Above: The grandeur of the Julian Alps will take your breath away. This image (along with a special memory) taken from an obliging meadow in Bovec, Slovenia.
BACK 2 BACK | THE FIRST PART
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The Best of the Adriatic in 14 DaysOur Best of the Adriatic Top Five (highlight reel at left)
Pre-Tour Prep Ideas
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BACK2BACK: WELCOME TO LJUBLJANA |
Steps: 10,799
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Let us Sleep. Hotel Mrak - a family owned hotel set in the old town of Ljubljana (3 nights)
Let us Savor.
A sweet addition to our "Bells Around the World" collection.
4 o'clock bells from Ljubljana's Cathedral peal and build in a riot of joyful exuberance! |
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TOUR DAY 2: ARCHITECTURAL RICHES OF LJUBLJANA |
Steps: 21,758
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SAY "ZDRAVO" TO BARBARA AND ADIC! Barbara Jakopic is a seasoned Rick Steves Tour guide whose hometown is Ljubljana, Slovenia. This was her first tour back since the pandemic! She and her Croatian husband, Marian, have lead Rick Steves Tours for over a decade. And, in addition to knowing the Adriatic like the back of her hand, she is one well-heeled world traveler! We loved Barbara's humor, her intelligence and especially drawing on the nuanced differences between Slovenes (her) and Croatians (her husband). Listen to the beginning of Rick Steves Radio Episode 578 - Walking Ljubljana to hear our guide Barbara Jakopic talk about her hometown! |
TOUR DAY 3: SLOVENIA'S LAKES AND ALPS |
Steps: 17,003
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Let us Sleep. Hotel Mangart, Bovec (1 night)
Let us Savor.
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SAY "ZDRAVO" TO OUR BACK2BACK TRAVEL BUDDY KIM! Kim became a very special travel buddy and part of our Rick Steves Back2Back adventure. When we met in Ljubljana, Kim, a widow, was on an epic 3-month adventure in Europe. She had just finished Rick Steves Athens and the Heart of Greece in 14 Days and, we learned, that she would be on the same Best of Turkey in 13 Days with us after our Adriatic Tour! What I love about Rick Steves Tours: I love knowing I'm walking into a well-planned, wonderful time with people who have a true appreciation of travel and all the new, exciting, culture involved possibilities. People I know I'll enjoy traveling with because that's the kind of people who "do" travel the Rick Steves way. Favorite Rick Steves Tour: I've taken three and it's so hard to pick a favorite! Greece in springtime was phenomenal. The Adriatic Tour was truly wonderful, and I enjoyed it immensely, even though I ended up with a broken arm. But Turkey may have been my favorite, perhaps because it was the most recent but how can you compete with historic cities, mountains, seas, the ocean, the food and hot air ballooning!! Best Back2Back Travel Tip: I know Rick says it again and again, but TRAVEL LIGHT!! In the past year I've spent 16 weeks in Europe over two trips and never regretted not carrying more than my 18 1/2" carry-on can handle plus a shoulder bag or pack. You don't need more and if you do, you can pick something up there. If you have a one-night stay, leave your bag on the bus and just have what you need in your shoulder bag. And in each place you go, if parts of the group are doing something on down times or "vacation from a vacation" days, join the group! There are more ideas and fun than you may think of yourself to enjoy! It was nice on the back-to-back tours to have one day for self-exploration too! Next Big Travel Adventure: Next up, Stephanie and Ed [tour members from our Turkey Tour] and I are going to Peru next summer. My only sadness is that it won't be a RS tour!! And that you guys won't be with us! |
Let us Sleep. Hotel Kaštel, Motovun (2 nights) Perched at the tippity-top of a gorgeous Istrian hilltown, Motovun has been continuously inhabited for over 3000 years! (It's also the birthplace of race car legend Mario Andretti!)
Let us Savor.
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TOUR DAY 4: CROSSING PATHS WITH HEMMINGWAY |
Steps: 6,353
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May a pig slip into your food. |
One of my favorite meals ever,
even if I can't remember the "cheers word" in Slovene! (gah!) FYI it's not prost or cin cin or salute. Note to self: to cheers, you say, "na zdravje!" |
TOUR DAY 5: ISTRIAN PENINSULA |
Steps: 15,697
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Warning: This might produce shivers!
As we saunter back to the hotel after dinner (carefully because of the ancient uneven cobbles), we are wooed by a half-moon floating overhead, and caressed by the soft evening air. There is music coming from St. Stephen's Church! We poke our heads in and behold a rehearsal in full swing. Quietly, we sneak in the back and are mesmerized by the incredible harmonies which float and cavort off the walls and ceiling in lofty sanctuary. Surely these old churches were made to hold not only light, but music! |
Istria FUN FACT! The largest town in Istria is Pula (59,594 inhabitants). The smallest city in Istria is Hum. Hum is also the smallest city in the world. Or, how about this zinger ...
Good Slovenian Wives do This! (A FUN FACT! for Katy K, our resident chef and epicure.) They make Potica, a traditional Slovenian cake, usually a rolled sweet cake with nut filling. (Here is a fun video link to YouTube) |