Author: Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco

Part of our travel experience during the Balkan tour was moving from one hotel to the next, depending on the city we visited. Initially, I thought checking in and out of hotels and packing our stuff over and over were tiring tasks but those we couldn’t do without. After moving for the third time, I began to enjoy “hotel hopping” and realized it’s another fun way to discover what Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina had to offer.

Choosing the right hotels nowadays, with so many promotions, deals and programs out there, can be downright overwhelming. It doesn’t help that most hotels have websites full of tantalizing photos and slick promotional copy that make you believe you’ll be bathed in luxury as soon as you step foot into the lobby. We’re glad Mulan Travel Service Corp. did it for our convenience. No worries, no hassle! In this post, I’m sharing the 5 hotels we stayed in. These are, I believe, the best and recommended as well, considering location, price, amenities, ambiance and local flavor.

Balkan Tour: Review of 5 Hotels We Stayed In

1. Sava Hotels & Resorts: Hotel Park in Bled

The Hotel Park is a four-star hotel located at the very center of Bled by the shore of Lake Bled in Slovenia. Its 217 rooms and suites make it the largest hotel in Bled. We liked staying here since there’s a good view of Lake Bled just across it. The calm water of the lake and the beautiful blue sky were the first things that we see from the balcony. The room had all the amenities that we needed: shower with hot water, hairdryer, satellite TV, direct phone line, wireless internet, safe and mini bar.

Downstairs, there’s a number of restaurants to dine in. We spent breakfast and dinner at the Park Restaurant and Cafe, the home of the original Bled cream cake, the popular dessert that Bled is renowned for far and wide. The Hotel Park also houses a Thai massage and relaxation center for wellness and a range of services for relaxation.

Cesta Svobode 15, 4260 Bled, Slovenia
+386 4 5791800

2. Hotel Jezero Plitvice 

Our tour guide mentioned that Hotel Jezero Plitvice may not have the most glamorous accommodation for tourists, but this three-star hotel is the central zone of Plitvice National Park. The hotel interior is modern, and its external contours are perfectly integrated with the surrounding nature. It disposes of 229 accommodation units of which 210 rooms, 8 suites on hotel lake side, 9 suites on hotel forest side and 2 suites for people with disability.

The rooms on the lake side are equipped with bathrooms with bath tubs, while the rooms on the forest side have shower cabins. Some of the rooms have communication doors. All rooms feature SAT TVs, a direct-line telephone, and modems for complimentary internet access.

Jezero Hotel also features an in-house restaurant, a lobby-bar-café bar, a gym, complimentary use of the whirlpool massage (max. capacity 15 persons), two Finnish saunas and a Turkish bath. Other amenities include a gym with four bowling tracks, a tennis court, a tennis wall and two outdoor table tennis courts.

HR 53231 Plitvicak Jezera Hrvatska – Europa
+385 (0)53 751500

3. Atrium Hotel Split 

Atrium Hotel is the only five-star hotel in Split, Croatia. Its upscale design is truly a good differentiation. The building’s marble and glass reflect the blue Mediterranean sky. This boutique hotel gives its guests a genuine feel for the location. It has grown on the foundations of ancient Split, just next to the location that the famous Roman emperor Diocletian chose as his summer house. The Aqueduct built in that era can be seen on the official exhibit site, at the underground premises of the hotel. The Diocletian’s Palace is only a fifteen-minute walking distance away. This means that Atrium Hotel is very close to the epicenter of all the events in Split.

Staying in Atrium Hotel will revive your Mediterranean passion. It gives visitors a quiet, relaxing environment reflective of the city itself. I loved that this hotel isn’t too choked with throngs of people and monotone rooms. It brings a heightened sense of design and décor. The room had a cozy feel, combining elements of style and elegance. Its modern facilities provided everything for a comfortable stay.

Ul. Domovinskog rata 49, 21000, Split, Hrvaska
+385 21 200000

4. Hotel Croatia Cavtat Luxury Resort 

Rising above a pine-forested peninsula overlooking unspoiled Cavtat Bay, Hotel Croatia Cavtat is the leading five-star resort and conference center in the South Adriatic. Just 8-km from Dubrovnik airport (10 minutes by taxi), this hotel has a stunning waterfront with easy access to the paradise-like treasures of the Adriatic coast. Must-visit medieval Dubrovnik across the bay is less than half an hour by car or a relaxed 45-minute boat ride away.

We were surprised to find two quiet private beaches nearby. From the balcony in our room, we could see spectacular views of the open sea. There’s also an outdoor pool shaded by pine trees, a spa, and excellent restaurants where we dined in buffet-style several times. Exclusive toiletries, direct dial telephone, bathrobes and slippers, flat screen TV, mini bar, safety deposit box, and free wi-fi were all available.

Frankopanska ul., 20210, Cavtat, Croatia
+385 20 300 300

5. Westin Hotel Zagreb (five-star)

Centrally located in the heart of Zagreb, Westin Zagreb Hotel is a five-star luxury hotel within a 10-minute walk of Marulic Square, Croatian National Theatre, Mimara Museum, Ethnographic Museum and Technical Museum. All 349 rooms are appointed with thoughtful touches like premium bedding, plush pillows, bathrobes, free wi-fi, mini bar, TV, and an in-room safe.

This hotel features a full-service spa, a casino, a restaurant, an indoor pool, a fitness center, and a bar/lounge. Treatment facilities feature Turkish steam bath and reflex massage. The gym looked excellent with modern equipment and fitness classes.

Ul. Izidora Krsnjavog 1, 10000, Zagreb, Hrvaska
+385 1 4892 000

 All photos were taken using Fujifilm XT2 + 14mm lens.

[schema type=”review” name=”Balkan Tour: Review of 5 Hotels We Stayed In” description=”This post is about the five hotels we stayed in during our Balkan Tour. The accommodations were prearranged according to our travel itinerary by Mulan Travel Service Corp. in the Philippines.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2017-05-17″ ]

From Zagreb, we rode a bus and crossed the border to visit the Lakeside Town of Hallstatt and proceeded to The Sound of Music film location in Salzburg, Austria. It was frosty outside (temperature ranged from 1-2 degrees Celsius) and breathing in cold air was painful, but we had to endure. 🙂 There was nothing more exciting in the world than experiencing snow in actual for the first time! Clad in full winter attire, we didn’t allow bitter cold wind and snow to spoil our travel adventure. This private tour exploring Salzburg as well as the breathtaking landscape of the Lakes and Mountain area was booked through Mulan Travel.

Touring Austria: Lakeside Town of Hallstatt and The Sound of Music in Salzburg

Lakeside Town of Hallstatt

When visiting Austria, Hallstatt is not to be missed. It is considered as the oldest inhabited village in Europe. Hallstatt is known for its production of salt, dating back to prehistoric times. Located at the foot of the salt mountain with a nice view of a peaceful lake, it’s one of the most photogenic places we’ve ever seen. Every house and souvenir shop we passed by looked old-school but charming. The scenery looked almost unreal, so amazing like the ones we usually see in the post cards.

Our tour guide said that Hallstatt is almost always packed with tourists all year long. We were just lucky since there weren’t many of us during our visit. This old town is such a unique gem in the deep Austrian valley of the Alps that for all it’s worth, the Chinese have recreated their own Hallstatt (an exact replica) in China. Shocking! :O The “made in China” version of the town costs an estimated $940 million to build, according to Reuters. The project was conceived by a Chinese mining tycoon and backed by Minmetals Land Inc.

The Sound of Music Film Location in Salzburg

The Sound Of Music Tour is recommended for those who are fans of the movie. Every year, more than 300,000 people visit important landmarks in the life of the von Trapp family. Walking around the place will make tourists re-live the love story of Maria (played by Julie Andrews) and Baron.

To easily recognize the shooting locations, we watched the movie in the bus en route to our destination as a refresher. We learned that the life of the von Trapp family is intertwined with that of Salzburg itself. Places we visited include the stunning Mirabell Gardens and the Pegasus Statues Fountain (the dance scene with Maria and the children), Mondsee Basilica (wedding scene), cemetery of Saint Peter’s Church, Nonnberg Convent (where the young Maria was a novice), and the Leopoldskron Castle (in the film, the house where the family lived). Everything here looked so beautiful beyond words to describe!

The grounds of the Mirabell Gardens are open early every day, and the good news is that there’s no entrance fee. The royal palace building was completed in 1606 (rebuilt in 1693), and the gardens came later in 1730. Two pairs of large Greek fencing statutes at the entrance from The Sound of Music can immediately be seen from afar. The statues were based off of the ancient Borghese gladiator statues and they each leap forward with a fist triumphantly in the air.

On the Northwest corner of the Mirabell Palace grounds, there’s another garden called the Small Parterre, which is home to the iconic Pegasus Statue Fountain. In the Sound of Music movie, the von Trapp children danced around the the lip of the Pegasus Fountain while singing “Do Re Mi.” The terrace steps lead to a rose garden North of the Fountain which Maria and the kids used as a hopping musical scale. We also breezed through the Hedge Maze and Gnome Park. It’s interesting to note that each statue was modeled after real life dwarfs when they were carved in 1715.

The beautiful flower-filled cemetery of Saint Peter’s Church was where the von Trapps hid from Nazis in The Sound of Music, although the actual scene was filmed in Hollywood. It is also where Mozart’s sister Maria Anna was buried. The atmosphere was peaceful and not grim or scary at all. It goes back to 700 AD with underground catacombs that go back even further to 215 AD. The oldest headstone at the cemetery is from 1288 AD.

Sitting at site of a former ancient Roman Forum, Residenzplatz Square still shows off Salzburg’s early Italian ambitions. This large square is the filming location where the von Trapp family performed “I Have Confidence in Me.” If you can remember, Maria entered through the Domplatz arches on the Southwest corner of the Square and splashes in the 45 foot tall Horse Fountain (Residenzbrunnen). The Horse Fountain was the focal point of the busy Square and is complete with a Triton which matches Bernini’s famous Triton Fountain in Rome. Completed in 1661, the fountain is considered the the largest baroque fountains located outside of Italy.

Salzburg was our last stop before we went shopping to Parndorf Fashion Outlet, which is located directly off the A4 motorway and is accessible via the Neusiedl am See – Gewerbepark (industrial park) junction (Exit 45). The outlet center is merely 30 minutes away from Vienna, 20 minutes from Bratislava and 50 minutes from Györ. It’s an open center with roofed outlet stores that offer discounts up to 70% off. The items range from casual fashion, sport, outdoor and shoes, up to accessories and lifestyle products. People who love shopping for international and designer brands will see it as a paradise. 🙂

All photos were taken using Fujifilm XT2 + 14mm lens.

[schema type=”review” name=”Touring Austria: Lakeside Town of Hallstatt and Sound of Music in Salzburg” description=”This post is about our travel tour to Europe featuring places visited in Austria in April 2017. The itinerary was prearranged and perfectly executed by Mulan Travel Service Corp. in the Philippines.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos-Sioco” pubdate=”2017-05-6″ ]

Our Balkan Tour continued with two epic days wandering old towns in Bosnian and Montenegrin locations: Mostar, Medjugorje, Kotor, and Budva. I didn’t have the slightest expectation on what to see in these places and didn’t bother checking them out on the web. In my mind, travel experiences are always the most compelling when least anticipated. 🙂 After going through Slovenia and Croatia, could this trip possibly keep getting better? Sure. There was just enough time to see several of the main sites. I’m glad we didn’t waste any of it since our itinerary was well tailored and taken care of, thanks to Mulan Travel Service Corp. In this post, discover the four best tourist spots in our travel.

4 Best Places We Visited in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina

1. The Old Town of Mostar 

Mostar is the capital of Herzegovina region. With a rich and long history dating back to the 15th century, it is a perfect example of solidarity and tolerance among people. From all the things our guide mentioned about Mostar, I mostly remember the story about Stari Most (a UNESCO site).

Stari Most is a 16th century, Ottoman-style bridge and Mostar’s most notable architectural landmark. It connects the two sides of the Neretva river. Rocks on the bridge are quite slippery, and lots of people (myself included) were slithering even though the weather was dry. After much struggle, on our way back, I found an easier way to cross! Tip: Instead of walking on the velvety soft and ivory-colored shimmering surface, step on the stoppers in between. 🙂

The bridge was destroyed during the Bosnian War in 1993 and was later rebuilt in 2004. It took long before its completion because getting materials based on the original wasn’t easy. These days, fearless locals collect money from tourists to jump from the bridge to the river for entertainment. The practice of diving off the bridge started in 1664 and became a tradition for the young men of Mostar. In 1968, the city held a formal diving competition, and it still continues today.

Surrounding the bridge are cobbled streets lined with bazaars and restaurants, souvenir shops, turkish houses, public buildings, catholic and orthodox churches, synagogues, and mosques. It’s amazing how people of various nationalities, culture, tradition and religion co-exist in this multicultural city. Islamic, judaic, orthodox and catholic buildings on a relatively small area create a good architectural mixture.

2. Medjugorje

Located 25 kilometers south-west of Mostar, Medjugorje is a small town picturesquely situated between the mountains. The town is famous for the apparition of the Virgin Mary to 6 children which took a place in 1981. Since this time, Medjugorje has become the destination of the Catholic pilgrims from all over the world. It is not officially approved by Catholic Church, but thousands of people come here to pray every year.

In Medjugorje, we saw the White Cross Hill where parishes raised the cross in 1934 in memory of the 1900th anniversary of the Passion of Jesus and The Apparition Hill with the statue of the Queen of Peace. It’s exactly where the children first saw Virgin Mary and received her message for the world: “I have come to tell the world that God exists. He is the fullness of life, and to enjoy this fullness and peace, you must return to God.” There was a church nearby and we took some time to relax and pray.

3. The Old Town of Kotor

Kotor is the star of the Montenegro coast. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site that was once home to one of the Mediterranean’s busiest harbors. The main square, Piazza of the Arms, has a beautiful old stone clock tower which has a Pisa-esque angle because of the numerous earthquakes that have shaken Kotor over the years.

Stepping into the old historic center of Kotor can make you think you’ve absentmindedly passed through Italian border control. Many buildings here have typical Venetian arches and balconies. The Venetians may have imported their flair and creativity from the far side of the Adriatic, but the substance is local. The architecture thus looks more like a hybrid of Montenegrin stoicism and Italian panache.

There’s also a number of monuments of the medieval architecture whose beauty is complemented with the multitude of narrow streets, squares, and markets. Churches, cathedrals, palaces, and museums kept your eyes busy for a while.

4. The Old Town of Budva

An ancient town with a sexy modern twist, Budva is known as the oldest settlement in the Adriatic. Nowadays, it offers beaches and hotels that make it the most desirable tourist destination in Montenegro. Apart from its natural beauty, Budva is rich in historic monuments.

The Old Town of Budva looked almost as pretty as the one in nearby Kotor, filled to the brim with bars, restaurants and limestone houses. We started our day tour entering the arched doorway in its medieval walls then walked through Budva’s Citadel, the highest structure in the area. This Citadel serves as a stunning lookout point just as it was meant to do over thousands of years ago. It was built as a protective entity for the city, and from the top, the surrounding sea could be scanned from any possible attacks.

On the other side, there’s a path leading to the pebble beaches of Mogren I and II. We saw the bronze sculpture of a ballet dancer, a symbol of Budva, performing a graceful arabesque as she gazes out to sea…

…and we tried to approximate its pose. 😛 #justforfun

All photos were taken using Fujifilm XT2 + 14mm lens.

[schema type=”review” name=”4 Best Places We Visited in Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina” description=”This post is about our travel tour to Europe featuring places visited in Bosnian and Montenegrin locations: Mostar, Medjugorje, Kotor, and Budva from April 7-20, 2017. The itinerary was prearranged and perfectly executed by Mulan Travel Service Corp. in the Philippines.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-04-28″ ]

We spent 11 days road-tripping and exploring the best of the Balkans Peninsula. Among all the countries in our travel itinerary (c/o Mulan Travel Service Corporation), Croatia was the highlight and for good reason. Offering a wealth of natural attractions, Croatia’s historic towns and idyllic islands are full of stories waiting to be told. In this post, I’m sharing six best tourist spots we visited. This list may be too short to cover all the notable places and things to see in Croatia, but I think it’s a good introduction to your Croatian adventure. Charming ancient city, beautiful harbors, or the scenic landscapes of the continental Croatia—the choice is yours.

6 Best Places We Visited in Croatia, Europe

1. Dubrovnik

Dubrovnik (Croatia’s precious jewel), interestingly, is the shooting location of King’s Landing in the Game of Thrones, Robin Hood, and Star Wars-The Last Jedi. This must be one of the reasons why it’s busy. The tour guide shared that several streets were closed for days when they were filming. I got to sit on the Iron Throne in one of the souvenir shops of GoT. We had to buy at least one item from the shop where prices were costlier than others… we gave in all for THE SEAT…and took several photos on it. 🙂

Once a city-republic, Dubrovnik boasts a glorious history. Its traces can be found in churches, museums, and the charming stone paved streets. The highlights of Dubrovnik’s UNESCO-listed Old Town include its shimmering marble streets, grand baroque churches, and magnificent 16th century Sponza Palace. We had a view of everything while taking a walk around the City Walls for an hour. It was a good way of burning some calories!

2. Plitvice Lakes National Park

Plitvice Lakes is the oldest and largest national park in Croatia. In 1979, it was made a UNESCO world cultural heritage. The forests in the park are home to bears, wolves and many rare bird species.

Plitvice Lakes is most famous for its lakes which were formed from numerous rivers, floating together. The lakes are separated into an upper and lower cluster formed by runoff from the mountains. It’s amazing that they change colors constantly, ranging from azure to green, gray or blue, depending on the quantity of minerals or organisms in the water and the angle of sunlight.

There’s no better way to explore the trails than doing it by foot. Our trek took four hours to complete, but we almost didn’t notice the time since we were busy sightseeing and snapping photos of 16 interconnected lakes and waterfalls on the background. Taking a daytrip here with the family while on vacation is recommended. It’s a suitable destination all year round.

3. Split

Split is the second largest city in Dalmatia. We had a walking tour in one of the most recognizable attractions in Croatia: the Diocletian’s Palace. This remarkable fortification complex was built in the 4th century by the Roman emperor Diocletian.

Because of its historical and architectural worth, it has been on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1979. Beautiful beaches, modern tourist facilities, and numerous historical sites make Split a desirable destination for all types of tourists. I love that it’s colorful and lively, with a nice balance of ancient and modern. Like an open-air museum, Split is a living and breathing place where you can feel its past and present.

4. Zagreb

Zagreb is one of those Central-European metropolises that enchant with its architecture, historical and cultural heritage. It is the capital and the largest city of Croatia. We had pleasant walks in both the Upper Town and Lower Town. The Upper Town is a reminiscent of its past, home to the Zagreb Cathedral, St. Mark’s Church, Stone Gate (Kamenita vrata), Lotrscak Tower, and more.

Regarding the Stone Gate, a noteworthy story was told about the painting showing Virgin Mary as a ruler with a scepter in her left hand and baby Jesus in her right hand, while Jesus holds a small globe in his left hand. A fire broke in Zagreb in 1731, and the Stone Gate was damaged badly. Only this painting remained intact. Now it’s guarded by a baroque fence. Even in the times when praying publicly was forbidden, citizens of Zagreb continued visiting the Stone Gate. This testimonies the significance of the Gate in everyday life. On May 31, 1991, 260th anniversary was celebrated and archbishop cardinal Franjo Kuharic named Virgin Mary of Stone Gate the protector of Zagreb.

Lastly, we took a stroll around the main square, Trg bana Jelacica, following the tour guide’s footsteps. There we found spacious pedestrian zones with many open cafes adding up to the charm of Zagreb’s hospitality.

5. Korčula

Near Dubrovnik, Korčula is located just 15-minute ferry ride from Peljesac peninsula. It overlooks the clear waters of the Adriatic. Temperature went down and it was raining that day. It was harder to tour and take photos (my fingers were nearly freezing!), but we made it anyway.

On this island, we learned more about the Croatian culture and their traditional buildings, streets, and villages. Most notable thing to remember is that the famous explorer Marco Polo was born here.

6. Zadar

Zadar is a seaside town in Croatian region of Dalmatia. We were lucky to have a great tour guide who introduced us to Zadar’s historical heritage dating back from Roman times. Surrounded by medieval fortification walls, this place may be less popular than the rest in this list, but it’s still one of our interesting site visits. Zadar enchants with stone paved streets, old churches, and astonishing natural surroundings.

The symbol of Zadar is the Church of St. Donat, a pre-Romanesque church built in the 9th century. Two things you can’t miss are its modern urban installations, the Sea Organ and the Greeting to the Sun, located on the waterfront.

The Greeting to the Sun is where visitors can enjoy the magical play of lights during sunset, and the Sea Organ plays music by the sea waves. The lower steps allow water and air to flow in. That water and air is then funneled into resonant chambers under the steps, and pushed out through the channels on the upper stairs. These cause the undulating, chime-like notes to be produced. Because the sea is always shifting and changing, the sea organ never sounds exactly the same twice. Each sound you hear is completely unique. Amazing, right? 🙂

We took a selfie with Šime Botica (from Art & Nature Travel). Šime was an excellent guide. He showed us parts of the city that we otherwise would not have learned about without him. He was informative, giving interesting facts and stories, and also very funny. 🙂 If you’re coming to Zadar, contact him here or check out their Facebook page.

All photos were taken using Fujifilm XT2 + 14mm lens.

[schema type=”review” name=”6 Best Places We Visited in Croatia, Europe” description=”This post is about our travel tour to Europe featuring places visited in Croatia: Dubrovnik, Plitvice Lakes National Park, Split, Zagreb, Korčula, and Zadar from April 7-20, 2017. The itinerary was prearranged and perfectly executed by Mulan Travel Service Corp. in the Philippines.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-04-27″ ]

It was my first time to travel to Europe. Initially, I was hesitant to go because (1) it’s expensive, (2) food might not suit my taste, (3) taking a lot of vacation leave credits from work might not be worth it, (4) feeling jet-lag from long flights would be too troublesome, (5) I might not be able to stand the cold weather, (6) seeing photos in the Internet would be enough, etc. Like Lady Gaga in her song “Million Reasons,” I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away, but I just needed one good one—to be convinced and say yes: I couldn’t pass up this great opportunity to experience an eye-opening adventure with my better half, Louie. 😉

Trivia: Slovenia is the only country in the world with the word LOVE.

Among Europe’s dazzling artistic and culinary diversity, our first stop was Slovenia. Compared to the likes of Germany, Italy, France, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, Slovenia is rather quite unheard of. It’s not a usual choice of first time travelers. In any case, we trust Mulan Travel Service Corp. for arranging our Balkan tour with the most impressive attractions for us to be excited about. In this post, I’m sharing the top 3 places we visited in Slovenia: Bled, Ljubljana, and Postojna Cave.

3 Places We Visited in Slovenia

1. Bled

With its brooding castles and verdant forests, Bled is Slovenia’s most popular resort. It features a glassy, emerald-green lake that is perfect for boating trips. We stayed in Hotel Park (Sava Hoteli Bled) located opposite to Lake Bled, a scenic body of water surrounded by the Julian Alps.

In the morning, we walked around the lake, rode the Pletna Boat to an island, and entered a 17th century church perched on a hill overlooking the town. This pilgrimage church is dedicated to the Assumption of Mary and is decorated with remains of Gothic frescos from around 1470 in the presbyterium and rich Baroque equipment. There are 99 stone steps leading up to the building. Per tradition, it is considered good luck for the groom to carry his bride up the steps on the day of their wedding before ringing the bell and making a wish inside the church.

In the afternoon, we explored Bled further and reached Bled Castle. Clinging to a rocky cliff 130 meters above Bled Lake, this medieval castle boasts magnificent views of the Bled island, the town of Bled and the wider countryside of the Gorenjska region. Here we also saw a museum collection representing the historical development of Bled, its culture, and its population. A castle printing shop below got us acquainted with traditional manual technological procedures of printing and some artistic ironworks at the castle forge.

2. Ljubljana

Next, we drove to Llubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Llubljana has a unique charm that makes it worth a visit. Its most noticeable symbol perhaps would be the myriad dragon statues that dot the streets. Besides the dragons, the city is packed full of gorgeous architecture that dates for the Baroque period. It’s also known for little squares that line the Old Town.

A major attraction is Tromostovje, or the “Triple Bridge,” where three picturesque bridges span the river right next to one another. To soak in the spectacular views over the city, we took a shortcut and went up to Ljubljana Castle via a funicular. During our free time, the foodie in us made us try McDonald’s chicken and beef gyros wrapped in delicious pita-style flatbread. Yum! 🙂

3. Postojna Cave

I was most in awe of the Postojna Cave. It comprises of 21 km of passages, galleries and halls with limestone sculptures that offer a unique experience of the underground world. We rode an electric train that took us into the depth of the cave where we found a spectacular display of stalagmites and stalactites. The caves are also home to the endemic olm, the largest troglodytic amphibian in the world.

Over 37 million visitors have been to Postojna Cave and I’m sure not a single soul went home unimpressed. The natural rock formations looked truly amazing. Note that Postojna Cave has a constant temperature of 9-10 degrees Celsius and almost 100% humidity throughout the whole year, so bring appropriate clothes and footwear when you visit. 😉

All photos were taken using Fujifilm XT2 + 14mm lens.

[schema type=”review” name=”3 Places We Visited in Slovenia: Bled, Ljubljana, and Postojna Cave” description=”This post is about our travel tour to Europe featuring places visited in Slovenia: Bled, Ljubljana, and Postojna Cave from April 7-20, 2017. The itinerary was prearranged and perfectly executed by Mulan Travel Service Corp. in the Philippines.” author=”Rochkirstin Santos” pubdate=”2017-04-25″ ]