MIKE AND JESS' TRAVEL DIARY
Slovenia and Portugal Trip
About our trip to Slovenia and Portugal
This was our first international trip since 2019 due to the pandemic. It was also around Mike’s 40th birthday, so we decided to go to his top 2 most-desired travel destinations. We split the trip in half and essentially did two trips in one. Portugal and Slovenia are such different countries, we will break up our “final thoughts” into two, one for each.
sLOVEnia
When: May 2023
Why: Slovenia has been on Mike’s travel radar since before he even began travelling. He had seen a list of really scenic parts of the world in an article and Slovenia was on it. It’s a tiny country, which made the idea of exploring it so much easier. Once we started to dig into the country, we kept being surprised by how much is packed into the small borders. Alps, lakes, rivers, mountains, caves, coastal towns, small rural towns, and one big(ish) capital city.
How Long: 1 week
Most surprised us: We both had HIGH hopes for Slovenia and were concerned our expectations would not be met. Instead, they were exceeded. We have since looked into how to move there permanently. We were surprised by how every person except one that we encountered, even when we went to the more rural areas, spoke English fluently. We were surprised how easy it was to drive. In fact, it is more pleasant to drive in Slovenia than in the US. Every corner of the country that we saw was absolutely gorgeous. What surprised us most, though, is how this is not a tourist hot-spot. Not that we want it to be! We were thrilled to have everything all to ourselves! But it’s hard to understand how few people know about this country. Oh! And the lemonade and juices! Their “lemonade,” available on most menus, is more like water with a splash of lemon. It varied at each restaurant and some were better than others, but it is definitely not the lemonade we grew up with in the States! Also, fruit juice EVERYWHERE. All restaurants, bars and cafes have fruit juice. Mike loved it.
Most disappointed us: That we could not stay forever. To give a real answer, and we have to nitpick here, public smoking is completely accepted. Even on outdoor restaurant patios. Every meal we had, there was a smoker a table or two away. Even at the really nice, more expensive restaurants. Since neither of us smoke, it wasn’t the most pleasant. However, it certainly did not bother us very much.
Would we do it again: We are already planning out a second trip there. Of all the countries we have visited, this one is the one we are most likely to revisit.
Would we recommend it: We would recommend Slovenia to anyone and everyone. It is so accessible, the people are so kind, and there is so much packed into one country. It would be a great trip for someone who hasn’t been outside of the US, too, because it is so easy to drive around and speak to locals. There aren’t any “culture shocks.” Also, outdoor enthusiasts could spend a month exploring the country.
Portugal
When: May 2023
Why: Portugal was also on the same article Mike discovered Slovenia in. It had everything he looks for in a European destination: old, historic city center, beautiful buildings, nice locals, good food, and walkable cities.
How Long: 1 week
Most surprised us: Some of the food and drink was so cheap! Wine was shockingly cheap. We thought we were ordering a 9 Euro glass of local wine to have them bring the whole bottle. The Pasteis de Nata were so delicious and cheap as well!
Most disappointed us: Mike and I differ on our feelings about our experience in Portugal. Mike’s expectations about the level of tourism the country experiences were mostly on-par with reality. Mine was not. Mike does not have anything that truly disappointed him. For me, it was the crowds. At times, the main tourist areas were literally packed. It felt overrun, which makes me feel sad for the locals and it prevents me from feeling immersed in the area and culture.
Would we do it again: We would revisit Lisbon, but stay even further from the city center for crowds and authenticity reasons. We would like to go back and plan a totally different trip where we rent a car and drive through the small countryside towns.
Would we recommend it: Mike’s answer is “yes.” Mine is “it’s complicated.” If someone is dead-set on going to Porto, for example, I would recommend waking up early to explore before everyone else is out and staying across the river on the Port side to avoid the worst of the crowds. If someone was hoping for an authentic, immersive European experience, I would not recommend these cities. However, if heavy tourism doesn’t bother them, Porto and Lisbon are really beautiful cities with unique, tiled buildings, kind and patient locals, and great seafood. And cheap wine! 😉