Travel, 50+, Slovenia

Slovenia is a bit of an obscure country. It's one of the least known countries of the Balkans, probably because of being less belligerent than the others. It's a completely forgotten country of Central Europe. Even its capital is so unknown that, when I was trying to buy a train ticket from the neighboring country (Austria, Graz to be specific), they asked me: "Did you mean Lublin?" (which is a lesser known city in Poland). I had to verbally spell and, even, write down Ljubljana before the lady found the place from the depths of her computer. She, with her mouth hanging open, went just: "Huh..."

Despite being small, so very small, and nearly everything Slovenian being small, they do punch way above their league. You have a nice capital with relatively well kept architecture. You can present a river here, a lake there, mountains, caves, hot beaches and you can physically stone people in Italy, if you feel like it. Or Austria. Or some other places.

The capital treated me well. The food was one of the best I had tasted until then. Everything was compact and most people were nice. I saw a street performer cry. He claimed he was allergic to his own sweat, but who knows. Nearly everyone seemed very relaxed and down to earth. Including that market guy who sold me something and, immediately, lifted the tarpaulin to get some beer from the guy behind it. He turned to me with a smirk and went "Money come, money go."

...And then there was the uptight steam factory in the tourist shop downtown. Stomping around the store like a rhino looking for it's natural enemy to flip. I was planning to shop a knickknack, some cards and stamps that are marked not with a value, but with a letter. The stamp prices seemed suspiciously high for the area and I, no doubt, had to ask about it. Politely and out of curiosity.

The rhino begun bellowing at me: "Then go to the post office to buy your stamps!!" To which he continued to add in local. I'm sure it was all pleasantries and well-wishing. Anyway, I placed the items on one of the display stands and, indeed, did go to the post office. The rhino continued to yell at all the other customers just because. Everyone vanished like flesh at the center of a nuclear blast.

The stamps were cheaper at the post office. It was only a matter of a few cents, too. I find it difficult to believe your random tourist would end up making a fuss about such a measly value. Alas, instead of choosing sales, the guy at the shop opted for his futile, impotent rage. The lady at the post office was a darling, however. Even had a time for a nice chat.

Whenever you are in Slovenia, you have got to go to Bled (I have been told). It's famous and popular since centuries ago. For this, you can blame the Swiss. Well, at least Arnold Rikli, anyway. The geezer swore Bled is a top level health resort and sent a complete list of 1800s name-dropper dream team to ... "heal". Whether there were kickbacks, I do not know.

While the health resort hysteria waned with time, the reputation of the place somewhat remained. They do have a nice lake to tempt your gaze and you can give Karawanks a try.

While the place looks extraordinarily charming in pictures, I came to find most tourists are gravely disappointed. Everything is expensive, a lot of the accommodation is molded to some extent, it's a small place ... like a really, really small place and there is "nothing" to do ... were the most common complaints I heard. And yes, it is a very small place. And a lot of people seemed to have reserved several days and even up to two weeks there. Tsk, tsk. Herein we learn, once again, the importance of actually finding out about the place you are going to visit. It always surprises me how so many people simply won't bother (or allow themselves to be seduced by ig et al. pics, which are fr so 100% legit, no cap). If you're expecting anything but nature and chill, with a side of physical exercise and fresh air, Bled will slap you silly.

These two were the "hot spots" of tourism I visited. Borderline abandoned. The capital had a few more tourists, Bled a couple of handfuls. And then I went to the "other side" of Slovenia. The place with... Squares. And streets. Bankrupt businesses and barely even a local to bounce around.

What my experience comes down to is myself walking around half the country in undisturbed peace and quiet, stopping here and there for a stare, going "Huh..." like that lady in Graz. Surrealistic views bombarding my irises, a touch of scorching sun washed away by torrents of rain (and repeat). Occasionally locking eyes with a Slovenian going around like the waiting man meme. A polite nod and we will never see one another again.

The Judgment:
You will not be disturbed unnecessarily. There is all the nature of nearly all sorts you can desire. The food is probably the best and most versatile in former Yugoslavia. You can roam around safely (I have been informed Slovenia is even clear of landmines, which can be a thing in the area, but do confirm this in case you are going in the nature and especially near the border). You can do your thing over the ground as well as under the ground. Definitely a lot of attractions over there. This said, Slovenia does not necessarily have a singular, immediately internationally recognizable magnetic sight that everyone "has to" see. There are no big cities and shopping isn't cheap. Slovenia does not sell you a simple people bulk trip served on a platter. It is you who has to make the trip in Slovenia. You know, with your brain packed with all that information you found while planning at home.

Slovenia is great for solo travelers, introverts, people who enjoy nature, slow travel, there's something for all ages (albeit not for all interests) and it is very easy to combine the place with such as Croatia, Italy, Austria and others. It's in one of the areas where country collectors can maximize the number of collected countries while minimizing the time spent, completely on land.

Would I go again? Maybe. If I need peace and quiet abroad or want to see the coast.