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Krma Valley

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Krma is a glacial valley, one of the three valleys that stretch from bellow Mt. Triglav to the village of Mojstrana. Krma is the southeast of them and probably best known as the easiest access to the Triglav peak.  There is a  route to the Triglavski dom lodge which is 7,3 kilometres long and  gradually ascends 1550 height meters.

Krma Valley is the upper part of a Radovna Valley which ends near Bled with the famous Vintgar Gorge. In fact we were exploring the Radovna Valley in the morning  and out of curiosity turned onto the gravel road leading to the Krma Valley at the crossroads for Mojstrana. When the road came out of the forest and we got the first glimpse of the mountains surrounding the valley there was only one thought on our minds: to stop the car as soon as possible too see it in full.

It was still early in the morning, the sky was blue with some puffy clouds showing over the peaks, the valley was empty.

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Krma is also known as a mountain pasture but as we have learned latter the cows were only to come next week.

Soon the clouds made some more drama over the peaks but it was still pretty warm outside in the front of Kovinarska koča lodge where we ordered some sweet dumplings for breakfast.

The Krma valley is a great place to have a walk or stay a few days in silence hiking around. It is accessible also in winter. The Krma route to Mt. Triglav is the safest one in the winter and offers some great ski touring slopes. The scenery provides for magnificent photos in all seasons.

Posted and photographed by @zokus_gf.

Zelenci Springs

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Zelenci Springs is a nature reserve near Kranjska Gora, at the three-country border of Slovenia, Italy and Austria. Most people will say that Zelenci Springs are the source of the Sava Dolinka River but this is technically wrong, since the water from underground Nadiža Creek (originating in the Planica Valley) just re-emerges here through the porous bottom of the shallow  lake.  Anyway, river  flowing  from here to the Danube River is Sava, so Zelenci Springs is a kind of  source of the Sava River. Lake is ‘famous’ because of  its brilliant green water which gave the name to the springs and its surroundings  (Zelenci is a deadjectival plural noun from Slovene zelen ‘green’.)

The lake.

View from the tower.

View from the tower.

But who cares about the name!? What is really important is the place itself. The best way to describe Zelenci is – nature at its best! There are numerous paths leading around so you can really explore the place. Leave your car on the parking near the bar. You can’t miss it (and – don’t miss it. You can get a nice cup of coffee there or eat a decent meal for a reasonable price).

View from the wooden bridge.

There are two best places to take photos  – the small lake itself and a long wooden bridge nearby. There is also a wooden tower beside the lake that offers even better views, but be careful! Lately it isn’t safe so climbing on it was forbidden the last time I was there.

Best views are from the tower.

Best views are the ones from the tower.

Zelenci are really beautiful in the early morning, before sunrise, when they are covered with amazing mist, or around sunset when the surrounding mountains shine in the (red) light. If you decide to visit it during the day, you will probably meet lots of people there and getting a nice photo will not be that easy.

Since the place is a nature reserve there are many unique animal species found there, as well as some sparse and endangered plants.

Nature at its best.

morinichiara

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Ljubljana, 15. 11. 2015, @sanya_lt

Chiara was one of the first foreign Instagramers that I came across while searching through photos tagged #igslovenia. I was totally surprised by her love for Slovenia, her wish to learn Slovenian and her knowledge about Slovenia. So it only seemed right that I do my first Instagram interview with her. So … here we go:)

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Can you present yourself? Who are you, where do you come from and what do you do?

I am Chiara Morini, 39 years old, and I come from Porto San Giorgio, a city in the central Italy, in the Marche region. I am a local web journalist and I update the social media channels of my municipality with photos and information about the events  in my city. This is my work & I love it!

Are you a professional or amateur photographer? What equipment do you use?

 I am an amateur photographer, but sometimes I have to be a photographer  for my work, so – you can call me ‘half-professional’:) I started working in the field of communication as web journalist and then slowly photography came into the picture, to illustrate my articles.

 After that I started working with social media and I got engaged with the world of photography. I bought a Canon EOS digital 1100D with a standard lens systems (18-55 mm). Then I bought a 55-250 mm  and a 10-18 mm. I also use my Iphone to take photos  and a Samsung Galaxy EK GC-100 camera.

my love for slovenia

What does photography mean to you? Can you describe us your photography style?

Well, if you ask me this two questions are connected.  Photography is … quite everything! I love taking  photos. I decided to become a journalists because I love to tell stories, to narrate what I see in the world. If I can tell something to someone with my keyboard, I can also make that with my camera.

No words, but images, like reportage. I try to make this when I take a photo: I narrate the reality, the life, I try to let the people live what I lived, to see what I saw, to make them feel what I felt while observing what I captured on my photo.  If am tired but I have to take photos in the theatre or at the concert for my work, I obviously go. And I come back relaxed! I love taking photos as well as I love writing. Personally I prefer some photography genres like macro photography, food & wine photography, animals, flowers & plants and monuments.

Let’s talk about Instagram … How did you end up on Instagram?

At first I checked it  just out of curiosity. I quickly realised it is good for me, it is what i like and also – I started to think that I can use Instagram for my work. Beside that, Instagram is really great for meeting people from all over the world.

I post on Instagram when there is something beautiful to show. I love to interact with other people, with you in Slovenia (I can keep in touch with your beautiful country and I see places I do not know yet!), but also here in Italy. Let me give the people my personal advice: Use hashtags on Instagram – to find best accounts that you will enjoy following and to show your photos to the Instagram world.

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Do you also use Instagram in other (not only personal) projects? What about other social media?

I try to promote the use of Instagram also in my municipality. I created two profiles for my city; @psgculturaeculture (cultural events) & @portosangiorgiomeet (for tourism). 

I also use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, G+, tumit (that is an Italian social network for events). Occasionally I post on Flickr and Pinterest too. I am going to have my own web site and I’m just starting a new blog project.

It is not a social network but one photo-project I undertake for my city is “Virtour” (80% of the photos and texts are mine), a virtual tour in our city. 

Slovenia? How & when did you decide to visit? Why? What are your favourite places here? What would you say to a first time visitor – what is ‘a must see’ place in Slovenia?

The first time I came to Slovenia was 20 years ago! I had just finished my high school graduation exams (it was the first week of July) and I came to Kranjska Gora for a group tour. I was in a hotel in Gozd Martuljek and I saw many green and beautiful views.

However, the thing that really amazed me was your language: So few vowels, such beautiful sound. That is why I decided to try to learn it; I found a grammar and a dictionary and I started. It is not easy to do it on your own and it is not enough to spend just 10, 15 days a year in Slovenia. But, it was a start. During last year and thanks to Instagram,  – I made some progresses!

 I always come to the mountain region of Gorenjska: it is beautiful and there, I feel like being at home. From there I go to Ljubljana. It is so lovely, so beautiful, so… “Mine”! Your capital is one of my favourite places to take photos and to visit, but Kranjska Gora (and lake Jasna), Mojstrana, (I do not remember if I ever visited Dovje), Triglav, Bled, Brezje, Radovljca, Škofja Loka, Jesenice and the other  places are amazing too!

While staying in Slovenia I feel like home. And I do return every year! I will be back but until then;  Un saluto dall’Italia / Pozdrave iz Italije! / Greetings from Italy!

kranjska gora