After a blogging sabbatical while I started life as a student, I’m desperate to write for pleasure again! I’ve squeezed in a few trips, so I’ve some catching up to do, and I’ll start with beautiful Slovenia.

Mr TBST and I headed to this tiny yet justifiably proud country in southeast Europe for an Easter break, flying into Ljubljana from Bristol on Easter Sunday. Home to around 2m people, the first thing we noticed was how friendly the locals are! Our taxi driver waited over 2 hours when our plane was delayed and still had a smile on his face when we reached Arrivals, and our air bnb host rocked up on her bicycle at midnight when the flight delay made us late.

Ljubljana is an easy city to explore and it really has got it all… Cafe culture, orange wine, a crazy pastiche of architecture, and of course the obligatory free walking tour! Ljubljana was named 2016 European Green Capital, and central Ljubljana is pedestrianised and relaxed – you can book a free electric golf buggy-style ride if you want to get across the Old Town quickly, or you can meander along the Willow-lined river at your own pace. Treat yourself to the free daily walking tour (https://ljubljanafreetour.com/). Expect the usual – humour, history, quirky tales… oh and a free shot of honey liqueur, yum! Ljubljana Castle is worth the steep uphill wander too (or save your thighs and jump in the furnicular!), and while you’re in the area grab lunch at Vodkinov Hram – a great spot for goulash, veggie croquettes and a shot of something local to finish off the meal.

And if you enjoy sampling the local beverages as much as I do… Slovenia beer is great, grab a Lasko, or seek out a trendy micro-brewery. Wine-lover? Slovenia shares a border with Italy, so maybe it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that Slovenia produces good wine. Sadly they only export about 10% of their wine production, so it’s unlikely to pop up in your local Sainsburys, but when in Ljubljana, you can go wine-tasting with the knowledgable Boris in a 300-year-old cellar (https://winetastingljubljana.com/). Boris will introduce you to seven wines, including orange! Slovenia is a hotspot for orange wine production. Technically a white wine, orange wine production uses a traditional process to produce a delicious amber liquid more often found in Michelin starred restaurants.

More of a foodie? Slovenian cuisine is a beautiful fusion, influenced by their Italian and Hungarian neighbours, among others, and some gorgeous traditional delicacies of their own (try the Bled cake!). Ljubljana isn’t the most noticeably vegetarian-friendly city I’ve visited, but I had several fantastic omelettes, and Chefs were happy to adapt recipes to suit. Head to the top of the skyscraper for breakfast or a slice of the incredible layer cake, and as always if you head away from the tourist hotspots you can find some little gems of cafes.

Ljubljana is full of rustic charm and beauty, but outside of the city is where I really fell in love with Slovenia… mountains, vineyards, glacial lakes, ski resorts, it’s a very special place, and exploring it feels like you’re being let into a well-kept secret.

There is public transport from Ljubljana out to the famous Lake Bled (30ish minutes drive), or you can book a tour that’ll take you further afield without any faff. We booked a one-day small group tour through Viator and it was INCREDIBLE. We expected to be squashed into a stuffy coach and shepherded around at fixed stops, but honestly we couldn’t have been more wrong. Our guide picked us up from our apartment in a new and super-clean people-carrier, and we found there were just 6 of us on the tour. The itinerary was negotiable and our guide rearranged the day based on the weather forecast. Top Man.

We started with Lake Bled, taking a traditional pletna to Bled island. Pletna are wooden rowing boats with colourful awning, expertly steered by local boatsmen. The tiny island has a church, temple, gelato shop and cafe, and very little else, so you don’t need long there, and when you disembark you’ll helpfully be given a designated time for your return journey (this website is v helpful: http://www.bled.si/en/what-to-see/natural-sights/the-bled-island). While in Bled, enjoy a sparkling Slovenian wine overlooking the lake, or try the Bled cream cake. There’s a decent walk around the lake, and of course the castle overlooking it. Dotted around the lake are boathouses and pretty houses resembling Swiss chalets. There’s a relaxed vibe, and it’s easy to lose track of time pottering around the gift shops.

We then headed to the third most visited attraction in Slovenia: Savica waterfall. This is worth the short (approx 25 mins) uphill hike! It’s mostly stone steps, but when we visited we were battling remnants of snow and ice. It’s worth taking walking boots (I did it in converse daps and it was a bit hairy). This is close to Lake Bohinj and the Mount Vogel ski resort, so, still inappropriately dressed (it was sunny on the ground, honest!), we took the Mount Vogel cable car up 1.5km, where we found snow, and lots of it, as well as spectacular views of Lake Bohinj. Grab a beer in the ski lodge or hit the slopes, before heading back to the city.

I went to Ljubljana expecting a great city break, but what I got was so much more! And with short flight times from the UK, Slovenia is an easy and beautiful country to explore. Enjoy!

A few more meat-free choices from the South Pacific…

The Camel Grill (Wellington)

On the waterfront, at the arty heart of this ultra-trendy city, you’ll find a fast-food van and pure joy. Recently named “coolest little capital in the world” by Lonely Planet, you can’t move for aviator-sporting, granola-munching hipsters and freshly ground coffee in Wellington. But if you fancy something naughtier, and you like your falafel moist (and lets face it what lunatic doesn’t?), seek and you shall find The Camel Grill.

Hubby loving life at The Camel Grill

The Village Café (Martinborough)

This place is exactly what it says on the tin…and then some. Homemade gnocchi, freshly baked bread, perfect Martinborough sauvignon blanc, all served by fresh-faced locals who are happy to share their recommendations and tweak dishes as needed. Martinborough itself is a wine village about an hour’s drive from Wellington, and a little off the usual tourist track. A plethora of boutique vineyards, olive groves, and wide country roads make this a perfect cycling spot – check out Green Jersey cycling tours and bike hire.

Cycling through Martinborough’s olive groves and vineyards

Indigo (Napier)

This Indian restaurant, an anachronism housed in Napier’s beautiful art deco architecture, is a real find. Average from outside, but brilliant Trip Advisor reviews overruled my first impressions, and I’m so happy we ate here! The vegetable manchurian is a welcome change from the usual vegetable curries, and a dhal tadka washed down with a beer is the perfect end to a day of wandering.

The famous Daily Telegraph building in Napier

PS I choose a meat-free diet but I’m not super-strict, so I didn’t check with the restaurants whether every ingredient in their vegetarian options was strictly vegetarian. I hope this blog post will help both vegetarians and others who make meat-free choices without having strict objections to ingredients derived from animals. Freedom of choice… no judgement here!

When my suitcase split at the airport, and I realised I’d forgotten to pack a few city break essentials (who needs a coat in Scandinavia anyway!), I wondered what lay ahead. Happily, prosecco and G&Ts came to the rescue, and I discovered Copenhagen is freakin’ awesome! So I’d like to put forward my case for Copenhagen as the perfect city break for Brits…

Above: Nyhavn.

Firstly, the flight time is just 2 hours, and Copenhagen airport is a 10 minute train journey from Copenhagen’s central station. So travel time won’t eat into your cheeky weekend away – win! Public transport in Copenhagen is super-efficient, there are plenty of S Train stations, and the metro is being expanded to make travel even easier – although one guide explained that natives of Copenhagen expect it to be completed in “year haha”.

Secondly, Copenhagen is a haven for foodies – even fussy vegetarians. When the concierge explained we were staying in the ‘Meatpacking District’, I worried I’d be living on vending machine fodder, but once again Copenhagen came up trumps (of course!). I recommend Toro – contemporary tapas, uber-friendly staff, very accommodating for vegetarians, and you feel cooler just sitting in this place! It gets very busy, so it’s worth booking a table. And if you’re away for a romantic break, check out the brilliant Je T’aime. Rustic French-inspired cooking, candle-lit tables and yummy new world wines.

Andersen Bakery (FYI Trip Advisor’s top-rated bakery in Copenhagen) and it’s melt-in-the-mouth pastries can be found opposite the train station – Three visits in four days… they must be doing something right! But it’s not just pastries… From the marshmallow *sounds like* ‘flooble’ on my scrummy Danish ice-cream, to the Tuborg beers we supped in our hotel, there is lots to love in Copenhagen.

Thirdly, there is so much to keep your entertained in Copenhagen. Get learning with the free Sandeman’s walking tour, check out the underwhelming but popular sculpture of ‘The Little Mermaid’, keep warm in the greenhouses in the botanical gardens, and sample beers in the Carlsberg factory. Discover a new perspective on a boat trip, climb the spiral church tower at the Church of Our Saviour, and visit the free town of Christiania. Embrace your inner child and play with Lego in the official Lego shop, and sit on a sunny terrace in Nyhavn (‘New Harbour’) – With outdoor heaters, and blankets on the chairs, you can dine al fresco whatever the weather, and yes chances are it’ll be cold. Watch the changing of the guards at the royal palace, or travel the short distance to Sweden to make it a multi-stop trip. We walked more than 6 miles a day in Copenhagen, so remember to pack comfortable shoes (or blister plasters). And *girl comment alert* all the walking means those pastry-pounds will stay away! Win-win.

Finally, the Danes are said to be among the happiest people in the world, and this feels true from the moment you step off the plane. And it’s infectious! Copenhagen left me feeling rejuvenated – I can’t wait to see more of Scandinavia…

Above: View from the top of the Church of Our Saviour.