There are places in the world that I still struggle to believe I laid foot on, where grains of virginal white sands delicately settled in the webs of my toes, where an elephant and her vulnerable offspring showed a visceral solidarity as they drank together from a shallow azure lake, tinted by the needles of the early morning sun and where glacial boulders dropped into benign waters with a fierce magnificence. I hope immeasurably that these moments remain rare for the day they cease to fill me with butterflies is the day I will cease to travel.
Visiting Piran, Slovenia
It is easy to visit Piran with just a day or half day trip from Ljubljana or Lake Bled, two stunning Slovenian locations, where most first time visitors to Slovenia are likely to be headed. Piran can be easily accessed from either as part of a tour group (you can read more about the one we used here) or independently by car or public transport. If you are planning to go by car, however, do check regarding vignette charges and be aware that the old town has restricted access to vehicles so you may need to park outside of the main town area.
What to see in Piran
Pastel-stroked buildings and al fresco cafes delineate the main square (adorably named Tartini square) and the palpable sea breeze sways the sails of the colourful boats dotted all around the harbour. A rocky border lines the waterside, not suitable for the liberation of feet from their covers, but it pays to keep your sensible shoes on in any case if you want to ascend towards the monastery viewpoint, where you will be awarded with an aerial view of the town, cluttered with the cute orange rooves that hallmark Piran, juxtaposed like an artist’s pallete with the blue reaches of the Adriatic Sea.
A host of inviting restaurants line up along the shore with smiling waiting staff welcoming you with open arms. Perhaps they are a little touristy but when the sun was massaging its way onto my bare shoulders and I paused to photograph the picture perfect conical boats, I felt an air of optimism and contentedness, celebrating this blissful summer day with a refreshing ice cream sundae bursting with strawberry flair.
Have you ever visited a place that you dreamed of retiring to?