The contrast between Croatia and Slovenia was quite amazing.  We entered Slovenia via a small highway driving through mountains which opened up into a wide, lush valley – the first of so many.  We both have EU passports and at most borders we are waved through.

Southern, coastal Croatia was so rugged and rocky and even inland in the three National Parks it was still very rocky, though green.  No open spaces.

Slovenia on the other hand has many mountains – huge ones. Many of them with karst formation.   Yet between the mountains are enormous sweeping, unfenced green, lush valleys (with nary an animal to be seen at this time of the year).  It’s green, green, green.  We were to drive over pretty much all of Slovenia except for the far west.  North west of Ljubljana.  Slovenia has the majestic scenery of Queenstown combined with the lush fields of Vietnam/England but on a huge scale.

Our first stop was the gorgeous city of Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital with a population not dissimilar to Wellington.  Crammed with galleries and museums.  Divided by a beautiful canal with many lovely bridges, many designed by the famous architect Jose Plecnik – Slovenia’s answer to Gaudi.  Gorgeous Venetian style houses everywhere.   Heaps of eating and shopping options – all easy to reach on foot.  The perfect size City for us and so much to see.

Pretty, pretty Ljubljana!