Monday 17 September

Last day in this beautiful part of Europe and walked again to Piran. Climbed the steps to St Giorgio Cathedral and back down, around the town and another pretty church.

Some great views of the town from the top of the hill including the narrowest house ever!

On the way back watched the cormorants feeding on the plentiful supply of fish

Sunday 16 September

Walk around Portoroz today, all around the marina and beyond there are an amazing number of boats here but I suppose with such a short coastline they are crammed into the few marinas that exist.

Views north and south of the bay

Little statue in recognition of the main export of the area – salt, and the salt pans just a few miles away.

Just enjoying a glass of wine on the balcony and watching the sun go down

Saturday 15 September

Left Bled for the coast of Slovenia, the full extent of which extends for 26 miles, between Italy and Croatia. Staying for three days in Portoroz (port of roses) but today’s pictures are of Piran which sits on a small peninsula. It is very Venetian-Gothic with pretty pastel coloured buildings.

• The main square in Piran

Some pictures taken around the town

Went into a little church which had an art installation very similar to the poppies at the Tower of London

Two photos of St Bernardino on the way back from Piran

Friday 14 September

Full day on Lake Bled, firstly we were taken across the lake to Bled Island in a traditional flat bottomed boat, rowed Venetian style.

Then a look around the church

There is a story that if your boyfriend carries you up the 99 steps then he is worthy of marrying. One brave man did just that!!

The waters around the island were very clear and full of fish

Then onto Bled Castle and a visit to the printing works, forge, museum and winery

Final stop was at a lakeside restaurant for a slice of kremsnita and coffee

Walk back along the lake to the hotel in an attempt to justify the kremsnita!

Thursday 13 September

Left Opatija early to another beautiful morning.

First stop was the wonderful caves at Postajna. They were immense and we took a little train through the caves to the best bits. The air was chilly but so pure.

We then had a photostop at Predjamski Castle which had been built into the cave with very pretty landscape all around.

Then onto Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and one of the prettiest capitals I have been to. Walking tour of the old town and then I took the funicular to the castle, a very good vantage point to see the city.

Then onto Lake Bled.

Wednesday 12 September

Today we visited the Istrian peninsula and our first stop was the town of Pula with its amazing Roman Amphitheatre, the sixth largest in the world but one of the best preserved.

Then a walk around the town and the Temple of Augustus and the remains of the Roman forum

From Pula we went inland to Vodnjan and a beautiful olive grove where we tasted the olive oil and local wine, cheeses and salami

Our final destination was Rovinj on the coast and we made the steep walk up to the church of St Euphemia. The view was worth the climb

Tuesday 11 September – Trieste

I know this blog is headed Slovenia and Croatia but today we went to Italy. In fact we started out in Croatia, skipped through Slovenia and into Italy all within an hour!

Trieste was a lovely city, amazing buildings. It has quite a history of belonging to many different countries throughout its history.

We first of all started on a hill above the city to visit San Giusto cathedral.

There are also roman ruins on the site and a memorial to the freedom fighters.

Then down into the town with a walk around the beautiful piazze and their very own mini grand canal.

Then onto Castello Miramar, a beautiful castle in the bay of Trieste with lovely gardens.

Plitvice to Opatija

Monday 10 September

Arrived later in the day at the resort of Opatija on the Adriatic. Nice view from my room.

And at night

Left Zagreb this morning and travelled south to the Plitvice National Park. Beautiful scenery, lakes, waterfalls. The water really was that colour. There are brown bears in the mountains but didn’t see any!

Zagreb, Croatia

Sunday 9 September

Lovely evening visiting a small vineyard in the countryside, trip around the property and museum, wine tasting and meal

Morning visit to the Mimara Museum filled with beautiful glass, paintings and oriental artefacts,

Some of the beautiful glass

Some items from the oriental gallery

A chess set depicting Henry VIII as king against the French

Some paintings Renoir, Caravaggio, Turner and Degas

Then back into town to see the soldiers parade in their cravats. Croatia is the home to the cravat and tie

Walk through the fruit market and flower market

Saturday 8 September

Finished the day with a welcome dinner in a restaurant opposite the cathedral – selection of meats from the barbecue and pancakes with marmalade ……

We later walked through the old town, along cobbled streets, lots of bars and restaurants all around, eventually ending up at the neo Gothic Zagreb Cathedral.

Then onto St Marks Church

Strange start to a city visit but we went to a cemetery – the Mirogoj Cemetery which spans acres of land and sits on a hill just outside the city of Zagreb.

It was designed by Hermann Bolle and has monumental arcades, gatehouses, chapels and sculptures, incredibly peaceful and very beautiful.