Julians Log, Autumn in Slovenia

THE JULIANS LOG

Twentieth Post

AUTUMN HOLIDAYS

Autumn is now well and truely here, with our first snow on the mountains. Slovenia remains as beautiful in the Autumn as in the other seasons and with clear blue skies, golden Larch and colourful Beech trees, the scenery has been stunning this Autumn….

FOCUS ON AUTUMN SCENES

Mojstrana sits nestled under awesone mountains and the view down from across the valley is stunning at the moment as in the photograph.

The mountains provide peaceful haven for walking. The locals are getting ready for winter and the carefully arranged wood piles are like spectacular sculptures in peoples gardens! If you are looking for a city buzz, then Ljubljana is a beautiful capital city with street cafes, bars and bustling markets. There are always art exhibitions and things to see in this prosperous city.

Nature is pretty at this time of year, with berries, fruit, flowers and fungi filling the land and trees.

The forests are a mixture of Larch and Beech, so the colours are amazing, especially set against the blue skies and limestone mountains.

Alternatively a trip to any of the Lakes, Bohinj, Bled or Fusini in Italy will not disappoint you, as the colours are reflected in the clear waters.

If you feel like a break before winter, visit our website and learn more about our apartment on www.mojstrana.co.uk

Next Blog focus: Ljubljana, Slovenia´s Capital City.

Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj, Slovenia

THE JULIAN'S LOG

Nineteenth Post

"SUMMER/AUTUMN HOLIDAYS”

There are still flowers in the meadows, but we have had the first snow up in the mountains and the mornings have that Autumnal chill now. There is still plenty of sun and blue skies and the nearby lakes of Bled and Bohinj offer great days out, at all times of year…

FOCUS ON LAKES BLED AND BOHINJ

Lake Bled is only a 20-30 minute car journey from us, or a superb 22km cycle ride through the pretty Radovna Valley. Bled has to be one of the most photographed and well-known destinations in Slovenia. It boasts Slovenia’s only island and is very picturesque. The island can be reached by boat, or, for the more adventurous, by swimming! There are always plenty of the traditional “Pletna” boats on the lake or you can row yourself.
The island has a beautiful approach of romantic steps, sweeping you up to the idyllic church, where you can toll the haunting bell.


From the island you can look back to the craggy rock face on which the castle proudly stands.

The castle is worth a visit…for the awesome view and the pretty ramparts, museum and wine cellar. There is also a Herbal Gallery, Printing works and several medieval events all worth visiting.

Bled lies nestled between the Karawanke and Julian Alps, so it’s setting is stunning and if you go up the small chairlift, the view of the Lake and it’s setting is awesome. In the summer you can make the journey back down on the summer toboggan or, in the winter, ski down. There are plenty of lake -side cafes and bars and places to sit, swim, and admire the unique scenery. The lakeside path takes you 6km round the lake, where you will pass joggers, roller bladders and horse- drawn carts…there is something for every one here.









A little further on the valley from Lake Bled, you come to Lake Bohinj. A circular tour of which is 11.5km. Bohinj sits in a glacial basin amidst the Julian Alps. It feels more serene than Bled, and with cloud or clear skies it has a magical and mysterious atmosphere with stunning reflections of the mountains in the lake.



At one end is the cable car to Vogel, providing magnificent views and experience either for summer walking or winter skiing.

The skies around Bohinj are often filled with paragliders in the summer and tandem jumps are available for a reasonable price.










As at Bled, there are many opportunities to travel by boat on Lake Bohinj, rowing or canoeing by yourself, or on the organised touring boat which crosses the lake regularly in season. The lake has many opportunities to land with the boat or simply to walk to and set up a picnic place for the day, on gravelly beaches with plenty of safe swimming for everyone. The water is so clear in the shallows that you can watch the fish swimming around you.


As you walk round Bohinj, you pass traditional, alpine houses and as you sunbathe on the beaches you can hear the sound of the tractor cutting the hay in the pastures. These are constant reminders of the unspoilt nature of Bohinj and the surrounding area.

The bars and cafes are subtle at Bohinj so you can sit and enjoy the unspoilt view across the lake.
At the end of the lake you can climb up to the Savica waterfall…. Which is spectacular most of the year round. Bohinj can also be a start/finish point for climbing Triglav and walking in the high mountains. There is also a climbing wall and high rope activity centre on one side of the lake, both of which are built in keeping with the surroundings and blend into the natural surroundings. As with Bled, there is something for everyone at this magnificent lake.


Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on AUTUMN SCENES.

Fishing Slovenia

THE JULIAN'S LOG

Eighteenth Post

"SUMMER HOLIDAYS"

There are many opportunities for summer fishing in Slovenia. All waters can provide prolific catches, whether on Lakes Bled or Bohinj or the emerald rivers, where you can see the fish in the crystal clear water.

FOCUS ON SUMMER FISHING

LAKE FISHING
Lake Bohinj:



This is Slovenia’s largest, natural lake and Char can be caught fly fishing or by deep fishing from boats. For the casual fisherman or children, Chub and Perch can be caught from the bank. All you need is a locally bought license, which is 25€ per day.


Lake Bled:

This beautiful lake has Slovenia’s only island and is a stunning location to fish. You can fish for Pike, Perch, Zander, Lake Trout, Carp upto 20kg and Catfish. Licenses start at 13€ for one day.





RIVER FISHING:
The Sava Bohinjka:


This river is fed directly from Lake Bohinj and the water is rarely anything but crystal clear. It offers some of the best fly fishing for Trout and Grayling, upto 3-4lb, in Slovenia. Rainbow and Brown Trout can be caught to 5-6lb, or sometimes even bigger. The Rainbow Trout are generally stocked into the river for sport, but you may be lucky enough to catch some which have, unusually, bred in the river. The Sava Bohinjka is a fly fishing only river and licenses cost from 40€ per day.

Radovna River:

This is a beautifully clear river, flowing through incredible scenery. It is a small river and requires the real “J R Hartley” approach: stalking through the trees and undergrowth to try and surprise the flighty fish. It offers great fly fishing for Rainbow Trout and the aggressive Brook Trout. Licenses start from 39€ per day.






Soca River:


The Soca is an awesome mountain river flowing south towards the Adriatic Sea. The upper reaches around the Lepenica tributary, offers superb sport; fly fishing only for Rainbow, Brown and the rare Marble Trout. The largest Marble Trout was caught measuring around 4 feet long! However, a more realistic catch of all the trout, is about 2-5lb. Good sized Grayling can also be caught in the Soca, to around 2lb. Licenses start from 59€…not cheap, but worth every penny, as fishing the Soca is memorable, even if you have a “bad day”!





Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on Lakes Bled and Bohinj.

ACTIVITIES, SUMMER MOJSTRANA

JULIAN'S LOG

Seventeenth post

"SUMMER HOLIDAYS"

Mojstrana is busy with tourists at the moment…hiking, sight seeing, cycling and enjoying the natural beauty of the Vrata Valley. Mojstrana and Dovje offer many activities and facilities on the doorstep…..you just need to know where to find them…

FOCUS ON FACILITIES AND ACTIVITIES IN MOJSTRANA

Sport:
In the heart of the village nestles an idyllic tennis club, with three clay courts and great clubhouse. This is a stunning place to play, surrounded by the peace and tranquillity of the mountains.




As already described in previous blogs, the cycling in the area is extensive and if you can’t manage to bring your own bike, there is local bike hire in Dovje. www.juhej.net. Here you receive a warm, friendly welcome, often with an early morning schnapps, and well maintained and equipped bikes. There is also good bike hire at Sportpoint in Kranjska Gora.




For the more adventurous, there is quad bike hire here in Mojstrana.




Mojstrana is lucky enough to have a local sport and activity company, Kofler Sport, www.kofler-sport.si This is a reputable and local family run business, offering a variety of summer and winter activities: climbing, mountaineering, water activities, skiing, sledding.

Tourism:

Dovje and Mojstrana have an active and enthusiastic Tourist Board, the local tourism office has great local information and is well stocked with leaflets, maps and gifts. www.mojstrana.com They promote local accommodation, including the lovely campsite, camp Kamne, www.campingkamne.com and, of course, our own apartment which sleeps up to six, www.mojstrana.co.uk




In Dovje is a converted Blacksmith’s which is run as a community project, selling local produce, a perfect place for local food and gifts; www.pr-katr.dovje.net






For those seeking a more cultural experience, Mojstrana has a Museum of Alpine Life, and currently, an impressive, new museum is being built.



Food and Drink:
Again, Mojstrana has a variety of bars and places to eat. There is a relaxed atmosphere at Bar Time Out, and the Hot Chocolate there in winter is to die for! The Kot Pizzeria serves great Pizzas and Pr’ Zelezn’k, the local Tourist Farm provides excellent food, drink and views! Just down the road is Villa Rosa, offering an extensive menu. There are also the Aljazev Hram and Laika bars.

Tempted?….then come and visit us!!




Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on Summer Fishing

Summer Holidays..Wildlife

THE JULIAN'S LOG

Sixteenth Post

“SUMMER HOLIDAYS”

Wherever you go in Slovenia, you are likely to see wild-life; at the coast, in cities or villages, by and in rivers and in the meadows. Here are just some descriptions and photos we have collected on walks and trips.

FOCUS ON WALKS AND WILDLIFE

There’s always a great variety of birds in the skies and woodlands. On walks in the mountains, one of the nicest sights is a group of Alpine Choughs appearing to literally play on the thermals and join you for your picnic.

We have seen Golden Eagles soaring regularly on the Slovenia/Austria border and above Lake Bohinj. In Tivoli Park in Ljubljana, you can see Hooded Crows proudly strutting their stuff!!



Over in the east of Slovenia, you know winter is over when the Storks return and nest in the man made platforms on telegraph poles, or chimneys.



In the damp conditions after the rain, it is common to see a Spotted Fire Salamander



and in ponds left after the snow in the mountains, we have been lucky enough to see the Alpine Newt.




In the summer heat, reptiles bask; lizards on the walls in Ljubljana
and a black form of Adder in scrubland in the mountains.










The summer time and flower filled meadows attract butterflies. There are many varieties of Fritillary and Blue and lots of Painted Ladies.

On Grancisce, just above Mojstrana there are always Swallowtails fluttering gracefully on the grassland at the summit in May. Some of the less common sightings have been of a Poplar or Summer Admiral, a Striped Hawkmoth and 9 Spotted Moth.




As for Mammals, in the mountains it is common to see Chamois and Ibex feeding or sleeping.










The squirrels are red but look almost black and are really quite difficult to photograph! Marmots live on grassy and rocky higher ground and their alarm call is more likely to be heard than a sighting, as they remain quite timid.
So far a bear has been elusive to us, but as the snow starts arriving in late Autumn, always look out for a Snow Cat!!
snowcat sculpted by Kevin Pegram
Hope you’ve enjoyed this edition. Next Blog will focus on facilities and activities in Mojstrana