Slovenia
Several of us, particularly the older generation, had some trepidation at entering Slovenia. It had been part of Communist Yugoslavia for many years and some of the austerity of that system was still evident.
Yet we found the people to be extremely welcoming and friendly. In fact, I have since made the comment that I definitely would like to return to Slovenia.
The view out my hotel window in Bled, Slovenia, of the road to Ljubljana, the capital.
The beautiful town of Bled, Slovenia
Bled Castle stands on a promontory overlooking the town and Lake Bled. The castle was first mentioned in writing in 1011 and was complete at that time.
A view of Bled Castle across Lake Bled
The Louisville volleyball team salutes Bled Castle
Lake Bled at sunset with Bled Island visible in the center. The church on Bled Island dates from the 1400s and is an international wedding destination.
A church on the shore of Lake Bled next to the promontory of Bled Castle.
The church on Bled Island dates from the 1400s and is an international wedding destination.
The Poharje Ski Resort in Maribor, Slovenia. I took this photo from the balcony of our hotel.
A monument in the town square of Maribor, Slovenia, honors 556 Slovenian partisans killed by Nazi troops during World War II. Faces of the partisans are visible on the monument. The monument is familiarly called "Kodjak" because of the resemblance to the bald-headed TV detective Theo Kojak.
A monument in the town square of Maribor, Slovenia, honors 556 Slovenian partisans killed by Nazi troops during World War II. Faces of the partisans are visible on the monument.
A church located just off the town square in Maribor, Slovenia
View of the Maribor valley from a point about half way up the main slope of the Poharje Ski Resort.
The Plague Column (Slovene: Kužno znamenje) is a monument at Main Square (Glavni trg) of the city of Maribor, Slovenia, erected by "pious burghers" in gratitude for the end of a 1680 plague epidemic that had claimed a third of the city's population.
I'm not sure I would enjoy a pizza from this business.
A street-side fruit and vegetable market in Maribor, Slovenia.
The world's oldest producing grape vine, located in Maribor, Slovenia. This Žametovka (a red Slovenian variety) vine is known to have existed as early at 1657. Today, it still produces a token annual harvest sufficient to make about 25 liters of wine.
Sunset over the hills of Kungota, Slovenia