to the top. After that, the other place that is a must see is (NAME OF STREET). It's a bizarre artistic bohemian hub, decorated with graffiti and other forms of urban art, meanwhile at night there is always music playing and people out and about. Plus, there is a graffiti Nicola Tesla. What more could you ask for?
However, the highlight of my time in Ljubljana had to be couchsurfing with the hosts Marko and Viskey, as well as the many other guests that stayed there too. It was overall an incredible experience which you can read about more if you check out the post I wrote about it in this section. Anyway, Ljubljana is a gorgeous city and really interesting to check out.
May, 2018
Located just about an hour outside Ljubljana lies the one place I went to in Slovenia outside the main city that wasn't a lake. Was it worth it? Absolutely. Nestled in the foothills and with the mountain on the horizon, I got off at the nearest bus stop in a small nearby town. The place was mostly residential, with incredibly picturesque houses, a couple small shops and cafes, as well as an old chateau in the center and a river flowing through. In a way, everything just felt relaxed and at peace.
For me, this was the perfect spot to get away from the noise and commotion of tourists and the city. I came without any particular plan and ended up just wandering about through the small neighborhoods, forested trails and windy roads up into the mountains. It was great just to see how the small town operated, without anything put of for show or without the commercialization of touristic centers or cities. Just calm houses, amazing nature, and regular Slovenian people going about their daily lives.
The place isn't difficult to get to, located just an hour or so by bus from the capital. Go there for the amazing views, cultural small town, chateau in the center, and numerous hiking trails that all start in the town and extend in nearly every direction outward.
May 2018
Viskey: One of our kind hosts
I was always drawn to the idea of couch surfing. Getting to stay with someone local, as opposed to a hostel or hotel (or paying for a hostel or hotel), seemed like a great opportunity that had the potential of creating amazing experiences. The only thing was, though, that I had never done it yet. But then I came to Slovenia on a trip with my friend Simona for five days and that all changed.
After sending out numerous requests to people in the capital Ljubljana, I finally heard back from this guy who's name was listed as 'Marko' and whose profile picture was that of a dog. He seemed awesome, so I accepted the offer and made my way to the country. The only issue was winding a way to get to his house, as our train didn't arrive until 10:00pm and I had no idea how to use Ljubljana's public transportation. I messaged this to him, asking what would be the best way to get there, but he reassuringly replied, "Don't worry about it. I'll just pick you up at the train station." His train was right there upon our arrival, and right when we got to his house, a young, energetic dog named Viskey was right at the door waiting for us. This was just the beginning.
As it turned out, Marko was a really interesting person with unique, insightful perspectives. He explained to us how few years ago, he decided to leave a comfortable career path in a successful family business in order to make his own path in life. He came to the conclusion that he needed to make his own life, and even if he failed, at least the failure was his own and he tried. That was also when he bought his house and got his dog. But he continued, saying that it felt strange living in a large place just by himself, so he opened himself up to hosting as many guests and couch surfers as possible. We then got the experience this first hand.
Over the next five days, Marko went all out, hosting up to five people at once, giving metro cards and really helpful information to all the guests, and even providing beer and wine. He literally seemed to live by the philosophy, "My house is your house." However, the most memorable thing about the time there would have to be the events we all did together. On our third day, all five couch surfers and Marko made a group dinner, topped off with five liters of wine. There was so much that he even invited his neighbors to join in, and we spent the entire evening around the table sharing travel stories and discussing everything imaginable.
The whole experience really felt like being at home. By the end of it, we were all having meals together regularly, watched movies together at night, and even took Viskey out for walks each day. Even the day we had to go, Marko took us to a supermarket to get snacks for the trip and dropped us off at the best spot for hitchhiking. It really felt like saying goodbye to an old friend, but the whole experience filled me with a desire to do this more often, and leave the hostel scene in favor of local people's couches.
Therefore, I'll end this post by saying that if anyone is planning on going on a trip to Slovenia, stop in Ljubljana and create a couch surfing account (unless you already have one). Search for Marko and Viskey. They are both amazing people (and dog), and are better hosts than you could possibly imagine.
One of the things I'll remember most from Slovenia was the nature. In this small country of just 2 million people, you can find both the Alps and Balkan mountains, as well as numerous rivers, valleys, and the Adriatic coast. All that, while nearly 70 percent of the country remains covered by forest. However, the natural features that stuck out most to me were the lakes. I visited two, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, and if I can have your attention for just a few minutes, I'll tell why you should immeadiately leave your desk, throw your chair through the window, and break out of work so you can see them too.
LAKE BLED
Of the two, Lake Bled is much more well known. Located just an hour from the capital Ljubljana by bus, it is very easy to access. And once I got there, it became instantly clear why is was considered such a must see destination. First of all, the whole lake is surrounded by forrest and trails, while in the background the Julian Alps loom on the horizon. In the middle of it sits an Island with a centuries old church. Overlooking the waters on a hill stands a medieval stone castle. Both sites can be reached, as you can take a (costly) boats ride to the island and a (free) trail to the castle. Naturally, I only went to the castle.
The only downside to Bled is the fact that it is kind of touristy. When I was there, I was unfortunately joined by several bus loads of the affore mentioned groups, all equipped with fanny packs, cameras, cargo shorts, and loud voices. Worst of all though, there is a big eyesore of a hotel right on the shores, which to me seems like a big middle finger to mother nature. However, if you walk around to the other side of the lake, the crowds and hordes dissapate, leaving you surrounded by spectacular nature.
LAKE BOHINJ
Just 30 more minutes by bus past Lake Bled is Slovenia's largest and more rugged and wild lake Bohinj. Of the two, this one was my favorite because it seemed much more untouched and undeveloped. Sure, there were a couple of small shops and cafes near the bus stop, but that was it. No hotels or anything like that. And just like Bled, the Julian Alps cover the horizon.
On the opposite side of the lake from the bus station, there are several small cottages near the shore. I actually learned this the hard was since just about when I was half way around the lake, a huge thunderstorm broke out and I had to seek shelter under the overhang of an elderly couple's house. That said, they were nice and did not have a problem giving shelter to a grimy, hairy stranger. In total the lake took about 2 and a half hours to walk all the way around.
Lake Bled
Lake Bohinj
AND A LIZARD (Bohinj)
