Slovenia: Boris Johnson’s surprising honeymoon location should be on your bucket list
Newlyweds Carrie and Boris went off the beaten path to Bled for their honeymoon. Photo / Getty Images
Boris Johnson, an old Etonian prime minister, party-addicted and lame, is a man of eclectic tastes. Nowhere is this more evident than in his unusual choice of honeymoon location.
To celebrate his third and final marriage to Carrie Symonds, BoJo took them somewhere few would think of: Slovenia.
Impressed by his trip, the outgoing Prime Minister of Great Britain is now the country’s biggest supporter. Outside the luxury eco-resort Vila Planinka in the Julian Alps, the Times quoted the Prime Minister as saying it was a land of “amazing things”.
Last Sunday, Johnson expressed “a huge thank you to Slovenia, the only country in the world with love in its name”.
I bet you too would be so excited about the country if you could find it on a map. Until recently, the country existed in relative obscurity for international travel. Of course, this is not Slovenia’s fault. A small country with 2 million Slovenians is stuck between the cliché honeymoon destinations of Italy, Austria and Croatia.
Ljubljana – one of the world’s most mispronounced and misunderstood capitals – was once the regional headquarters of Austria-Hungary, then briefly Yugoslavia, and is now a rising star on the European travel agenda.
Lake Bled is perhaps the most recognizable attraction. Its sapphire blue lake, complete with a fairytale island chapel and mountain backdrop, is a laptop screen saver that attracts photographers from across the continent. However, there are countless other less explored lakes and waterways through the foothills of the Julian Alps.
For the more adventurous holidaymaker, the mountain culture is the same as any other in the Alps, both southern and European.
Kiwi mountaineers can appreciate the network of huts in the countryside. These range from cozy self-catering monasteries – or “kochka” – to space-age bivouacs. Although you will not see something as flashy as Orange corrugated sheet in Slovenia. The cantilever shelters on Kanin and Skuta were awarded with European architectural awards.
Relatively novice hikers can conquer the highest mountain in the country by guided ferrata. The crystal rivers of the Soča valley also offer many possibilities for adrenaline sports, such as rafting and kayaking.
The cabinet of Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob confirmed that outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in the country on a short private visit, but they could not confirm whether he climbed Triglav.
There is also world-class cycling in the hills, with Slovenian Tour de France legend Tadej Pogačar, who is a national sports hero.
South of Ljubljana are the Postojna Caves, which are under UNESCO protection. The Johnsons also allegedly visited these, which are home to blind Gollum-like salamanders. A local tourism organization is trying to make the creepy cave creatures more appealing by calling them “baby dragons”.
I’m not sure if blind swamps are more or less appealing than local delicacies.
Villa Planinka Johnson’s Honeymoon retreat lists “bear cheeks” on the menu. Far from grizzly, the red meat is described as melt-in-your-mouth tender. It is a meat specialty that is also served by chef Tomaž Kavčič of the first Slovenian restaurant with a Michelin star – Gostilne pri Lojzetu. Another new item on the menu is horse and vole meat.
Dober tek… or in Slovenian, Dober tek!