So we left you on a cliffhanger... had the parcel arrived, well of course it hadnt, so we decided to cross the unnoticed into Slovenia. Our idea was to stay close to the Border so we could drive back when or if the parcel arrived.
It turn out that at our first stop we find that Slovenia has gone into stricter lockdown and proves the case when we are almost unable to buy a glass of wine at the hill top village we are spending the night in. After viewing our Covid passes we get our first glass of local Slovenian wine! Followed by a local supplier where I purchase a litre and half, the size of the empty water bottle! for 3 euros, and very palatable it was. The next problem could be our ability to purchase diesel which would then force us back into Italy, but as we drive into the Petrol station no checks are made and with a full tank we head further in. That is when we find out how hilly Slovenia is. With its windy roads?!? 80% of the country is above 300 meters and the rest well you guess it is
We make a short hop to Skojan Caves, Slovenia has a few but we pick this one because of its phenomenal size, something you really cant fathom until your in it!! Not only do you have to negotiate over 1000 steps, you descend some distance, no photos are allowed (of course some people do!) but in many ways just walking and absorbing the caves without wondering about the best picture angle is quite refreshing. The river runs along the bottom of the cave and as you descend a the 330ft high water mark that has been achieved, today the river is a trickle. The largest and most impressive of these is Hankes Channel which goes into Martels chamber, this underground channel is approx 2.2miles long, wide and over 450ft High!! After a 4 mile walk we reamerge to make our way back and up to the start, a tiring but mind blowing visit.
The following day the from the Italian campsite, the part has arrived so we head back and spend a few hours back
on the beach much to Poppys delight. Our overnight stop really shows the real spirit of ‘van life one up from just holidaying! We arrive at the aire at Palmanova, Italy and its full. I am just talking around the opportunity of us tucking ourselves in, when Gerard, a Dutchman approaches and says ‘you look tired would you like a cup of coffee truth be known we want to collapse but hospitality should never be declined, this leads to Lasagne (I make a salad) and an evening of chat and travel stories unfolds. A gesture which sums up the best of this Palmanova turns out to be a fascinating stop its a star shaped fort designed in Venice and built around 1593, in good order and open so that you can meander by its walls as are daily dog walkers.
But we need to move on, we have made contact with Sonja and HP a ‘which country are you in?? creates an opportunity to meet at Lake Bled so we have 3 days to get there. Our last meeting was when we were all stuck in Morocco at Camp Ourika, we were a supportive gang during our
forced 2 months of lockdown and made good friendships so it will be lovely to see them again. They have travelled from Switzerland.
We make a stop at Tolmin on the river Soca known for its aqua waters, although a little depleted are very tranquil and accords us an educational and moving find of an ossuary. This ossuary, a place or a building for preserving bones dug up from previous graves. We chance upon The German Charnel House built by from Munich in 1938, there are the bones of 965 German soldiers from the campaign, this the last battle of the Isonzo Front. The so called 12th offensive proved fatal for those buried here who supported the army with only a few divisions, a fitting resting place with a long view down the Beautiful Soca River.
The campsite at Lake Bled sits at one end of the Lake and Bled the other.
