petek, 12. julij 2013



This years European basketball Championship is just around the corner!
Taking place in several Slovenian towns , this is a perfect way to combine your love for basketball and travelling. For not only Slovenia is a beautiful country, it is also cheap, safe and extremely diverse. And, of course, this years' host for the best European basketball teams.
The venues for the sport spectacles are the followings: Jesenice near the Austrian border, Koper on the Adriatic seaside, Celje near the Croatian border and in the capital Ljubljana. Stretched on every corner of this minitiaure, chicken-shaped country, the European basketball champioship, happening this fall, is one of the biggest international event this country has ever hosted.
Slovenia is a young country where you can feel the Yugoslavian characteristics mixing with the western influences. It gained its independance in 1991, peaceafully and it made its transition from socialism surprisingly well. Now, a full-member of the EU, it is considered one of the hidden jewels of the European continent.  You will immediately notice the beautiful  nature everywhere;  even its capital is extremely green, it  has a huge foresty park basically in the center,  and many other smaller green surfaces. Not to menion the rest of the country, from Triglavski Narodni Park, to the lovely seaside or beautifull plains of Prekmurje; this country is extremely  picturesque despite its, for some, absurd size.
Slovenian people are kind, friendly and extremely good speakers of english language, which is a great advantage. The streets are safe, the prices are low and there's always something happening, especially in the summer!  
If you're coming to Slovenia with one and only one reason, that being the basketball championship, here's a list of things we recommend you to to spice up your trip.
Cheap car hire in Ljubljana

 If you arrive at the  Ljubljana  Airport you can rent a car directly on the spot and drive off to experience this capitals incredible vibe.  This city's old town is a must see, small but full of cafe's, small shops, a river  running right through it, magical castle on the hill, it will certainly leave a bohemian and romantic impression on you.
Have dinner at a local restaurant to discover Slovenia's delicious cuisine, go for a glass of a good local wine and let yourself be charmed by  the easy-going, relaxing but still frisky city. It is definetely not a city packed with tourists, yet, so take advantage of this and experience it in its most  authentic environment. Rent a car one day and drive up to the mountains, or  to the underground caves; the list goes on and on.
If you decide to spend your vacation at the coastal town of Koper, there too, you  can find a list of things to do. It is the oldest town in Slovenia and the Praetor's Palace is a perfect demonstration of this, for dating from 13th century.  Drive up to Socerb, old castle or to near-by Piran or Portorož. Maybe just find a spot and dip your feet into the Adriatic see. 
In Celje, which used to be a Roman town, you can rent a car and discover the beautiful East of the country. See the beautiful castle, the Celje Museum of Recent History, take the car and drive  to the Šmartno Lake, or maybe to some other near-by city or spend the day at a Spa resort like Rimske Toplice. Visit Laško, a town famous by its beer production.
In jesenice however, there is another world waiting for you. It is a relatively small town but it has a charming feel to it. See  the Upper  Sava Museum, or go to the amazing Zois' Park. Take the car and explore the beauties of this hilly region.  If Slovenia is already famous by its nature, than this is the source of it all! Amazing near-by lakes of Bled and especially Bohinj will make you instantly fall in love with it. 
Your stay in Slovenia might be purely to watch the championship  but do not miss out on this opportunity to get to know this beautiful country, it will not leave you dissapointed. Rent a car and so be able to explore it from one one corner to another. Easily, you will find something to ne amazed by!


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