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Carl Ragan

Primorska, the Kras and the Gorica region

Primorska, the Kras and the Gorica region

Dec 14, 2016 | |

This region is a world of its own. It is the most varied Slovene territory: it covers wild alpine world, high snow-capped rocky peaks, deep wild valleys, the karst world with famous caves and other karst phenomena, and the blue Adriatic sea. This is a country of mild Mediterranean and harsh Alpine climates, of noble Lipizzaners, mysterious underground and a hymn to the mountains. A holiday or an excursion to the seaside, to the Kras, the land of pršut and Teran, or to the wild Soča Valley can be so thrilling and joyful that it is always a pleasure...

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The Baška grapa Valley, Cerkno and Idrija

The Baška grapa Valley, Cerkno and Idrija

Dec 14, 2016 | |

The Baška grapa Valley The Baška grapa Valley is like a gully cut into the rocks. The bottom of the valley is crisscrossed by the tiny Bača, the road and the rail which passes through numerous tunnels. Squeezed in the gorge are the small villages of Klavže, Krteža, Grahovo, Koritnica, Huda Južna and Podbrdo. At Podbrdo the railroad enters the Bohinj tunnel while the main road via the Petrovo Brdo pass leads to Selška dolina. At Kneža, the deep Kneža valley cuts deep into the mountains. A forest road leads right under the very peak of Šije (1880 m)...

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Slovenia-Žirovnica, Jesenice and Mojstrana

Slovenia-Žirovnica, Jesenice and Mojstrana

Dec 14, 2016 | |

Žirovnica In Žirovnica, situated at the foot of Stol (2236 m), the highest mountain in the Karavanke Chain, ends the plain of the Ljubljana Basin. In the direction of Begunje we find a number of villages: Doslovče, the birthplace of the writer Franc Finžgar, Breznica, the birthplace of the pioneer of Slovene beekeeping Anton Janša, Vrba, the birthplace of the greatest Slovene poet France Prešeren and naturally Žirovnica, the hometown of Preseren’s mentor Matija Čop. Up the Sava stretches the Upper Sava Valley (Zgomjesavska dolina). In Moste pri Žirovnici the Sava is dammed with the second highest dam in...

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Istria, Ankaran, Koper, Izola, Piran and Portorož

Istria, Ankaran, Koper, Izola, Piran and Portorož

Dec 14, 2016 | , |

Istria From the road leading to the coast extends a superb vista of the hilly country and the sea. Clustered small villages are scattered over rounded ridges so that they resemble small towns. Steep slopes of numerous valleys are covered with impenetrable forests. Ridges stretch into the sea forming a picturesque jagged coastline. This is the warmest part of Slovenia. Winters are usually mild with temperatures hardly ever dropping below 0°C. A road branches off from the main road under Črni Kal and leads to the Osapska reka valley. Galjevica lies by the road to Osp. The village of...

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Notranjska-Logatec, Planinsko polje, Rakov Škocjan

Notranjska-Logatec, Planinsko polje, Rakov Škocjan

Dec 14, 2016 | |

Notranjska Notranjska hides in its bosom an underground kingdom, an immense labyrinth of pits, caves, tunnels and streams hidden from everyday visitors and observers. Underground flow through unknown and only partly discovered tunnels veritable rivers, forming magnificent waterfalls, countless rapids and true lakes. It is a magnificent world, especially in places where water has hollowed out big halls into limestone layers. In complete darkens, millions of stalactites of breathtaking shapes and colors have been formed. Beauties of the Notranjska underground have since long been a magnet for visitors. There is no other place anywhere in the world that could...

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The Kras, Snežana and Kozina

The Kras, Snežana and Kozina

Dec 14, 2016 | |

The Kras The Kras consists of a limestone plateau with numerous dry valleys, potholes and karst caves, stretching between the Vipava Valley and the Gulf of Trieste. Here we can follow the underground stream of the Reka River flowing through the magnificent Škocjan caves system (Škocjanske jame). We also come across the Reka river over 200 m underground in the Kačna cave (Kačnajama) near Divača. After that the Reka River disappears in the mysterious underground and resurfaces again as the Timav in the Gulf of Trieste. Two other well known caves are Vilenica near Lokve and a more demanding...

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A Gulet from Bodrum to the Northern Greek Islands

A Gulet from Bodrum to the Northern Greek Islands

Dec 13, 2016 | , , , |

The Eastern Mediterranean The Eastern Mediterranean has become increasingly popular among sailors. The Aegean and its islands offer a great experience and if you pick a mavi boncuk gulet you can sail those seas for your next holiday. Bodrum is a great place to set sail and it is just half an hour from the international airport, Bodrum-Milas that has regular direct flights from many regions of Europe throughout the months from Easter around to the approach of winter. The climate through all the weeks and months is excellent. There is unlikely to be a cloud in the sky...

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Lake Cerknica, Cerknica, The Lož Valley, Postojna and Ilirska Bistrica

Lake Cerknica, Cerknica, The Lož Valley, Postojna and Ilirska Bistrica

Dec 13, 2016 | , |

Lake Cerknica The largest Slovene karst polje is Cerkniško polje or Lake Cerknica. It is the largest European intermittent lake with a surface of 24 km2. During rainy periods in the autumn and spring, when numerous springs from the edge of the polje and underground streams collecting water under the surrounding plateaus, rash into the polje, and the sinkholes and siphons cannot handle the outflow, then the polje usually becomes Lake Cerknica. In dry months the lake usually disappears. Cerknica Villages sit along the edge of the Cerkniško polje. The center of this part of Notranjska is Cerknica situated...

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The Goriška Brda, Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley

The Goriška Brda, Nova Gorica and Vipava Valley

Dec 12, 2016 | |

The Goriška Brda A road from Plave leads up a steep hill. Vrhovlje offers a view of hilly wine region Goriška Brda. Another road to that region comes from Solkan. Although the Goriška Brda is like a tongue stretching into Italy, the villages in the region are completely Slovene. It is interesting that the villages at the foot of Brda on the Italian side are Italian. National border is very clear here. The Goriška Brda is known for excellent wines and numerous wine cellars. Ruins on the hill testify to the fact that Kojsko used to be a fortified...

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Slovenian History

Slovenian History

Sep 27, 2016 | |

History Centuries ago, Slovenia was inhabited by Illyrian tribes. Around 400 BC they were joined by the Celtic tribes. In 200 BC they were ruled over by the Romans, who built military fortifications along new roads all the way to the Danube. The Germanic Langhobards only settled in the territory when the power of the Roman Empire began to decline. After the downfall of the Roman Empire, at the end of the 6th century, the Langhobards moved east to Italy, and the provinces they abandoned were settled by our ancestors – the Slovenes. At the same time, Roman social...

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