The poor alignment of public holidays in the country resulted in very few days off toward the end of the year, which triggered a state of burnout for me. That working Saturday, a morning shift somewhere around breakfast time, was packed with work obligations. It was the first day of the weekend, yet there I was, at work.
The decision was easy. I sent a message to our group of friends asking, “Where, when, how? Let’s go somewhere.” The plan was simple—get away from the people I see every day and the environment that feels confining. “When?” After my shift ends. Perfect. Five of us gathered, and we decided to set out that Saturday afternoon to a neighboring country: Slovenia.
We bought a vignette and headed to Bled. On our way, we searched for accommodation to stay the night. We found Alp Pension in Bled, just a 10-minute walk from Lake Bled. By the time we arrived, it was already dark, and all we wanted was to sleep. But, of course, we didn’t just sleep. We grabbed some drinks we had picked up along the way and celebrated a little in one of the two rooms we had booked. The place was beautiful, offering wellness services, massages, and a sauna. What more could you need to recharge? Oh, right—good company. A group of people who are always there for you, even in the hardest times.
With soft music and some drinks, we welcomed the night. By midnight, we had planned our itinerary for the next day. First on the list was the lake (since we were so close to it), followed by Bled Castle and the somewhat distant Postojna Cave.
The weather was cloudy, with occasional rain, so we didn’t walk much around the lake. Instead, we found a lakeside café, settled in to warm up, and enjoyed a cup of coffee. That first morning coffee, with a view of the lake, felt like a blessing. We climbed up to the top of the hill where Bled Castle is located, but it was closed to visitors. Nevertheless, we strolled along the castle’s paths, accompanied by rain and stunning views of the lake from above.
Around late morning, we headed to Postojna Cave Park, a little over an hour’s drive away. On the way, we purchased entrance tickets. We managed to catch the last guided tour of the day since it was a Sunday with reduced hours. By mistake, we had bought tickets for the Slovenian-speaking guide. When the guide began speaking, we realized we couldn’t understand much despite the similarities between our languages—the dialect was completely different. We decided to quicken our pace to catch up with the English-speaking group.
The tour began with a long train ride deep into the cave. The experience was magical. The sights were like entering another world, a city of tiny minions. Awestruck by the enchanting scenes, we managed to join the English-speaking group and learned a bit more about the cave—how it was formed, who discovered it, and the life within it. As water dripped from the stalactites, time seemed to stand still. We visited breathtaking spots, including the so-called Concert Hall, which boasted an echo so powerful it was indescribable—something everyone should experience at least once.
We snapped a few pictures and shared them on social media. The tour, which lasted about an hour, concluded with a train ride back to the surface. Outside, the rain continued, so we made our way to the car. On our way back, we stopped at a nearby restaurant for lunch. We played it safe and ordered classic dishes, which never disappoint.
That evening, we returned home. The next day, the grind resumed, but with 20% more energy to spend at work.
Slovenia is a truly beautiful country to visit. It has so much to offer. It may look small on the map, but it has a big heart.
Our next destination in Slovenia is Ljubljana, and I can’t wait to write about it for you. If you ever get the chance, put Slovenia on your travel list.
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