Long Route! Good to read that You are safe back home.
Was fun to have You as a guest here in norway.
Also fun to read Your travelblog.
Take care!
Greatings from Ole Martin
To Grim #2 Let me get it straight, as apparently you did not read the article, just worried about writing two comments to defend the good name of your country. My point was not "who was right", my point was about what cops should be (a service) and what those cops I met in Slovenia actually are: a force of repression considering themselves above citizens and feeling right in treating them disrespectfully. Plus, applying rules that should be overlooked in a country that completely lack in cycling paths. But I'm pretty sure this concept would be far too difficult to understand for someone like you (or like most of my italian countrymen, don't give me wrong) who prefer to use his car instead. And don't tell me that you do cycle because I wouldn't believe it even if you send me your pic on yellow shirt at tour de france. Marco PS: I let your comment pass this time, but if you insult me again as you just did ("a stuckup, arrogant prick") this will be the last one of yours published.
To Marcoelitaliano I'm sorry, but I fail to see the "nationalist" in my coment. The cops are there to uphold the law. You broke that law and were punished for it.
Now, I wasn't there so I don't know what really happened, all I know is what you've told us. A cop has ruined your trip, he was treating you like crap and was all around acting like an idiot. I believe you, because I know how cops can be.
But after reading your article, I can't help but wonder, maybe you deserved it? Because from the way the article is written, I got the impression that you are a stuckup, arrogant prick. If you were acting like that infront of the cop, I'm not at all surprised that he treated you the way he did.
But since we'll never know what actually happened, I see no point in discussing this further. Even more so, because you're acting like a 7 year old child, who just dropped his lollipop on the floor.
Re: To Bryan Bryan, if with "try to be more laid back" you meant to say "join organized tours such as mine, instead of being such a free spirit proud of dealing individually with foreign, freedom-fighting authorities", well, I'm sorry to say that I'm happy to be so... how would you consider me? "rigid"? Yes? OK, then let's say that I'm happy to be so "rigid".
Marco
Re: To JD and Grim Glad to receive these kind of nationalist/pro-authority comments; it basically demonstrates I was not mistaken in my judgements!
Marco
Cycling on the motorways is not allowed. Which part of the sentence you didn't understand?
I kindly suggest you to grow up and start take responsibility for your actions instead of growing anger to anyone and everything around you.
Yet again, I rather would not speculate what the term "civilly discussed issue" mean in terms of the Italian habits.
I see you had a bad experience with the cops in Slovenia. Most of them (but not all fortunately) are idiots, whos only goal seems to be giving people fines. The guy might had a bad day (still, thats no excuse).
But let me get this straight. You went on a visit to another country, with a bicycle and did not check the laws regarding cyclist in that country? I'm sorry, but thats just iresponsible and arrogant. You than go and break a law, which you did not know you were breaking, because you didn't bother to check the local laws for I don't know what reasons, get fined and then bit*h about it?
I'm really sorry, but what the hell were you thinking taking a bicycle on a highway?
Yeah, I can really see people bursting of joy, when they get tourists like you for a visit. You know the type: arrogant, who think they can do whatever the hell they want, because they are tourists.
Get serious.
Slovenia I could not disagree with you more I have found the people and police in Slovenia polite and helpful. As a tour guide i find people all over Europe and Africa are friendly and helpful if you are friendly to them and not aggresive But as I come from South Africa you would probably think my country is a total police state, which it is not. Try to be more laid back and you will enjoy your travels much more!
my view I'm a Slovene and I must agree with most. Slovene police is mostly very rigid and stupid. They will followed the law to the letter, but mostly our laws are in line with EU laws. You can't ride a bycikle on the motorways anywhere in EU, but also Slovene fines are very high. You must be very carefull on Slovene roads as our Police are very happy to fine you for the smalest mistake you made. They prefere punisment not preventions. Governement explanation for this is our many deats on the road, I think one of the worst per capita in EU.
Many Slovenes are very big patriots and foreigners usually don't understand us. For centuries we where under foreighn rule and lots of our land was stolen from us. We don't have our state before to protect us. Lady T is just pointed out which land was stolen from us, but for me this is history now and not important issue any more. You must understand that such things(lost land)for small nation as Slovene is more problematic and many people have bad fillings on this.
You find a good comment on balkans. You can't unsult Slovene more as put them on Balkan. We where in Yugoslavia for 72 years and those are not very happy times for our people so nobody likes Balkan nations. As you find themself we are very different from them as a result of 500 years of Austrians rules.
agree, damn how I agree.. Hello Old Boy, I see your point and I had the same "experience" in Slovenia few years ago..they stopped us in the car in the night because we were driving with foglamp (fendinebbia) in the fog! they told us we should have drive on full beam...and they took our passports too...everyone I know who have been travelling in Slovenia had some "troubles" with such a stupid system of rules..but how can you call them rules in the first place as they are absurd and not logic whatsoever...
The sound of History Marco it is more than a year I read your blogs but this is the first time I write something; referring to your modern history professor comment we need pious illusions. They are the food of our souls the fresh water source of our roots. Today seems like most of the people are deaf to the sounds of history. It is duty of those who are still able to hear it to help other people in removing the layer of dust covering their memories.
Keep going Marco - keep cyclying - keep doing your "dust-buster" job!!
Ermanno
enjoyable blog entry
Having visited the horrid ghetto 2 years ago, I could actually feel I was there once again readng through your blog entry..You have really captured the mood so vividly through language and pictures. well done!! All the best.
love it!! I like your blogs very much, Marco, but I must say the German ones are my favorite!!!... is very relieving to see someone else with the same thoughts as me... Dax is German and, obviously I love him and I like his family and most of his friends... but Germans are very special!!!... I always joke with Dax that "verboten" is the most used word in German language!!!... he doesn't deny it, by the way!!!... hahaha...
Brilliant! Travels with Charley is a classic that I only recent had the pleasure of reading. What a great idea biking across Europe! Enjoy every step, and everyday wake-up to realize how fortunate you are to be living such a dream! Kudos to you, Marco!
amazing place!! we went there about a month and a half ago,powerful!! we have a lot of pics up if you want to have a look??
the great adventure of rayburn and v.....
Auschwitz A thought-provoking entry: bitter sweet. And on the side of honest emotions, rather than easy sentimentalism, which makes it all the better. The practised traveller hones his writing skills yet further...
still on your way south? Are you still on the road? I've just found out about your blog and got to read it and you are already on your way back .... it's a piety I haven't managed to follow you through your journey!
are you passing by Lampedusa on your way south?
Fingers crossed for Rocinante! Hope you both make it to Iceland somehow...following your Scandanavian adventures with great interest...here in SW London. I am certainly much more comfortable, but having a much less interseting time! A presto! Dai! Su!
So great Ah,,,it took me much time reading your article.you know ,it's so hard for me to read it ,because i'm a chinese. lol....hum....but it's great i shared your experience there.
Re: "Six attractive blonde babes" well, well, nothing is perfect in this world, but I`m easy, I could have gone for a 4+2 instead of a full 6 blondes :-)
From "these six attractive blonde babes" only two were blonde. But yes, it must have been dissapointing to you that you didn't become the subject of a cheap porno movie, but that you found yourself on your own in stead.
that was funny that made me laugh; both for the story of the supermarket and for that german woman who was telling you off; we're in Germany at the moment, as well and, even though I've been here a few times, there are things that, as a latino person, shock me, like the fact that they ask you how many potatotes you're going to eat, so the'll cook the exact amount!!!, but there are many more, that's why I loved it when I saw your answer to that woman... hahahaha
Ride hard!!!
Deni
Re: So far so fun. Well, Sula, I´ve found the pepper spray can but luckily I haven´t had the chance to test it yet: north european dogs are quite friendly :-)
The chubby, long-haired little boy of the picture is me back in the '70s. Today I look a bit different, but deep down I kept the same level of suspicious curiosity. I Travel in no hurry and this blog is the instrument to tell my story. I'm not english mother tongue, so please be indulgent with any grammatical/structural awkwardness you might stumble upon.
ITALIANO
Ecco il link alla versione italiana del mio blog: Marcoelitaliano... full info
Ole Martin Pelsholen
non-member comment
Long Route!
Good to read that You are safe back home. Was fun to have You as a guest here in norway. Also fun to read Your travelblog. Take care! Greatings from Ole Martin