Julian Alps

The Julian Alps are a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps that stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, where they rise to 2,864 m at Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia and of the former Yugoslavia. They are named after Julius Caesar, who founded the municipium of Cividale del Friuli at the foot of the mountains. A large part of the Julian Alps is included in Triglav National Park. The second highest peak of the range, the 2,775m high Jôf di Montasio, lies in Italy.
The Julian Alps cover an estimated 4,400 km² (of which 1,542 km² lies in Italy). They are located between Sava valley and Kanalska Dolina. They are divided into the Eastern and Western Julian Alps.
Source:Wikipedia

Thanks to Mirjam for this nice swap! Love this photography

image of the mountain goats and the nice stamps ^_^

Sent:19 February 2016   Received: 1 March 2016   Travelled: 11 days

Kurents

Kurentovanje is one of Slovenia's most popular and ethnologically significant carnival events. This 10-day rite of spring and fertility is celebrated on Shrove Sunday in Ptuj, the oldest documented city in the region, and draws around 10,000 participants each year.

Its main figure, known as Kurent or Korent, was seen as an extravagant god of unrestrained pleasure and hedonism in early Slavic customs.In today's festival, groups of kurents or kurenti wear traditional sheepskin garments while holding wooden clubs with hedgehog skins attached called “ježevke”, the noise of which is believed to "chase away winter". In this way, the presence of kurenti announces the end of winter and beginning of spring. Being a kurent was at first a privilege offered only to unmarried men, but today, married men, children and women are also invited to wear the outfit.

In 2010, the 50th anniversary of the first organized instance of this festival was celebrated. As the host of the festival, the town of Ptuj was admitted into the European Federation of Carnival Cities in 1991.

Love this festival card! Thanks to Mirjam for this People card from Ptuj! :)

Sent: 1 February 2016   Received: 16 February 2016   Travelled: 15 days

Ljublana Dragon

The symbol of the city is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of the Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat-of-arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge. It symbolizes power, courage, and greatness.
There are several explanations on the origin of the Ljubljana Dragon. According to the Slavic myth the slaying of dragon releases the waters and ensures the fertility of the earth, and it is thought the myth in this area is tied to the Ljubljana Marshes, the expansive area that has been threatening because of frequent flooding that reached Ljubljana. According to the celebrated Greek legend, the Argonauts on their return home after having taken the Golden Fleece found a large lake surrounded by a marsh between the present-day towns of Vrhnika and Ljubljana. It is there that Jason struck down a monster. This monster has become the dragon that today is present on the city coat of arms and flag.It is historically more believable that the dragon was adopted from Saint George, the patron of the Ljubljana Castle chapel built in the 15th century. In the legend of Saint George, the dragon represents the old ancestral paganism overcome by Christianity. According to another explanation, related to the second, the dragon was at first only a decoration above the city coat of arms. In Baroque, it became part of the coat of arms and in the 19th and especially the 20th century, it outstripped the tower and other elements.

Thanks to Robert for this beautiful dragon card from the country of love, Slovenia

and the Europa Cept Postval Van stamp!

Sent: 17 June 2015   Received: 30 June 2015   Travelled: 13 days

Kranjska Gora

Kranjska Gora is a town on the Sava Dolinka River in the Upper Carniola region of northwestern Slovenia, close to the Austrian and Italian borders. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kranjska_Gora

Thank you Nateja for the awesome reflection!

Sent: 4 February 2014,   Received: 17 February 2014,   Travelled: 13 days

Koper, Slovenia

 

The city of Koper is officially bilingual, with both Slovene and Italian as official languages. Sights in Koper include the 15th-century Praetorian Palace and Loggia in Venetian Gothic style, the 12th century Carmine Rotunda church, and the Cathedral of St Nazarius, with its 14th-century tower.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koper

 

Thank you Katja for this view from Koper :)

 

Sent: 12 February 2013

Received: 21 February 2013

Travelled: 9 days

slovenia

Slovenia (Slovenija) is a member of the European Union, Schengen Agreement and NATO. The country lies in Central Europe in the eastern Alps at the northern end of the Adriatic Sea, bordered by Austria to the north, Italy to the west, Hungary to the northeast, and Croatia to the southeast. Despite its small size, this eastern Alpine country controls some of Europe's major transit routes.
Previously one of Yugoslavia's six constituent republics, present-day Slovenia became independent in 1991. Historical ties to Western Europe, a strong economy, and a stable democracy have assisted in Slovenia's transformation to a modern state.

Thank you Dianna for this beautiful card from Slovenia. I hope I can visit this place when I travel to Eastern Europe this year! :D

Sent: 26 January 2013
Received: 8 February 2013
Travelled: 13 days