I wrote about some of my memorable travel experiences back in late 2021 and early 2022 which seems like ages ago now. How time flies. I was planning to continue writing a few more parts on the same topic but somehow chose to write travel stories about my other travel experiences.
Since there is no better time like now, I thought of continuing with the next part as I had planned to do. Looking back at all my travels is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to live through the wonderful travel memories.
Browsing through my previous travel stories I picked up the following experiences which I enjoyed among many others to include in this travel story.
Exploring the Postojna caves and Living Nativity, Slovenia
Postojna Cave in Slovenia is a karst cave system created by the subterranean Pivka River. The temperature inside the cave is around 10 deg C. The world’s first underground cave railway was opened in Postojna Cave in 1872. Travelling through this railway system is a great experience and it felt like I am transported into a totally different world inside the earth’s crust. A stalagmite about 5 m tall called Brilliant is a symbol of Postojna Cave and the Slovenian Karst.
During Christmas time there is a totally surreal living nativity show inside Postojna Cave. It is a spectacular performance staged along 5 kms which can be experienced by walking within the vast caves. The nativity show includes well known Slovenian actors along with live music and songs within an illuminated wonder world of stalactites and stalagmites.
You can read more about my Christmas holiday in Slovenia here.
Walking among the Rosa Damascena plants in Rose Valley, Bulgaria
About 170 kms from Sofia is Kazanlak which is also known as the Rose Valley of Bulgaria. Bulgaria is famous for its Rosa Damescena and the rose valley produces about half of the world’s rose oil.
Walking among the rose plants in the the Rose valley I remember seeing, feeling and smelling the lovely roses. There are miles and miles of rose plants and in the background are the Balkan mountain ranges. Standing amidst the rose plants in the valley I enjoyed the gentle breeze which spread the unique Rosa Damascena fragrance.
The rose picking season lasts from May to June every year. All the rose picking is done manually in the early morning hours. Only the bloomed roses are picked and must be processed on the same day to ensure the production of the best quality of rose oil. The European Commission has approved Bulgarian Rose Oil to have a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Every year in June, a Rose festival are held in the Rose valley of Kazanlak to celebrate the cultivation of roses and production of rose oil. Rose picking, street parades, local folk music, dancing and various events take place during the festival.
You can read more about my Rose Valley trip in Bulgaria here.
Dwarf hunting in Wroclaw, Poland
During my week long Poland trip, I visited Warsaw, Gdansk, Malbork, Torun, Wroclaw and Krakow. One interesting thing about Wroclaw is something I had read before my visit to Poland. It was about the dwarfs of Wroclaw. You will find small bronze figurines of dwarfs almost everywhere in the city. You just have to spot them and that is why one of the most interesting thing travellers in Wroclaw do is go for dwarf hunting!
As I saw a few dwarfs, I found them fascinating and starting looking out for more. Here are some photos of the dwarfs I spotted during my walking trail around the city of Wroclaw.
Since 2005, these tiny sculptures of the dwarfs have been placed throughout the city and now there are more than 400 dwarfs to look out for. There is even a dwarf hunting map and for those preferring to use their phone, there is an app dedicated to dwarf hunting in Wroclaw!
You can read some of my Poland travel stories including the dwarf hunting here.
Riding the Floibanen Funicular in Bergen, Norway
Bergen is famous for its lined wooden houses in Bryggen which is a UNESCO Heritage site. The beautiful city of Bergen is also known as the city of seven mountains. It is a city of mountains, lakes and of course the fjords.
From the city centre, I took the Floibanen funicular, Scandinavia’s first cable railway, to Floyen, Bergen’s beautiful mountain top which is 320 metres above sea level. The funicular ride takes approximately 6 minutes and offers panoramic views of Bergen city.
Since weather was excellent, I opted to hop onto the lowest carriage, which provides the best views of Bergen as I went up the mountain. At the top station there is a cafe, restaurant and souvenir shop. The views from the top of Bergen’s islands and peninsulas leading to the North Sea are breathtaking. I walked around some trails in Floyen and enjoyed the sunset from the best spot of Bergen.
You can read more about my Bergen and Oslo travel here.
Day trip to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon from Athens, Greece
During my Athens trip I travelled to Cape Sounion, a popular sight for an all day excursion. Cape Sounion is the promontory at the southernmost tip of the Attic peninsula, around 70 kms (43 mi) southeast of Athens.
I reached Cape Sounion in the afternoon and it is famous for the Temple of Poseidon. The remains of the temple to the sea god sit on the headland, surrounded by the Aegean sea on three sides. This is one of the most stunning sights in Greece. The sunset over the Aegean Sea and moonrise over the temple are supposed to be spectacular, but I had no chance of experiencing any of that due to the weather. Perhaps that is for some other time in the future.
It was a rainy and cold day in February and when I arrived at the Temple of Poseidon, I was told I was the only one who had bought the ticket to enter the complex that day. Imagine having an entire part of history and heritage to yourself, the weather did not matter at all.
You can read more about my Athens and Cape Sounion travel here.
HELPFUL HINTS
- Postojna Caves can visited on a day trip from Ljubljana or Lake Bled
- Living Nativity is a unique experience and runs through the Christmas week.
- Kazanlak can be reached by train, bus or rental car from Sofia.
- Kazanlak’s Rose Museum has display of exhibits related to rose oil production.
- Wroclaw is around 3 hours from Krakow and can be reached either by bus or train.
- Most attractions in Wroclaw can be visited in a day and it is good to include Wroclaw in a Poland travel itinerary.
- Bergen card offers free entry to museums, bus travel and also includes the funicular ride.
- Rain wear is a must as rain is very common in Bergen.
- Travel during off season as Athens is a very popular destination. Most of the sights are nearly empty.
- Winter can be rainy, windy and while snowfall is rare, it is still a possibility, so proper clothing is essential.
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Memorable Travel Experiences from TravellerWorldUK – https://www.travellerworld.co.uk/travel-experiences-part-3
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