Intermezzo Part 1 - Thank you Slovenia!

Dear Slovenia,

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hospitality. You hosted us and Gretchen for three weeks and showed us your best side. Despite being a small country with limited international recognition, you have so much to offer!

Our tour guide in Ljubljana told us that he always has trouble describing his origin when abroad because hardly anyone knows you. And people can't believe that not only Ljubljana, but the whole of Slovenia has only 2 million inhabitants.

No wonder, or rather, how lucky that so much of your nature remains untouched and unspoiled. 37 percent of your area is under nature protection! In Germany, it is only 15.

And it pays off, as you can still shine with unaltered rivers and beautiful forests and attract more and more travelers. It's amazing how much diversity you can offer despite your small size. We also noticed that you care about the Slovenian people. Rarely have we found so little rubbish while hiking, climbing, and sightseeing. Our guide in the Soča Valley during canyoning told us that he is always impressed by the sudden color changes of the river, no matter how many times he sees them. We can definitely understand that!

During our trip, we mainly saw natural wonders of all kinds. Lake Bled and Bohinj, the Triglav National Park, waterfalls upon waterfalls, the Soča Valley, the caves of Postojna and Škocjan, and the coast. But even away from the typical tourist attractions, there are picturesque spots in your mountain villages and valleys. We were able to find them mainly thanks to the various climbing areas scattered throughout.

Climbing in Slovenia is awesome! The existing areas are well-equipped and excellently bolted thanks to the necessary financial resources. There is still a lot of potential here, both in already established but underutilized areas and in unexplored cliffs.

Historically, it was particularly interesting for us as Germans to trace the traces and influences of Austria and Germany. We could admire old inscriptions in our language in many churches or castles. What a transformation you have gone through, from the first Slavs who settled here, to the rule of the Habsburgs, the occupations by Napoleon and later Germany in World War II, the Republic of Yugoslavia, to your independence.

Looking back, we are glad that we accidentally started our journey in Austria, or rather Vienna, because a visit to Schönbrunn Palace and refreshing our knowledge about Emperor Franz Josef and his counterparts complemented what we learned about you. Our visit to Ljubljana was particularly enlightening, but also the various castles, old towns, and finally the coastal town of Piran completed the picture.

No wonder our meager knowledge of Slovenian expanded especially with the words "Most, Jama, Grad & Cesta" - Bridge, Cave, Castle & Road.

And of course, "dobrodošli" - Welcome! Whether on the cliffs, in the city, or in the countryside, we were (almost) always welcomed, received tips for our journey, and residents proudly showcased their German skills. Even the police, despite an unpleasant encounter, showed their best and friendliest side!

Only in terms of being camper-friendly, you could still work on it a little bit. We understand that you are not a fan of wild camping, as a landscape disfigured by motorhomes and possibly their leftovers is not pleasing to anyone. Nevertheless, does there have to be a ban at every public parking lot? We mean no harm and certainly don't want to leave any garbage behind, but your campsites are not affordable in the long run! Fortunately, residents and the police usually show us more understanding than your legal situation...

Despite the semi-legal nature of traveling, we wouldn't have wanted to get to know you from any other perspective. Not only would we never have had enough time (and money) to travel a country so extensively outside of van life. We were also wonderfully flexible and saw corners of you that we would have missed in hotels or campsites. As tedious as finding a parking spot can be, it can also lead you to hidden and beautiful places. Despite scouring almost the entire country, we still couldn't find Janja Garnbret and Jernej Kruder.

Now we've drifted off a bit, sorry. The bottom line is that we are glad that we chose you as our first proper stage for our big journey. We have seen and learned so incredibly much that will hopefully stay with us for a long time. We combed you from top to bottom and didn't find a place that we didn't like.

So, all we can do is wish that more and more people discover you and that your lovingly equipped climbing routes will be frequented outside of Osp as well. From our selfish point of view, we don't necessarily wish for that because then some wonderful rocks would be completely deserted and available for future visits. Either way, we'll see each other again.

Until then, bolt on!