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Italy-Slovenia-Sicily
  • Tracey Bell
  • Tracey Bell

Italy-Slovenia-Sicily

Hiking, Sailing and a Wedding Read more
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  • Trip start
    June 18, 2025
    Tracey BellItaly-Slovenia-SicilyTracey Bell
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    Day 1 Milano to Verona

    June 20, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    We arrived in Milan yesterday after a 30-hour transit, including driving out Fiat Panda 😂 from the airport to Verona. I white knuckled most of the way on the busy highway as Mark expertly guided the Panda at the obligatory 130km speed limit, avoiding weaving trucks and cars in 3 lane highways. Apparently, there are no laws around face timing while you are driving in Italy, so weaving across lanes is seemingly normal! Stopped at Lake Garda for a jet lagged walk along the lake and lunch, then onto the lovely city of Verona...Read more

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    Verona snaps...

    June 21, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Early morning stroll around the old quarter of Verona, featuring a cathedral, the river, bridges, a Roman amphitheatre and archaeological wonders too numerous to mention! We enjoyed our coffees Italian style, watching everyone else go to work! Next stop, Ljubljana, Slovenia!Read more

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    Verona to Ljubliana

    June 21, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    The drive between Verona, Italy and Ljubljana, Slovenia is approximately three hours, so we chose to add in a little detour. We were delightfully surprised to discover the Skocjan Caves, the largest cave system in Europe and one of the largest globally. We booked a two-hour guided tour with a group of about twenty people. It was breathtaking! The Reka River flows underground through the complex, reaching a depth of 170 meters at its lowest point. We traversed enormous chambers, navigating 500 stairs, and were awestruck by the beauty, enhanced by thoughtfully placed lighting. Photography was not permitted, which was considerate given the presence of bats. The included photos are from the official website, along with a few I took during the walk along the outer gorge. What a great adventure, and the walk out through the forest was stunning! Loving Slovenia 🇸🇮 💖Read more

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    Lubbly Ljubliana!

    June 22, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    We are so spoiled! Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and rated as one of the greenest (sustainable) cities in the world! You can rent ebikes to explore the city for a song, there's cars chargers everywhere and recycling and compost bins all over the city. It's just another day in a beautiful old city surrounded by mountains, I'll let the photos do the talking....Read more

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    In the mountains

    Jun 24–27, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    We are now in the mountains in Luce, in the north western part of Slovenia. We are staying in a village with population of about 400! The roads are winding and narrow with huge drop offs...mountain and valley views are spectacular! We've climbed Mt Radhua today, at 2062m and yesterday climbed up to Slap Rinka (a waterfall), check out the bar halfway up the rock face where we were given water to drink straight from the waterfall! Tomorrow off to Lake Bled, one of the most beautiful lakes in the country. Most of the places here have names we can't pronounce, too many consonants in a row 😂Read more

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    The Great Lakes of Slovenia

    June 26, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    We've had 3 days hiking and swimming in Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj. We crossed the border into Austria to get here, which involved lots of mountain switchbacks which the Panda loved 😂At the lakes, scenic views from every corner, and amazing forest and deep gorge hikes. The lakes are only about 30 mins apart so we are staying at a lovely airbnb between them, set in a picturesque farming village. It's quite hot so early morning and late evening are the way to go. Heading north tomorrow to the most northern point of our journey, for more hiking in Triglav National Park and some via ferrata climbing (on steel cables and ladders) which we love!Read more

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    Mosjtrana

    June 29, 2025 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    3 days in a lovely village, one of the most popular starting points for climbing the highest peak in Slovenia, Mt Triglav. We hiked, biked and climbed to a pretty impressive waterfall (which you could walk behind). Our small Airbnb apartment was great, brand new and we were the first to christen...Read more

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    Road trip thru Italy

    July 4, 2025 in Italy ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    After leaving Slovenia or Slovs as we affectionately call her 😪, we headed south thru Italy towards Sicily. Our first stop was Chioggia, or little Venice. Located south of Venice (we avoided like the plague) we found this hidden gem, a fishing town with canals and walkways, fishing boats galore. I'm not sure how many fish can possibly be left in the Adriatic, kind of depressing really. Anyway, we stayed one night in a tiny renovated apartment in the old town, luckily we have the Panda (worlds smallest car) to get us thru narrow alleys (and Marks driving skills). I just close my eyes and pray! We then drove to the Medieval city of Siena, staying two nights. Incredible walled city, you just can't fathom how they built such architectural wonders on top of the highest hills! We are currently in another medieval village Corleto Montforte in the mountains just south of Rome area, staying in a gorgeous medieval bnb. There's alot of old ladies here and millions of cats! Very authentic place, we are the only tourists!Read more

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    One wedding and a yacht!

    July 9, 2025 in Italy ⋅ 🌬 26 °C

    I've been a bit slack not posting regularly, having too much fun! We haven't stopped! Since last post we drove down through Italy, visited Mark's cousin Nikki and her family in the Calabria region. In short, they have an organic farm and rescue dogs! They have six dogs including 2 giant Italian Sheepdogs (Maremmas). Suffice to say, they are my people, loved them! Then a mad dash via car ferry to the Island of Sicily, wedding bound. We stayed in Taormena, a very touristy but beautiful and historic town. Our hotel had incredible sea views and was the vintage of an Agatha Christie Poirot movie set. Loved it! Ollie and Rosie's wedding was in a rural location, the venue was incredible, sprawling Tuscan-Spanish style hacienda homestead, replete with guest rooms, gardens, swimming pool and more. The most incredible and fun wedding ever, full of Greeks, Italians, Aussies and poms. Rosie and Ollie looked gorgeous and we all danced until 2am, Hard to top this wedding! We've spent the last week on board a 41ft yacht Lilibet, cruising the Ionian Islands. Mark's brother Joe and his wife Sandra joined us (from UK), along with Dennis and Louise from Perth. Great times and tons of laugh with a fun bunch, plus some good sailing experience. We are now back on the mainland, four nights to go. Its been a holiday to remember!Read more

  • Trip end
    July 26, 2025
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