Exploration of the Julian Alps

Here is a snapshot of our time in the Slovenian Alps:

Being our usual lazy selves, we rented a Oprah the Opel in Bled (backpacks + hills + hot temps = silly!!!) and journeyed through the Triglav National Park. 

Visited Kranjska Gora, an out of season ski resort with a 1.5km toboggan run, which we braved.

Looked in awe at the world's largest ski jump.

Nipped accross the border to Italy (it looked the same as Slovenia but they spoke Italian).

Stopped at the beautiful Italian Fusine lakes and ate Italian ice cream in Tarvisio.

Stayed in a hippy eco-camp in the spectacular Soca Valley. We shared the camp with giant insects - thank fully our "lean-to" tent seperated us from the wilderness!

During our stay we met some interesting people, including the Slovenian Ant or Dec (the presenter of Slovenia's Got Talent) and one of the Slovenian Prime Minster's Advisors (although Sam is convinced he met a secret agent)... He did not give away any internal secrets, but did let slip that there are bears in the Julian Alps! 


Whited water rafted down the emerald green Soca River, managed to interpret the Slovene instructions without falling in (excluding the one time Mary back-flopped into the water and had to be dragged unceremoniously back in to the raft, did I say that? oops) and even had a swim in the freezing cold water.

Ventured through hair pin bends over the Italian border towards Sella Nevea Montasio. We drove the extremally steep, winding road (in first gear) to 1,660m; before heading around the mountain through the fields of ginger cows to a small cheese making cottage, in search of authentic Montasio Alpine cheese, which we later devoured in the car.  The area is Marmot territory, but Mary was disappointed not to meet another rodent friend.

Bravely trailed through tree tops, "tarzaning" suspended on high-wires and tight ropes. Although Mary conquered the first two courses, Sam was the only brave (idiot) to attempt the third...

Even though it was sketchy at times...

...he succesfully finished!

 Drove the hair-raising Vršič-Pass (dubbed by Top Gear as "the greatest driving road in the world")... Sam negotiated the tightest bends he had ever seen, whilst managing to dodge exhausted cyclists, suicidal bikers, hidden hikers, cars over the white line and humongous coaches!!

 

 Stopped at vista-points along the way including the Pagan Girl and the Russian Chapel where we made friends with a local, Shaun...

Swam in Lake Bohinj (Lake Bled's bigger brother). The water was beautifully clear and warm. 

 We then returned Oprah (begrudgingly) and prepared for the next leg of our journey: to the Postojna Caves and then on to our final country...