Ptuj and Skocjan, Slovenia Week 30 8th - 9th November 2011
              
Our Indian Summer continued as we left Zlaloszanta.

Couldn't help noticing the lack of leaves on trees in some places.

Winter must be catching up with us soon.

 
A carpet of mist across the countryside.

It defined driving conditions for the next couple of days.

 
European borders are wonderful.

We followed the signs, didn't have to stop, didn't see anyone in uniform.

This is the entry to Slovenia.

It was part of Jugoslavia last time I passed this way. Then I really only saw the coast of what is now Croatia.

We really haven't done any research and don't know what to expect.

 
We headed for Ptuj. If only to find out how the locals pronounce it.

We failed. Rarely do people use the name of the town they are standing in, and there weren't many people around.

Its the river Drava (we think). The building on the hill is the castle, a non-fortified monastic looking building.

The tower to the left has been hijacked by the local radio ham and has a large aerial on top. 

 
Narrow streets, 19th century architecture (we think).
 
Inside the Schloss.
 
The town from the Schloss.

If the ham radio aerial was acceptable we suspect that having a building with a roof other than red would have caused the visitation of some medieval torture.

 
Its the tourist off season. Very few people. Market stalls unnoccupied. Streets empty.
 
We think this is the plague monument.

A bout of beubonic plague went through Europe in the 17th century.

 
Having stayed in an overly expensive campsite, attached to thermal pools etc., on the south side of the river we set off westwards.

Passing Ljubiana we began to see the distinctive outline of limestone hills.

And finally a bit more sunshine.

 
The church at Skocjan.

Its perched on the edge of a rather large collapsed sink hole.

Above the cave the river Reka has carved through the limestone.

 
A bit watery but this is the cave entrance. Church on the cliff.

We went for a walk round (as one does).

 
The Church of St Kancijan.

Concsecrated in 1606.

 
This is the exit from the main attraction. Skocjanske Cave.

This western most part of Slovenia, almost down to the Adriatic Sea, is named Kras.

With a bit of imagination, and armed with some prior knowledge, we can work out that this area of Karst is the origin of the name and most of the geological terms associated with Karst landscapes.

Its as if we've embarked on some strange form of geological pilgrimage.

Its also a very impressive deep and large cave.

We went for a guided 3km walk through the cave - no photos allowed, but don't know why.

 
This is the river before it enters the cave.

There are stalactites and so on in the cave but they are relatively young and not particularly dense.

The attraction is the size of the cave. Its almost the world's deepest cave canyon.

 
We came out of the entrance to the right.

Lower, to the left, is the current river entrance.

 
We drove another 3km to Skoflie.
 
And camped.

The horses were occupying the campground (which was really closed) so we parked next to the house and apartments.

 
Predil Pass, Slovenia and Cortina, Italy Week 30 10th - 11th November 2011
 
Gateway
CommentsHome

Doug Milne Thu, 10 Nov 11 22:11:02 +1100
Was interested in the spring repairs. I thought they would involve heat treatment and tempering.


 
 
 
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