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July 2021

We were invited for a great tour around Tolmin in a traditional Willies Jeep, driven by Marko who is not only a perfect guide, but also good company during this exciting day!

Our tour started in Tolmin and we decided to go there the evening before and stay in a local hotel, so we would appear fresh and fit at the start of our tour. I didn’t know what to expect, but my partner Roy who was in the Dutch army for over 40 years was over the moon about being able to sit in this specific jeep again. The instructions before the start were clear, caps, long sleeves and trousers and firm shoes. Not the things I normally wear on a trip, so that made me a bit worried about what to expect…

After a warm welcome in Marko’s family house we were invited to sit in the jeep. I must say, a lot more comfortable than I expected. Of course I had to sit in the back, the guys we obviously in charge and found each other immediately. The good part about this trip is that Marko takes you immediately from the beaten track. We gave him a free hand where to go, although he offered several possibilities. We were not sorry! The combination was just perfect. We went on a narrow road and after an exciting trip ended up next to a small river with super clear drinkable water. Beautiful! Roy and Marko pulled themselves also over the river in a cable car that was made by his wife’s father. And these connections came by all day, which made the tour personal and even more interesting.

After filling the water bottles, we went on to a local cheese maker where we were just in time to see the cheeses in stock, before they were transported to the valley. What a view! And how nice that we could taste the cheeses on the spot, accompanied by homemade juice.

Beside the food part (mine), we also visited several cultural sides from WWI. An impressive bunker, a church with so many names of fallen soldiers that it made me sad, but with a guide who knew a lot and was very good in telling us about it. Of course it wasn’t the first time that we visited this region, Roy with his military background has been interested in the Soča front from the day he came to Slovenia and read about every book about it, but being in the Jeep, visiting less known locations made it a whole new experience.

A picnic with homemade sausages on the border with Italy with a stunning view with so many stories, followed by a delicious ice coffee at the local milk factory and a trip to the favourite swimming location in the river, Marko made us all the time curious about the next destination. What we liked most? The variety of things we did. Of course we were in the jeep the whole day, but the diversity of the places we visited, the fact that we were there often alone, the stories he told. This was by far the best way we visited this region!

Simone and Roy from the Netherlands

 Photos by: Simone & Roy