Slovenia
We showed up to Slovenia with no itinerary and no plan. That was intentional. The idea was to figure it out as we went.
We landed tired and hungry after a long day of travel day. The first food option we spotted was a McDonald’s in a shopping center along the way to Bled. We figured out how to order on the kiosk, waited, and then stood there confused for a while because everything was in Slovenian and no one spoke English. We eventually figured out that our food was ready and grabbed it. Not our most adventurous meal, but it did the job.
The hotel in Bled was more upscale than we’d normally choose, but it had a view of the lake that made it worth every cent. We didn’t argue about it. We went into town for dinner and found a local restaurant with good reviews. The portions were large and the food was…interesting. It wasn’t bad in any regard, but definitely different than what we’re used to—which was ultimately the point.
The next day we drove through Triglav National Park and the Julian Alps via the Vršič Pass — one of the most scenic and slightly terrifying drives I’ve ever done. The road is narrow and winds up the mountain in tight switchbacks. I was grateful for the manual shift rental car. You need that control.
We stopped at Lake Jasna and the Russian Chapel along the way. At some point we spotted a small restaurant and pulled over—not because we were particularly hungry, but because it was the only building we’d seen in hours. I felt awkward walking in just to use the bathroom and leave, so we sat down for lunch. We were the only ones there, and even still, we looked out of place as Black travelers. Our race wasn’t a problem in this instance, but it’s always an observation we make. The language barrier was the actual challenge. The owners didn’t speak English, so we ordered by pointing at the menu. They taught us how to pronounce the menu items and were delighted by our attempts. It was one of those warm moments experienced when you’re intentional about being immersed in a different culture. The locals really appreciate that.
We left the restaurant and drove straight into winter.
In about one minute, we went from fall foliage to 6-8 feet of snow on either side of the road. It came out of nowhere. Then on the way down the other side of the mountain, we drove back summer. The mountain range apparently does whatever it wants with the weather.
We stopped to find Vintgar Gorge, which took some effort. I actually stumbled upon it even though we were actively looking for it. The entire gorge was beautiful and well worth the search.
And then we accidentally drove into Italy.
We were following Google Maps and it didn’t mention that the road we were on crossed an international border. When a border patrol station appeared out of nowhere, I told the kids to get the passports out of the bag. I handed them to the agent and he pointed us toward a gravel parking lot. We sat there for a moment, a little nervous, with no other documentation on us. This is exactly why I always carry our passports whenever we’re out, and I was very glad I did. We made it through without any problem and were on a high following that crazy experience.
Just around the bend from border patrol was Lago del Pradil, one of the most beautiful lakes I’ve ever seen. We parked on the side of the road and walked over to take it in. It was one of those accidental discoveries that ends up being one of the highlights of the whole trip.
The next morning we walked around Lake Bled and got the photos of the church you’ve seen all over social media. We ran late getting back to the airport to drop off the rental car and had forgotten to get souvenirs in Bled. The kids ran into the airport to grab some while I finished returning the car. There was some confusion around our private transfer to the Croatia side of the border that was frustrating to sort out, but we figured it out.
Slovenia surprised me even though we didn’t have any expectations. The people were kind, there’s an abundance of nature, and the overall vibe is peaceful. It’s the kind of place that gives you more than you came for—usually when you’re not looking for it.
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