Travelrific® Travel Journal
A blog for travel enthusiasts. Listen to our podcasts on the blogroll at Travelrific® Radio. Visit our Wanderful Places® Travel Shop for travel-inspired merchandise!Archive for slovenia
A Farewell to Arms in Slovenia
By Linda Tancs
Kobarid is a town located in the Upper Soča Valley in western Slovenia along the border with Italy. Its pastoral character—punctuated with picturesque mountains and peaceful green valleys—belies a stark history as the site of a bloody campaign during World War I. This amiable little town is where the Italian offensive gave way to the Austro-Hungarian army after a series of battles along the Soča Front, a conflict that was documented by Ernest Hemingway in his novel A Farewell to Arms. The town’s monument and church up the hill, overlooking the valley and the Soča River, is where you’ll find the final resting place of over 7,000 Italian soldiers.
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The Oldest Vine in the World
By Linda Tancs
Do fine vines get better with age? You can bet the answer is a resounding ‘yes’ in Maribor, Slovenia, home of the Old Vine. Aged over 400 years, Old Vine is listed in Guinness World Records as the oldest vine in the world. The still-producing vine is located on the frontage of Old Vine House along the Drava embankment. Enjoy the exhibition and wine tasting room.
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The Diversity of Slovenia
By Linda Tancs
Boasting one of the most diverse landscapes in Europe, Slovenia is a treasure trove of uplands and lowlands, karst and castles, alpine lakes and majestic mountains. Learn about its natural and cultural highlights at Travelrific® Radio.
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Alpine River Rafting
By Linda Tancs
Water sports enthusiasts adore the Soča, an Alpine river that rumbles for eighty-six miles through western Slovenia and northeastern Italy. Its tropical hue of green/blue belies the exhilaration it offers adventure travelers like kayakers, who are greeted with signage at various entry points warning them not to underestimate the river’s wrath. Don’t overestimate your talents; take some lessons at one of the many kayak schools all along the river. Bovec is a popular point of entry where you can obtain a river permit. Enjoy the season through October.
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Island Charm
By Linda Tancs
Slovenia, the third most forested country in Europe, has but one island–Bled. Ringed by the Julian Alps, picturesque Bled reigns supreme in the middle of its Alpine lake, a sight to behold in winter when the lake freezes over. The average temperature is, after all, a chilled -2 degrees Celsius. Enjoy the winter views from Bled Castle, the country’s oldest, while munching on Bled vanilla cream cake, a local specialty.
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Slovenian Capital of Culture
By Linda Tancs
Maribor, the second largest city in Slovenia, is a 2012 European Capital of Culture. The festivities began this past weekend with music, theatre and dance performances. The year’s events will encompass events as varied as carnival and contemporary dance. Youth art is a particular highlight, quite fitting as Maribor will follow on this year’s cultural award as the European Youth Capital in 2013.
