(Taken from Our Summer in Slovenia) In addition to golf which I shall describe separatly, Slovenia's mild, abundant sunshine, and clear unpolluted summer days provide a havan for those who appreciate the outdoors. Besides climbing the mountains of the north, rafting the many clear streams and rivers, cycling through a generally sparse countryside replete with roadside resturants and rest stops, these is fly fishing, swimmming, competitive rowing, camping, and all the other natural out-of-doors activities one can indulge in; and do so in a comparatively uncrowded and more relaxed setting tha [View Full Entry]

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Taking the second seating at breakfast we were in no hurry to leave the train. We had arrived at Broken Hill about 7:30 in Sunday morning, and the town was very quiet. Broken Hill had been a gold mining town for 120 years, and the story goes that more gold has been taken out of that operation during that time than anywhere else in Australia. It is estimated that from the 1880s to the 1950s about a billion dollars in gold came from the mines every year. That is BIG money. The mines are still a private company so the books [View Full Entry]

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I was doing just fine, surrounded by a bevy of Estonian beauties. The remainder of this story is also excerpted from my book Our Summer in Estonia. "All was going great for me, when my competition arrived. A group of Brits, who, believe it or not, were also on the town showing one of their mates a good time, because he too was soon to be married. Of course this was great for Elysee. Fair play, so to speak." The odds of our meeting separate male and female groupS, within minutes of each other, each out for a night of carousing [View Full Entry]

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I would certainly advise any young person visitng Tallinn to wander into the Old Town Square for night of revelry. Elysee and I were returnig to our apartment from dinner at Controvento, a five minute stroll on a mild summer's night.What transpired next is excerpted from my book."I looked ahead along the lane and saw, moving towards me, a stunning, drop-dead-in-your-tracks sight. Wisecraking outload, I said, 'I must have died and gone to Estonia heaven.' This is better than a muslim martyr with his seven virgins. Headed for the square, and thus straight for me, I was suddenly surrounded by a [View Full Entry]

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Less than an hour from Lake Bled is a larger, more stunning,alpine lake situated in Slovenia's largest national park, Triglav,Lake Bohinj. The lake is 523 meters above sea level and well developed winter ski resort. With over 40 kilometers of ski trails, starting at 1800 meters it is a challenge for any level. We were there in late summer, taking the cable car to 1,540 meters that afforded a magnificent view over the valley, lake Bohinj, and in the distance 9,000 plus feet Mt. Triglov. Solitude envelops the lake, partly due to a policy of not allowing motor-craft. Sparsely visited this [View Full Entry]

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We left the station around 3:30pm and after getting settled into our compartment, where Elysee informing me I had the upper berth, we made our way to the lounge car for pre-dinner drinks and to meet some of our fellow travelers. It was already lively, as you do not have to wait long for Australians to create a holiday spirit. The dining car was terrific. A throw back to an era long gone, and the food and service were all one could expect. Lots of wine, too. After dinner back to the longe car we met a New Zealander on [View Full Entry]

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I'm switching from the summer we stayed in Estonia, to excerpts from my book Our Summer in Australia and New Zealand. While living for three months in Coogee, Beach NSW we organized a cross country trip by train, bus, and plane that is going to take some explaining. One of the advantages of "living" in a place for a while (in this case three months) versus "vacationing" is the ability to take such an extended journey at a time and place of one's own choosing, organizing it after we arrived in country, taking advantage of a knowledgeable travel agent, our interests [View Full Entry]

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Amazing as it seems for little Estonia St. Olav's church is reputed to have been the world's tallest building at the time of its construction in 1267. It is 140m (460ft) high. It was built by Scandinavian merchants as an orientation point for seaman and named after the Norwegian King Olaf Haraldson. You can still today climb to the top for a magnificent view over the harbor and down into the Town Square. Are their other claims for tallest building at the time? Find out more about Our Summer in Estonia at www.marshallpublications.com [View Full Entry]

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I have selected the photograph in this entry because it so captures the contrast between the old and new Estonia. In the background is the construction of a 32 story bank tower and in the foreground is the Russian Orthodox church Our Lady of Kazan, built in 1721 and the oldest wooden structure in Tallinn. Estonia is doing a good job of modernizing, while being aware of its world heritage architecture and cultural ambiance dating back to the 13OOs. This change is also reflected in the people, a dynamic people, totally engaged in the modern world, in some cases advancing beyond [View Full Entry]

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My wife and I did not just visit Estonia, we rented an apartment and stayed for three months. Part of our lifestyle plan to is stay each summer away from our home in Naples, Florida and take up residence elsewhere. We call it THE WORLD IS OUR SECOND HOME. Estonia was wonderful and I hope to report more in the weeks and months ahead. For the impatient you can visit my website www.marshallpublications.com The day after we arrived, there was a day long renaissance festival inthe old Town Square. A wonderful meeting place, the heart of Tallinn and to some degree [View Full Entry]

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