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Published: January 14th 2007
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Mount Triglav...
SLovenia's tallest mountain. Apparenly you are not a true Slovenian until you have climbed to the top. Greetings all,
So am now back on my outdoor course in Devon and it is getting a tad intensive. Considering it is called the; "Intensive Outdoor Course". Perhaps it is for the best. Anyway, I thought I would write in a little bit more detail of my last bit of travel in Slovenia.
Slovenia is a baby little country, although it has more than its fair share of proper mountains. Most people have never heard of it or mistake it for the equally small country of Slovakia. Its smallness in size is reflected in many things not least of all its airport. Heathrow, the biggest airport the UK, has many cafes, restaurants and bars. Ljubliana makes do with one. Heathrow has countless gates for checking in. Ljubliana has 4. Two of which never seem to have been used. I dare say one day in the near future, no doubt after the current airport renovations are complete, transatlantic longhaul Superjumbo flights will regularly call into town. In the mean time Ljubliana will make do with easyjet. Of course size is not important as smaller is easier to manage than large one would think. So I and my fellow easyjet passengers
Krahn
Just a short 30 minute train ride from Ljubliana. were a bit surprised when we were waiting for our bags to come through the conveyor belt. It had been a long while as we stared fruitlessly at the stationary belt when I noticed, out of the corner of my eye, my bag on a completely different conveyor. Apparently I had just arrived on a flight from Moscow. Can't say I remember any of it. It was really great to see Marta again and as we jumped on the express bus in the city she asked the driver to drop us off in a different part of town than the bus station. He obliged. Smallness has its advantages.
I really like Ljubliana. The ultimate little big city. Just outside the centre of town is the huge Trivoli park with nice hiking trails and also home to Ljubliana's Olympia. The once mighty basketball team. Marta told me she had been to see a game the other night. Against those scrappers from down the road in Zagreb. Old Yugoslav rivalries die hard and apparently during the match a sort of mini riot broke out. I say mini as Slovenia is the land of smallness. The team was fined 5000 euros for
On the way to Maribor
Mountains everywhere. the behaviour of their support. Marta told me it was a regular occurance and I detected a sense of pride from those fans I spoke to about their yobbish behaviour. Olympia won by the way.
The first day was spent shopping for a new pair of trousers for me. Slovenia is cheaper than most other places in Europe and even though I don't like to part with the money. It does make sense. Can't say I could afford to go shopping in downtown Paris or London but in Ljubliana the smallness of prices works in my favour.
Slovenians celebrate christmas on the 24th of December and we headed for her "small" home town of Novo Mesto to spend it with her family. It was really fun. Her nephews were hilarious as they would cause havoc wherever possible. We took a walk around town half way through the night and came across a nativity scene in front of the town church complete with real sheep. I spent the evening eating far to much homemade chocolate and Slovenian dishes all washed down with homemade wine. I think I impressed everyone with my knowledge of Yugoslaviaand the old dictator Tito. Whilst
Maribor...
The second city. Please take note of unusually large river in unusually small country. no doubt offending them with knowing absolutely nothing about Slovenia. It is only a small country after all.
The rest of the holidays were spent exploring we went to the smaller 2nd city of Maribor for a day. Its really nice. Ljubliana has a river, although I liken it to a large stream, but Maribor does have a huge river. Bucking the trend in smallness. Outside lie rolling mountains where bears and Austrian tourists roam in the summer. The old town looked really nice from the other bank of the unusually large river. We had a really good pizza that day also.
Another day we went to Krahn. A much smaller town. Between Ljubliana and the Julian Alps. Built between two rivers you have to walk steeply uphill to get into the town. There are really good views to be had of the Alps. Which we enjoyed as we tucked into Burek. A Bosnian dish which is very popular in SLovenia. It can come in 3 main flavours. Fluffy, tasteless Slovenian cheese or "Sier", meat or pizza. One of Martas friends once told me that Burek should be sold on every street corner as a matter of law.
Slovenian Beauties
From the left. Natasha, Moitsa and Marta. I beg to differ but I do find myself liking it more and more.
We went on a great hike in the moutains for the day. The lack of snow does have its advantages for hikers. There was plenty of snow at the top though. It did feel a tad surreal, sat having lunch on a hot sunny day in only my fleece whilst sitting at the top a mountain in the middle of the Julian Alps. Surrounded by snow on the 30th of December. I look forward to many more walks there.
New Years was spent with friends sitting around picking at many different gorgeous Slovenian foods. They like their pasta and especially their meat which they serve in man sized and giant sized portions. Guess that one also bucks the smallness trend. For New Years we went out to watch the fireworks over Ljubliana Castle. There was so many people in town. Only 2 million people live in Slovenia and I think they were all there having a party. There were three music stages for all to enjoy but we were happy to find a quiet spot with a good view and drink cheap sparkling wine.
A true Slovenian...
Marta looking very intrepid. New Years also heralded the demise of the old Slovenian currency; the Tollar; to be replaced by the euro. Slovenians were somewhat apprehensive worrying that they wont be able to calculate change in single euro figures. As opposed to countless thousands of the old Tollar. Personally speaking I welcome the Tollar. When a cup of coffee costs over 400 of any currency then you know something has gone wrong.
I had such a nice time and look forward to my return to the land of smallness. I shall leave you with one travel tip. Slovenia, as well as being the land of smallness, is the land of the slipper. Everybody is crazy about them. I even got a pair for christmas. Upon entering someones home you are immediately offered a pair. Make sure you take them as it is considered the height of rudeness to refuse the offer. Marta's mother had a confused look on her face when I first refused the offer of slippers. I quickly retracted and greatfully accepted the honour. Even though I can't stand wearing them. I am a man of Asia. But more and more I find myself becoming a man of Slovenia also. Size isn't everything.
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typo
It`s Ljubljana not Ljubliana ;)