In the "advanced tab," there is a trade option. In the trade option you can select the exchange pair you're interested in trading and then offer a rate. That may be a bit unclear, let me know if that works or not...

As far as I can tell, the reason that xrp exists in the ripple system is because each transaction that takes place costs .00001 xrp. This is paid so that the system can be maintained. But unlike Bitcoin, it is not a real store of value, so not exactly sure why it has appreciated so dramatically in the last few months...?

I'm not a big fan of bitstamp and/or wiring $ to Slovenia.

I believe that's correct. You'll need someone on Ripple to send you some xrp before you can transfer money from bitstamp. Bitstamp does not convert between xrp and btc. Once you transfer btc or usd from bitstamp, you'll have to trade with someone for xrp on ripple. Make sense?

Went out on a limb - you can return them here: rpgKWEmNqSDAGFhy5WDnsyPqfQxbWxKeVd ... thanks.

Looks like the going rate is approx. 1 BTC per 8000 XRP

The only way to get more $ into the Ripple system that I know of at the moment is through Bitstamp, which kind of sucks and is likely not to be trusted, good luck.

does anyone know why the price of xrp has 20x in last few weeks? Just pure speculation or something else? Time to sell? I'm a bit confused as I was understanding the xrp are just used as a form of debt / transaction cost to the system?