Day 2 : Rakov Skocjan - Sajevce ( drive to Postojna Caves and then 5 hour walk to Sajevce)
Sunny to overcast.22o.
Despite our hosts being up until 5am with the wedding they were up for us and served a delicious breakfast and then drove us to the famous Postojna Caves for a tour.
Our hostess, Majda Kovac, and her helpful husband, who drove us to the caves and start for day.
The huge cheese and prosciutto sandwich in our packed lunch.
Some of our early section of the original track was destroyed in February this year. There was a terrible ice storm and flooding which wreaked havoc in this area. Flood levels to 25 metres in some areas and devastation to forests.
The ice storm in February 2014 responsible for so much devastation of the forests
The devastation still along the route
Consequently we were driven to the Postojna Caves and then made our way to our second destination from there, a five hour walk.
The caves were discovered in 1818. They have been excavated and extend for 21 kms.
It is a very professional tour. There are trains which transport several hundred people every half an hour into the cave system. You then walk for an hour through the caves and then are taken back. We only saw 5kms of the amazing system. It is constantly 10o. Too cold for bats.
Parts of the cave system are 300 ft high and are venues for concerts.
The caves are also famous for a salamander-like creature called Human Fish. They are found in the river deep below the caves, where they feed on insects. They are blind and live for about 100 years.
From here we walked into the township of Postojna. Our written instructions gave us directions from the train station. But could we find the train staton.... It was our usual comedy of errors. Mark studied the map intensely and I asked every passer by for directions and either didn't understand their response or forgot the exact details. After many false starts we found our way. The path was through small villages, meadows, minor roads and forestry tracks. We fell into a good rhythm despite several hours of solid walking, enjoying the views of small hamlets and farms.
Paths through small allotments and hamlets
Meadows with small wild flowers
Iconic villages with church set above township
Our farmhouse stay tonight is Tourist Farm Dolenc run by Boris and Ivanka Dolenc. To be registered as a farmhouse stay 60% of consumed meals has to be produced on the farm. Cows in the stable next to the dining room.
Boris' blueberry grappa
For dinner we were served porcini mushroom soup, roast lamb, potato and vegetables and a light lemon, cheese strudel. Such friendly traditional hosts. The farm has been in the family for generations but the farmstay / restaurant was begun in the 1920s by Boris' grandparents.
M&M
15/6/2014
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