I’ve thought about people actually living in these places we’re visiting for just a few days each. Throngs of locals were strolling, cycling, or roller blading around Ljubljana and lingering in their pretty squares and parks. Many people were walking around Lake Bled on a lazy Sunday afternoon. Two couples had dinner together outside on a Ljubljana restaurant’s patio, discussing world politics in Slovene. There were there when we got there and there when we left, still in the midst of lively conversation. We could tell the topic of their conversation despite understanding no Slovene because we could pick out familiar names of world-renowned leaders – Putin, Clinton, Obama mentioned repeatedly. I wish I could have understood! These Europeans know how to live: appreciate the beauty that your piece of the world has to offer. Stay a while, relax, even out at a restaurant, where your conversation with friends would be promptly interrupted by an impatient American waiter. But in Europe, you’re free to stay as long as you want!
Another aspect of these European cultures I greatly appreciate is that hardly anyone seems to be “apolitical.” People care about their government and the world’s government, and it’s not taboo to talk frankly about politics. The curious Aussie lady, Lou, asked me if it was taboo to talk politics in the US. She went on to ask if people freely and happily give money to presidential campaigns. I said I thought it depended on the person, how excited they were about a candidate and if they can spare anything. She also wanted to know if Americans debate about politics. Truthfully, I didn’t have a confident answer to any of those questions. I’ve talked about politics more recently due to the presidential campaigns, but that was limited to a couple very close people. I have rarely gotten into more than a passing comment about politics with a stranger or an acquaintance, or even most friends. It’s scary how ignorant and apathetic many Americans are toward politics and social issues, particularly young ones. Young Europeans tend to be much more aware of American politics than young Americans are! I’m hoping that the excitement around Obama and frustration toward Bush will fuel a more well-informed America – do I dare say an America where people are willing to freely debate? Lou was appalled that Americans refrains from discussing politics because they might disagree; that’s the whole point of debate, to see the other side!
There are a lot more medium/large cars in Slovenia than in western Europe – a lot of station wagons and some small SUVs. They don’t have squares (plazas) in small Slovenian towns like western Europe either, though they do in the capital city. Many Slovenes have yards, not something we saw much elsewhere. Their yards looks a little more American with hedges, bushes, landscaping, and trees made the most difference! However, more often than not, there are no bushes in front of the chalets which leaves the concrete slab at the bottom of the house exposed, not a cozy or stylish feel for my American tastes. In Italy, Spain, and France, almost all gardens and “landscaping” were container gardens on patios, not true yards with soil and plants rooted in the actual soil. There is still more hardscaping (patios, large pots) here in Slovenia than in the States, but there is vastly more greenery than we’ve seen. They even have lawns to mow!
The women in Slovenia, young and old, LOVE that awful red hair dye. It’s always the same color. It’s even more popular than it was in Italy!
We met a couple from Manchester, England (mid-50s – early 60s) on a trail today. They had the same map we have and were trying to do about the same loop we were, but with just as little success. The map was off in several spots. We chatted with the couple as we walked across a field. Their hiking experience in Austria was easier due to the well-marked trails; none of the supposedly marked trails we walked on today had any signs. Their comment about Austria supports my perception that Germanic countries tend to be very orderly. Slovenia shares a lot of culture with Austria, but I guess they don’t share organization, at least in this case!
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The sun was actually out this morning, absolutely amazing, but it was short lived. By the time we started our walk at about 1000, the clouds had rolled back in and rain was threatening. We went out the backside of this neighborhood into the fields on some dirt ‘roads’. A couple from Manchester, England was down there too, and let us know we were heading to a dead end. We even ran across a mom and two kids from Maryland before going down into the river valley. Down by the very swollen river with amazing blue/gray water, we ran across the British couple again, who had the same news for us…don’t go that way! We tried two more trails down by the river, both dead ends though. One crossed a very wet area beside the river crawling with huge snails before ending, and the other stopped at a vacant makeshift camp of sorts. We went back up to the fields on the rim of he valley and wandered north, having lunch on the side of the trail next to some typical Slovene hayracks. At about 1430, we headed back towards the center of Bled. Along the way we passed a farmer cutting grass with a scythe, and cows with bells around their necks, a very alpine scene. Back in town, we walked down an interesting neighborhood road with a strange mixture of traditional and modern houses, all high dollar for sure. The bus station was closed, so we couldn’t buy tickets to Ribcev Laz for Wednesday…what is up with it closing at 14:45?? The sun came back out for a few more minutes while we walked through another part of that neighborhood then down to the central park. We contemplated taking a boat to the island, but the approaching storm kept that from happening. Instead, we headed for the apartment, stopping at the downtown Mercator for a little food, and an ATM along the way. As usual it rained all the way back to the apartment, and by then my foot was killing me…its not getting any better. I had to wash off my boots and pants because they were absolutely filthy from the mud we got into today. Dinner was more spaghetti with peso sauce and a mix of vegetables…yum! We forgot to get more chocolate for dessert though!
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| Slovenia Pictures |
