By the Rivers of Slovenia

We spent five surprisingly fun days in a country that was described to us as "looking like a chicken", Slovenia. The Slovenes are very proud of their rivers, which are represented on their flag, and we soon found out why.

We began in Ljubljana, the capital and only Slovene city, which is situated on the Ljubljanica River.

The city is beautiful, especially at night, with restaurants, bars, shops and squares focused along the river.

Within a short walk you can see medieval streets, the interwar architecture of Jože Plečnik and the hilltop castle which overlooks it all.

The self-proclaimed autonomous Metelkova neighbourhood

The Tivoli Park, which held a National Geographic photography exhibition.

Feeding the birds

The city's symbol, the dragon, guards one of the many bridges over the Ljubljanica.

Not exactly a river, but perhaps Slovenia's best-known water feature is Lake Bled in the Julian Alps.

We arrived at dusk, the perfect time to see the sleepy pilgrim's church of Bled Island.

Bled Castle

The view from the castle

Early on our fourth day, we drove over the Vršič Pass.

Beyond the pass we encountered the ridiculous cyan of the Soča River.

In and around the mountain town of Kobarid (Caporetto in Italian) we learned of the alpine combat between Italy and Austria-Hungary in the First World War. At the time, Slovenia was simply a province within the Austrian Empire. With the Italians' unexpected invasion, Slovenian soldiers and civilians found themselves at the frontline of the Great War.

There are still remnants of the Italian fortifications built in 1915

There are mushrooms too

After experiencing the best rivers flowing over Slovenia, we went in search of one flowing under it. Within the Škocjan Caves is the Reka River.

Also not a river, but represented by one on the flag, is the 47km of coastline known as the Slovenian Riviera.

We stopped in at the beautiful Venetian port city of Piran.

The town square, full of graceful buildings...

...and graceful people.

As we left this little country which is overflowing with things to do and see, we passed the Sečovlje Saltworks. At the mouth of the Dragonja River, salt is still produced in the same way as it was in the 13th century.