On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
way2blue
A friend mentioned he was planning a hiking trip in the Julian Alps of Slovenia. Hiking! So we decided to give the alps a look. At the start of our trip, we booked lodging in the town of Bovec on the Soča River, not even realizing the town was a bustling recreation center. Lots of kayakers, hikers, trekkers, bicyclists passing through… After checking in, we walked down to river and found a small bistro at a campground on the other side. Stopped in for a beer and the owner was thrilled to have American visitors (remember those days?). Though my husband kept asking locals their thoughts on Melania… On the walk back to town, we noticed a small cave with a photographic display. Commemorating the deaths of Italian WWI soldiers who had taken shelter there and died from poison gas.
View of the Julian Alps from the window of our flat—looking toward the northwest.
You can see why the Soča River—with its incredibly clear turquoise water—is a favorite of kayakers & rafters.
I waited a fair amount to snap this shot of the bridge to the Slap Kozjak waterfall without people crossing…
We passed a collection of cairns on our hike to the waterfall on the Kozjak River (a tributary to the Soča River).
When we reached the waterfall, a group of trekkers were rappelling down the falls.
Stopped to take a photo of colorful beehives on the way back…
Raining one day, so we headed south to the WWI Museum in Kobarid (Caporetto) to learn about Italian Front battles fought in the Soča Valley. Brutal, devastating battles during extreme winter conditions. Photos of soldiers hunkered down in ‘trenches’ cut into snowbanks with inadequate gas masks… Enduring an early trial of German ‘blitzkrieg’ from the air. The museum also displays a draft of Hemingway’s novel, A Farewell to Arms, which describes the ill fated Battle of Caporetto in 1917. On our return to Bovec, we stopped to hike a loop along the Soča River.
The stream has etched down into the limestone along this stretch of the Soča River to form a narrow sinuous canyon.
OzarkHillbilly
My ancestral homeland. Maybe someday I’ll get there for a visit.
feloniousferb
Beautiful photos, Thank You for getting Friday off to a great start!
JeanneT
Looks like getting there is worth the trip!
debbie
What a beautiful country!
Salty Sam
Well? What DID the locals think of Melania?!
ETA- beautiful pics, thanks!
biff murphy
Hi Watergirl, excellent photo’s! I like the 2nd to last from above where you can see the water has cut the stone almost like teeth.
I wondered if you were the one who had the “random places” photo’s, some that had old abandoned factories and mansions and oddities? Thanks!
Steeplejack (phone)
@biff murphy:
WaterGirl is the moderator. The pictures in “On the Road” are taken by the person named in the post—in this case, way2blue.
I think the “random” pictures you’re talking about were taken by Steve from Mendocino. You can click the “On the Road” link under the post title at the top and look through old submissions.
ljt
Beautiful!
Msb
I’ve only ever been to Ljubljana, but that’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve seen. Highly recommended for a visit.
Denali
We went to Lake Bled, which is north of Ljubljana and stunning, but the weather in the closeby Alps was rainy so we turned back. We would love to return and explore more of this beautiful area. The history, however, has some dark spots.
Mike in Oly
What gorgeous landscape! I want to go hiking there.
Pharniel
Wow. Excellent photos of amazing country.
UncleEbeneezer
Gorgeous pics. We saw Slovenia years ago on Rick Steves’ show and immediately moved it onto our Must Visit, Someday list. The country looks spectacular and a nice way to get the Alps experience on a slightly more modest budget than say visiting Switzerland.
JanieM
These are beautiful — the countryside is so lush and green, and also a bit mysterious, with the canyons and twisty paths and rivers. I would have loved hiking there.
The second-to-last is my favorite, but the first is lovely too.
These pictures made me realize that back when I was young, and had good knees, and hiked a lot, it never occurred to me to go hiking in Europe. First of all, my hiking partners weren’t interested in foreign travel in those days, and I didn’t get overseas myself until I was 29 . But even then I thought of Europe as a place to see foreign cultures and famous places and old stone, not as a place for hiking. Next lifetime, perhaps…..
way2blue
@OzarkHillbilly: Do try. It’s a beautiful country, overshadowed by its better known neighbors. I have another group of Slovenia photos (Logar Valley) in WaterGirl’s queue.
way2blue
@Salty Sam: Ha. Oddly, everyone was hesitant to be candid…
way2blue
@Msb: I loved Ljubljana too. Albeit, our stay there was my first visit to a formerly communist country. Vivid memories of the juxtaposition of concrete block apartment buildings on the outskirts and the beautifully renovated ‘old town’ along the river.
way2blue
@UncleEbeneezer: Agreed. The Slovenian alps aren’t as majestic as the Swiss alps, but still spectacular. Plus the Slovenians are friendly…
way2blue
@JanieM: Yes. Europe is amazing for Americans. Drive 4 hours and you’re in a new country with a new language, food & culture. Plus centuries of history embedded in the old stone structures.
WaterGirl
Water, and lots of green. I am in heaven.
cope
Beautiful pictures of a gorgeous place, thanks.
Doug
Climbed Triglav about 20 years back, was a regular visitor to Slovenia when I lived in Munich. Nothing but good times there.
susanna
Stunning – thank you!