Slovenia 1 - a very quick trip through and a promise to return

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Woke up early, made our plans for our visit to Croatia. We had already decided to spend a week in Pula and perhaps call in on Rovinj but after talking to our new German friends we had made new plans. It was going to be the island of Krk. Went to the shop before leaving to stock up on milk, bread,cheese, ham and potatoes. The prices seemed very expensive and I was unsure if this was Italian high pricing or just campsite prices.


We fixed our metal GB plate on the van. Apparently in Croatia the Euro GB plate is not sufficient and you need to affix a second plate. This now sits proud on one side of the van opposite a welsh dragon on the other side. Have you noticed how many drivers don’t even bother with the EU sticker on their numberplates? Strange how they break the law with impunity or do they just not care?

We arrived at the Italian/Slovenian border quite quickly due to Trieste being just a few miles from the border. We sailed through thanks to the Schengen agreement. We did not travel down any motorways which made it even more irritating that we spent a wasted day in Italy. We could have moved a day earlier but then we didn’t know did we!!! Sometimes a cunning plan does not quite come together.

Slovenia seemed a pretty country densely wooded to both sides of the road. Signs suggested bears lived in the forest. We did not find out but may do in the future. . I noticed along the way large rotisseries some rusted but others gleaming in the sun. Roadside restaurants offered the local delicacy of pig which were roasted outside on spits within these metal cooking containers. The roasting pigs were shown to try to tempt the hungry traveller in. I would have loved to try the pig but as it was early in the morning it was too close to breakfast to partake.

We passed through too quickly and made a mental note to come back again and see more of the country. It actually looked quite lovely.

Our arrival at the first border post seemed very odd having travelled so far through France, Belgium, Germany,Austria , Italy and Slovenia without border posts. We were stopped by a lovely lady who checked our passports, stamped them and asked where we intended travelling to. For the first time since 2002 we got a stamp in our passport. We chuckled as the last one we got was going into Chicago. When we explained Krk she wished us a happy holiday. The roads seemed of an excellent standard and our first motorway toll cost 13 kunas. With this you could travel as little as you wanted – us as far as Krk but others going down to Zadar. The money seemed odd as we felt we were spending a lot of money whereas in fact it was next to nothing. I kept thinking we were parting with a lot of cash and had to keep telling myself I was only spending a few pounds as we moved from Slovenia to its neighbour Croatia.

We didnt see much of Slovenia but what we saw we rather liked and made the promise to return and see more of it.

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