Blog

28-08-2021

The Walk Of Peace - walking the history of WWI Soca River Front

From the mighty Alps, through amazing Soca Valley, passing the rough Karst Plateau in Western Slovenia; all the way down to the Adriatic Sea, the thematic 230km (143mi) long trail The Walk Of Peace follows the crucial points of the WWI Soca River (or Isonzo) Front.
It reminds us of what should never again be repeated. Caverns, chapels, churches, memorial plaques, mule tracks, multinational cemeteries, scaled mountains, trenches, besides the breathtaking scenery raise the basic question: why? How, for God's sake, could something so horrible happen in a place so beautiful?

Click the title above, and start exploring the hiking and cycling trail where you will find yourself in agreement with the old words of wisdom: make love, not war.

Jernej Žakelj

24-02-2021

A trip to Koper

On the edge of the Mediterranean, in the North of the Adriatic sea, situated between Croatia and Italy, the 46km (28,5mi) long Slovenian coastline boasts three major towns. The largest among them is Koper.
Not as calm as the fishing town of Izola, nor as postcard-perfect as the town of Piran, nor as touristy as Piran's suburb Portoroz.
Koper is one of the places which underwent several urban transformations through time. It has always been a vivid hub and the pillar of stability for the entire region. Today it is home to the only port of Slovenia including the cruise terminal, numerous companies, industrial zone, shopping centers, modern football stadium, professional theatre, a marine, most of the high schools in the region, and even the seat of the University of Primorska.

I'm kindly inviting you to click the title above: Welcome to my home town.

Jernej Žakelj

06-02-2021

Tito's Square in Koper

I chose Tito's Square in Koper for the first square-blog simply because Koper is my home town. I can say I know every single stone there. Or, let's say: my eyes probably stroked every single detail of the place.
On its stoned pavement surrounded by the main city landmarks, we had concerts with the youth brass orchestra, local theatre group shows, student parties, romantic moments, and meeting with a not-really-welcome local bullies in the darkness of the night. (Don't take seriously the last one. It's there just to dramaturgically oppose everything before it. That really happened.)

So - don't be confused about the present name of the square.
Visit Koper in Slovenia, dive into the time, and explore the world behind it.

Jernej Žakelj

18-01-2021

'Zrihtati' or arranging the things in Slovenia

This time I'm honoured to post an insightful article about the ties between the locals in Slovenia from perspective of a visitor.

It was written by my friends David and Renee.
They live in Chicago, USA, which has more inhabitants than entire Slovenia.
The ties between the people there are considered differently than in one of the smallest countries in Europe where the most of population lives in villages and small towns.

I'm joking sometimes:
'Visit Slovenia,
enjoy the tranquility and non-virtual reality;
and by going to the local grocery store,
get to know everything about everybody.'

Again thanks to David and Renee for their priceless contribution and compliment.
Enjoy reading.

Jernej Žakelj

19-12-2020

Visiting Bela Krajina region in Slovenia

Bela Krajina or White Carniola, as I will call it further on, might be a getaway for one day too.
But I wouldn't rush that much.

I consider the White Carniola region a destination to visit in Slovenia when you are ready to say ok, let's go.
Let's just go and forget about the time.
Let's simply escape from the frenetic city environment and indulge ourselves in pristine.
Let's explore.

And then it begins.
A trip to another part of Slovenia, which is one of the smallest but most diverse countries in the world.

Come and enter the story the locals will be happy to tell you.
The story of White Carniola.
White as the limestone bedrock.
White as the folk costumes.
White as the birch trees, stretching the tops towards the sky.
White as the welcoming smiles of the locals, when we come to visit them.

Jernej Žakelj

26-09-2020

What's up in Ljubljana?

Sooner or later we'll be back to traveling.
And then questions will start.

How many days to spend in Ljubljana?
Is Ljubljana worth visiting for more than a day?
What would be a perfect 1,2, or 3 days Ljubljana itinerary?
When is the best time to visit Ljubljana?
What's the weather in Ljubljana?
What are the main sights to visit in Ljubljana?
What are the things to do in Ljubljana?
Where to eat and drink in Ljubljana?
Where to stay in Ljubljana?
Is there any nightlife in Ljubljana?
What about getting in and around Ljubljana?
Is Ljubljana safe?

These and other similar ones are crossing the minds of the future first-time visitors, in terms of creating a technically perfect Ljubljana itinerary.

I would not struggle to define everything in advance too much though.
The capital of Slovenia hits you in a different, embracing, loving way you can't predict.
At the end of no-matter-how-long-stay, people usually find out they would need at least one more day in Ljubljana to absorb its vibe, its energy.
And then maybe another one, and another one.

What are the reasons Ljubljana recently became one of Europe's hottest destinations?

Jernej Žakelj

06-06-2020

Why visit the Logar Valley?

The longer I've been young, the more I like to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the moment somewhere away from crowds.

The scent of blooming flowers and fresh-cut grass brings back the memories of that merry, cheerful, carefree time I spent with my cousins at the family farm in a tiny village at the beginnings of an immense green forest in the Inner Carniola region, close to known Slovenia's destinations Postojna Cave and Predjama Castle.

In Slovenia, one of the smallest but most diverse countries in the world, luckily we can choose among various things to do and different places to see, even under the three different climate areas with a bunch of sub-climate ones.
You can either diver into the urban life of the capital Ljubljana or take an escape into the wilderness outside the populated areas a short drive away.

Among the best destinations for nature lovers is Logar Valley, an Alpine paradise in the northern part of the country, below the mighty peaks of Kamniško-Savinjske Alps.

Jernej Žakelj

17-05-2020

Reasons to visit Vipava Valley

There are quite a few reasons to include Vipava Valley into your Slovenia itinerary.

Among the main ones are the 'kilometer zero' food and the wine.
Dishes coming out of authentic ingredients, prepared by the recipes of our grandmas, can't be anything else than a culinary delight.
The premium wines are always a nice accompaniment to the above mentioned.

Imagine having all this in the cool courtyard of a farm, covered by leaves of local vine trees, looking to the magical sunset and the valley, seeded with the tiny villages.
If you can still recall any worry, the super-strong Bora wind will blow it away.

Hospitable, merry locals always pull some rabbit from the hat when you think it's over.
When we had gigs in the Vipava Valley with my brass band, it often happened we were surprised to see the sun when getting from some of the hidden underground wine cellars, the main social spots of the region.

When you start to explore, you hardly stop.
This is the main reason to visit Vipava Valley.

Jernej Žakelj

01-05-2020

Slovenia in 7 days

Designing a tour is always a pleasant challenge for me.
It's not about putting a few destinations together in terms of the mainstream tourist trends of the moment.
It's not about the stereotypes.
It's about approaching the destination to the visitor in a way anybody can find something for one's own interest.

In one of the smallest but most diverse countries in the world, this is possible.
My main focus is to select the right ones among the wide variety of things to do and places to see in Slovenia, especially the ones you can experience just by going around with the local expert.

By spending a few days in Slovenia you may get a basic image of it.
Prathima, Kiran, and Aditi from India went around with me for a week.
In addition, they spent a few more days in the capital Ljubljana on their own.
Let's see how we traveled Slovenia in 7 days.

Jernej Žakelj

30-03-2020

How can you spend 5 days in Slovenia?

Travel habits are different.
Not only that.
The travel habits might change through time as we do.

Slovenia is a country that leaves you open doors for either a short break on your European tour, or a longer holiday with all the diversities that one of the smallest, but most diverse countries in the world can offer you.
The Alps and Triglav National Park on the north and northwest, Soča Valley and the Brda Wine Region on the west, the Adriatic Sea on the southwest, Karst world with Postojna Cave, Škocjan Caves, other caves and natural phenomena towards the south, green rolling hills of the Dolenjska and Bela Krajina wine-growing districts on the east and southeast, Pannonian Plain on the far northeast, the marshy region of the capital Ljubljana in the center are just some of the precious gems in a colorful mosaic called Slovenia.

Jernej Žakelj