Another day in Kočevje, Slovenia
Zagan the motorhome likes his free aire in the town of Kočevje in Slovenia (N45.64433, E14.87113), so he decided to stay another day. Last night the doors, on what we think is a bottling plant just across from us, were still open at 10.30pm when we closed our curtains for the night. I have no idea what hours the businesses keep in Slovenia, but they were open again when we pulled back the curtains at 9am this morning – it did make me feel a tad guilty, but I made sure it only lasted for the briefest moment.
Waking up this morning it felt like we were back on a Croatian campsite. All the sites we stayed on were having building work done before the season fully kicked in, so we got used to waking up to hammering, drilling, strimming and various other noises. Today was the same, as the guys finishing off the service point and toilet block next to us started work around 8am.
We had planned to go for a run around the lake first thing, but the skies were grey and heavy with rain. Instead we holed up in Zagan and put the heating on, double-checking we’d done it right as it’s been ages since we last used it. We found a WiFi connection that gives you an hour for free, so took it in turns using various devices to see what is going on in the outside world – the fantastic news we got was Jay’s mini guide, Funding Freedom, has been downloaded by over 300 people. He wrote it to get the word out there as to how others might also live a life like ours, and fingers crossed at least some of the people who have downloaded it have read it, and will act on it.
As the skies lightened we headed out for another walk around the town, using some of the leaflets Janis gave us yesterday we found several of the landmark buildings mentioned all within an hour or so.
Looking up at The Skyscraper – one of Kocevje’s tallest buildings when it was built
Memorial from the 1990/91 war
Wandering back to Zagan the permanent smell of burning wood fires was overpowered by the smell of food, tasty smelling food. Once back at the van one of our favourites, mushroom stroganoff, was rustled up by Jay and heartily scoffed down.
Our pooch walk back to Zagan
You can tell the telegraph piles were once trees!
We spent most of the afternoon cross-referencing an old Slovenia Lonely Planet guide with our new Camperstop, the ACSI books and Park4Night.com. We now at least have somewhere to head tomorrow and a vague route through the country – as well as all the free aires mapped out. Our guidebook tells us all the best stuff is in the west (Lake Bled, the Triglav National Park, Ljubljana, the Postogna caves, Izola and so on), so of course our route is through the east. However we have seen several of the highlights in the west on our previous trip, so hopefully this time we’ll get to see another side of Slovenia.
Charlie loves this van
Realising we might not be here all that long I had a look at the vignettes (which are needed if you are going on the motorways). You can buy one week for €15 or one month for €30 – depending on how we get on using the smaller roads tomorrow we may only buy a one week one, if at all.
Around 4pm we made it out for a jog around the lake, our first time out together this year. Charlie opted to guard Zagan a.k.a. sleep. Jay used to run, a lot, many years ago but his fitness levels are still way above mine, so I was pleased to be able to keep up with him (even if he was going a bit slower for me). I don’t really enjoy running but as there isn’t space for a gym or pool in Zagan it’s the easiest option to counteract all the stuff in the ‘naughty cupboard’. Sadly once we got back the naughty cupboard was raided and a packet of faux jaffa cakes vanished – any good work was undone, but I do feel better for it.
Nice view while we were jogging
Ju x
By self appointment and on behalf of all your vegetarian readers, as spokeperson for all non-carnivorous humans, “we condone the use of fungi in the form of mushroom stroganoff for tea”. Unlike previous posts depicting various forms of dead animal collected and arranged into in various forms of ‘food’, cooked or otherwise.
Faux ‘Jaffa cakes’ can also be included into a balanced diet, but may I suggest …twice around the lake to compensate? ;-) :-) Kindest, Wayne.
Haha – I always want to raid the naughty cupboard after exercise (so generally don’t bother :-/ ) !!
I’m one of the 300, and I thoroughly enjoyed the read and the tips. As a couple we already started on some of the advice the moment we decided to go traveling (aiming at September start first slightly east, then southward), and it works. Grateful thanks from here for making the book available!
Also thanks loads for all your posts! Am thoroughly enjoying your travels!
You’re welcome, thanks for the comment Claudia, it’s appreciated! Cheers, Jay
Hi Guys, just managed to catch up on your blog and looks like you are having a great time. Croatia looks fab and must go there some day!
It rained for us too in Slovemia but then when the sun did shine, it was awsome.
Enjoy and see you soon x
Hi guys – all good down here – just pondering the trek north to the Baltics now. Having been sat against the ocean living it up in Croatia, it’s suddenly feeling a bit daunting to get ourselves up there. But up there we will go! Enjoy Scandinvia – we’ll shortly be stealing all of your fabulous places to stay! Cheers, Jay