Here we are now, entertain us.

Here is the inexcusably delayed final European Guest Blog from The Eck:

When I was a senior in high school a girl from Yugoslavia lived with my family for a semester as an exchange student. Through the years we have kept in touch and visited.

In 1991, another friend and I drove from Munich into Yugoslavia, just weeks before Slovenia was the first region to gain independence in a 10 day war. She and her husband attended my wedding. Yugoslavia has since divided into separate countries, one of them being Slovenia.

Yugoslavia was a messed up country to begin with. Prior to world war one, the regions that became Yugoslavia were loosely coupled under the Austro-Hungarian empire. Following WW1, the regions of the Balkans were made into Yugoslavia, basically because they were neighbors. These areas shared very little other than location. For more about Slovenia in general click here Slovenia.

Enough background, simply put, Slovenia is my new favorite foreign country (it was formerly Costa Rica). Geographically, Austria lies to the North, Italy to the West, Hungary to the East and Croatia to the South. The Slovenes are very friendly, like tourists, speak better English than we do and are highly educated.

Here is a picture of my friend Petra’s town (Skofja Loka).


Slovenia has somehow managed to have all the amenities of a 21st century country without losing the quaintness of an 18th century one. Streets are narrow, castles are plentiful, food is outstanding and cheap.

Did I mention that the women are beautiful?


The senora’ and I at a castle.


Here are some pictures of Slovenia’s capital city, Ljubljana.





Slovenia is small, only about the size of Vermont. Packed into this tiny country are the foothills of the Alps, large forests, a dry area that’s famous for wine that reminded me of Napa/Sonoma Valley, and coast along the Adriatic Sea. What this means is that you can hike in the alps on one afternoon and be swimming in the Adriatic the next.

Here are some pictures of the coast.



Other highlights packed into a week included, white-water rafting, swimming on the Croatian coast, and drinking wine in a 500 year old wine cellar. This picture does not do it justice.


The owner of this restaurant was bombed, and since our friends dine there often, he agreed to show us (the 4 of us) the wine cellar. It is, obviously, in the cellar and the wine is kept naturally cool. When we thought we had had our fill of wine, the old man opened another bottle and threatened to dump it on the floor if we didn’t finish. What were we to do? Then he sent us on our way with another 5 bottles.

Slovenia is for now, a hidden gem. It would be a great place for any kind of vacation. It remains somewhat exotic yet highly accessible. It would be an outstanding honeymoon destination.

Things to like about Slovenia: The people, wine, coffee, street Café’s, Homan (anyone in Skofja Loka will know this), hiking, the coast, castles, Lake Bled

Things not so great about Slovenia: Traffic can be difficult on weekends to the Coast, many tourists from Austria and Germany travel through at this time.

Thanks, Eck, and sorry for the delay in posting it. See you next month.