Postcards from Slovenia

Words by Dalene Heck / Photography by Pete Heck

On one of our last nights in Ljubljana, Pete and I sat downtown at one of the many riverside cafes and enjoyed our last local beers. We sat in silence mostly, soaking up the lively summer atmosphere that buzzed around us.

When we were chatting it was in happy reflection of the previous month, of the milestones passed, the fears we faced, the work we accomplished, and of the generous hospitality received from the many new friends we made.

It was one of those rare moments where we actually took the time to reflect in such a manner, to acknowledge the extremely privileged lives we lead and the good fortune that continues to be bestowed upon us. Slovenia readily brought that out in us.

Slovenia is an extraordinary country. It’s tiny in stature but large in natural beauty, and full of friendly, kindhearted and proud people who are excited to show off their country. As well they should be, because there is much to brag about.

And once again, we will humbly try to give you a snapshot of the best of what we saw. Which essentially was too little and over not enough time, leaving us wanting more, and thus demanding our return…

Slovenia is tiny in stature but large in natural beauty, and full of friendly, kindhearted and proud people who are excited to show off their country.

 

You already know we have mad love for Ljubljana, even so much as to consider it as a future home. Not sure you need any more justification to visit yourself, but here is a bit more…

Ljubljana-Slovenia
Tivoli-Park-Ljubljana

We were consistently drawn to the northwest corner of the country, eager to explore Slovenia’s only national park and enjoy the Julian Alps.

Triglav-National-Park-Slovenia
Mountains-Slovenia
Triglav-National-Park
Bohinj-Slovenia
Vintgar-Gorge-Slovenia

Nothing in Slovenia’s landscape is more striking than a view of the Šoca River, with its impossibly vibrant color.

Most-Na-Soci-Slovenia
Kanal-Slovenia

A day trip to the city of Maribor was our only venture east of Ljubljana.

Maribor-Slovenia

The Predjama Castle, very near the Postojna Caves, is an extraordinary fortress built into the mouth of a cave and is even connected to Postojna by a secret tunnel (which is 11km away).

Predjama-Castle-Slovenia

The enduring image of Slovenia that will remain in the forefront of our memories will be of orange roofs against green mountains, so many quaint towns scattered throughout the countryside that we longed to discover every time we passed them. If it turns out that some dreams are just so crazy they might eventually come true, then perhaps our chance to explore will come.

Slovenija

Our sincere and abundant thanks to the curling community in Slovenia for opening their doors, for spontaneously whisking us to new corners of the country, and for making us feel so welcome in what we would be happy to call our home someday.

31 Comments... Read them below or add one of your own
  • August 27 2012

    Love that castle… I would totally use it for my lair if I were a super hero

  • Jeremy Branham
    August 27 2012

    Love these postcards! Slovenia is my favorite country in Europe. One day I would love to spend three months exploring the country. After seeing these postcards, I am even more convinced! 🙂

    • August 28 2012

      Really Jeremy? I’ve NEVER heard you talk about Slovenia before! Haha, jk! It’s easy to see why it is your favorite country as it is definitely one of ours as well. So weird to think that we spent a whole month there but we know we STILL have so much more to see! 3 months should just about do it. 🙂

  • August 27 2012

    What a beautiful country! I love that there is a diving platform right by the river – not sure if I had the guts to jump in from the very top though 🙂
    Dani recently posted..What I Wonder When I Wander: Why is bargaining so hard for some?

    • August 28 2012

      Oh boy, I DEFINITELY wouldn’t have the guts to. And that wasn’t the only diving platform we saw beside rivers/lakes as well. We had to laugh – in some places in America you see barriers by bridges to stop people from jumping off, and in Slovenia, they encourage it! 🙂

  • August 27 2012

    Well, you KNOW how much I love Slovenia now, so I probably don’t have to express how much I love these photos!

    It’s fun to be able to look at most of them and say, “Hey, I’ve been there!”

    Lovely shots, as usual!
    Amanda recently posted..Rila Monastery, In Photos

    • August 28 2012

      Thanks Amanda! I always love reading other people’s posts about places I’ve been too. Looking forward to more of your stuff from Slovenia!

  • August 28 2012

    OMG I want to move there NOW!

  • I’m sold too! Of the pictures you included, I can’t pick a favorite because they are all equally beautiful. Thanks for sharing Slovenia with us! I need to get there soon.

  • Those are stunning! Adding to my “gotta go there” list. (-:
    Deanna @ Cool Travel Ideas recently posted..Nantucket travel guide – Whales, windmills and more

  • August 28 2012

    Slovenia seems like a fairy world!! I just adore these post card shots, especially those mountains and the castle. Have a wonderful day 🙂
    Arti recently posted..An Interview With BlogAdda and A Food Feature

    • August 28 2012

      It is a very “enchanting” place to be Arti. Hope you make it there someday. 🙂

  • August 28 2012

    Slovenia just looks more and more amazing. Really looking forward to visiting someday soon!
    Laurence recently posted..Win €150 of free accommodation with @Wimdu!

  • August 28 2012

    Slovenia is totally on my Eastern Europe to-do list. Nice photos!

  • August 29 2012

    Cannot wait to visit this beautiful country. Predjama Castle looks very mysterious. Keep sending those postcards!

  • Ahh…you just gave me an itch to travel to Slovenia soon. Really glorious photos.
    Marisol@TravelingSolemates recently posted..Barcelona Part 2: Understanding Gaudi

  • August 29 2012

    I love the way you do the postcards at the end of some of your stays. And the photography is beautiful as always.
    Leih recently posted..The Blogger Relay – My Top Three Travel Memories

  • August 29 2012

    We’ve got a cruise stop there coming up this fall; short, but anything is better than nothing. Great photos!

  • August 29 2012

    wow your photos are so beautiful!! I’ve only recently added Slovenia to my travel list and now I want to go there even more.
    Great blog!

  • August 28 2012

    Simply beautiful! You sold me.

    Also, now that you’ve completed the housesitting ebook, your next job to tackle is a line of global postcards. I’m not kidding.

  • August 29 2012

    I’ve only been in Piran – back when it was still Yugoslavia. Been very interested in visiting Ljubljana, though, ever since reading ‘Veronica Decides to Die’ years ago.

    Gorgeous photos as usual 🙂
    Sophie recently posted..Vecriga: UNESCO in Latvia

  • August 29 2012

    Always love your postcard posts – consistently beautiful photos. I have read quite a lot about Slovenia and would like to go but seeing your photos has definitely sealed the deal! Definitely one day soon!

  • August 30 2012

    Love the castle and the bridge with the green water underneath. Especially the castle.. 🙂
    Andrew recently posted..Turkish Food – Beyond the Döner Kebap

  • Ali
    August 30 2012

    Beautiful photos! Reading about Slovenia on your site, and several others, is really making me push this country higher up on my list.
    Ali recently posted..What If You Don’t Speak the Language?

  • September 2 2012

    I have not been to Slovenia as of yet but after seeing these photos, I’d love to get there!

  • September 3 2012

    Wow these photos are amazing, I can’t wait till I get to Europe!!! Belle 🙂
    Belle recently posted..Flying in Style – Business Class

  • November 30 2012

    hey guys, stumbled upon your great website while searching for house-sitting (which obviously you know tons about, by any chance you wouldn’t happen to have a copy lying aroung hehe)…
    the postcards of Slovenia are gorgeous, I’ve been living in Ljubljana most of my life and even I was amazed at how good ‘we look’:)
    …just wanted to make a small correction, it’s not Šoca river but Soča river

    cheers … and hey, I’d be more than happy to assist you in any way I can if someday Slovenia does become your home:)

    in the meantime, I’ll be off to an adventure somewhere, the housesitting thing really pumped me up!

  • Jen
    March 27 2015

    Well now we’ll have to make sure to ride through Slovenia. Not sure how we’ll manage with Shengen and winter weather on our tails, but you’ve sold us. We’ll find a way! Keep showing us where we should be traveling in Eastern Europe, k? Thanks. 🙂
    Jen recently posted..Why I’ve Ignored My Passion

  • Mark
    August 23 2015

    Wow, incredible photography and scenery. We’ll be living in Austria just near the border of Slovenia so excited to being in Central Europe. This postscards post is amazing, getting us pumped up and inspired

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