Categories
in slovenia

tromeja = 3 borders

yesterday we joined the ics club on a hike to tromeja, which is a special hill on top of which the borders of slovenia, austria and italy meet. it was in this hill that in may 2004, officers from the 3 countries shook hands to welcome slovenia into the european union.

sunday was the perfect day for hiking, with blue skies and gentle breeze – a day just begging to be spent outdoors, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. the hike started in rateče, which is a small lovely town in itself. we’d been in the area a few times to see the ski jumping competitions, but never thought of turning right instead of left! the town is so picturesque, it’s almost postcard perfect. like my dad would say, “sometimes i feel like i’m inside ‘the sound of music'”. :)

there are two ways to the top of tromeja: quick & steep, or slow & easy. we picked the latter for the ascent, and took our time in the two-hour climb, stopping now and then to enjoy the view of the meadows and the alps.
the summit was crowded with people, since it was the day to celebrate the friendship between the three countries. the views were breathtaking and stretched as far as villach and klagenfurt on the austrian side, and planica valley on the slovenian side. there was live music, people in costumes, donkeys (!) and plenty of local delicacies from all the countries.


on the way down, we took the steeper slope, and shaved off a bit of time… though not so much, as we stopped frequently for pictures and stretched on the grass at the lower hut to recharge energies…
all in all, pretty much a perfect day :)

Categories
in slovenia

uphill

hiking is the perfect sport for slovenia. with so many mountains and hills, it’s a pleasure to get on your feet and explore them. trails are clearly marked and well maintained – but the main one, the slovenian mountain path, takes the cake. it crosses the whole country, from maribor in the east to ankaran in the coast, passing though all mountain ranges. plus, on all the mountain tops, there are stamps that you can collect in a special hiking passport!

so, all you need is to get a few friends, some comfy shoes and a gps, and walk walk walk until you get to the top of a hill. then sit, enjoy the view, have a little picnic, take photos, and collect the stamp! :)







very important: when you get home, don’t forget to check yourself for ticks…