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…
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…
We were consistently drawn to the northwest corner of the country, eager to explore Slovenia’s only national park and enjoy the Julian Alps.
Nothing in Slovenia’s landscape is more striking than a view of the Šoca River, with its impossibly vibrant color.
A day trip to the city of Maribor was our only venture east of Ljubljana.
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).
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.
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.
Love that castle… I would totally use it for my lair if I were a super hero
MY THOUGHTS EXACTLY!
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! 🙂
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. 🙂
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 🙂
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! 🙂
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!
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!
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. (-:
Slovenia seems like a fairy world!! I just adore these post card shots, especially those mountains and the castle. Have a wonderful day 🙂
It is a very “enchanting” place to be Arti. Hope you make it there someday. 🙂
Slovenia just looks more and more amazing. Really looking forward to visiting someday soon!
Slovenia is totally on my Eastern Europe to-do list. Nice photos!
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.
I love the way you do the postcards at the end of some of your stays. And the photography is beautiful as always.
We’ve got a cruise stop there coming up this fall; short, but anything is better than nothing. Great photos!
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!
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.
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 🙂
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!
Love the castle and the bridge with the green water underneath. Especially the castle.. 🙂
Beautiful photos! Reading about Slovenia on your site, and several others, is really making me push this country higher up on my list.
I have not been to Slovenia as of yet but after seeing these photos, I’d love to get there!
Wow these photos are amazing, I can’t wait till I get to Europe!!! Belle 🙂
THanks Belle!
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!
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. 🙂
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