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More walking for Jo!
IN the last article I wrote, I had just completed the gruelling Marathon Moon Walk and was of a mind never to walk again, let alone embark on a walking holiday!
What was I thinking of agreeing to such a thing? I think I thought that I would be really, really fit by that time. Also Andy wanted to give his new hips a really good work out.
It had been his ambition since his hip replacements to have a pain free walking holiday. Then he would feel that he was definitely back to his unreconstructed best.
That was the plan. I struggled out of bed at the crack of dawn the next day. The two airports weren't much fun, as everything was on high alert and the standing around didn't help the two bunches of bananas that were my feet.
Still, we had planned to take it easy in Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, and stepping off the plane into gentle heat at its tiny little airport reassured me that we had made a good decision.
Ljubljana is worth going to for its name alone. It sounds so lovely and means "Beloved". It lives up to its name 100%. It is a delight of a small capital city.
Beautiful buildings abound, but on a small scale. It is a caf society and everyone seemed to be out in the streets sitting, chatting, eating, drinking delicious coffee and just generally having a great time. We slotted in straight away.
Clean
The hotel we had chosen was a boutique hotel, which meant that it was small, but every detail was perfect - clean, fresh and friendly.
I never saw a single piece of litter, nor a drunk, nor chewing gum on the ground. Every house was bedecked with flowers, and people were walking or cycling, without umbrellas or anoraks, and you just knew that they knew the weather was going to stay fine.
After the successful rest in Ljubljana, we set off for the tourist farm which was the next phase of our holiday. After a glorious drive through idyllic countryside we arrived at our tourist farm. Marianne our hostess was not quite ready for us.
It was two in the afternoon and her huge extended family was tucking into a wholesome lunch. There were grannies, babies, teenagers and strong silent men everywhere. So for the first half hour, we sat outside sipping some delightful blueberry concoction.
I promise you and I do not exaggerate, it was like being on the set of "The Sound of Music". I was expecting Julie Andrews to come down from the meadow wearing weird clothes and yodelling at any moment!
The tourist farm accommodation was different from the boutique hotel, because it was plain and simple. However, it was clean and crisp, with a balcony bedecked in geraniums. The food was plentiful and we met lovely people.
Walks
The days were filled with wonderful walks through low woods, opening up to glorious mountains towards a waterfall. The waterfalls in Slovenia are a great pull. They are a challenge to get to, but well worth the effort. The meadows which were being cut and stacked by hand, were also a wonder to behold.
I think you can tell that we loved it. Once in from the walk, we sat and watched the evening routine on the farm. A little eight-year-old boy made some wonderful calling noise, and the cows piled down from the hill to be milked. The pigs grunted in the barn, as all the food left over from yesterday was guzzled up with enthusiasm. The TV was never turned on, nor were we ever tempted to - no news and no papers, we felt out of time, bliss.
We shared our evening meals with a couple from Hull. It's amazing to think of them leaving our simple life to go back to the floods at home. We wonder how they are.
Our time there was over all too soon. It was time for stage three. We headed for the lakes. First stop Lake Bled, which is beautiful, but quite touristy, so we just spent a few hours there before continuing onto Lake Bohinj, which is breathtakingly beautiful.
It is still and glacial, surrounded by the mountains rising steeply around it including the highest peak in Slovenia - Mount Triglav. We settled into very different accommodation from the tourist farm, but it was still good and efficient and inexpensive, even at the top end of the market.
Cheap
All the ordinary things of life were so much cheaper than here.
Wherever we went, the cafes and bars were open all hours, friendly and efficient. Every cup of coffee was delicious, and there wasn't a single Starbucks! One thing we couldn't have known was that our first day at the lake was Slovenian National Day.
The celebration included a rock concert, which took place about one inch away from our bedroom, so that shattered our peace a bit. Still we were so chilled by that time, we shrugged it off!
Next day we were up another mountain to visit yet another "Slap" as waterfalls are called. We climbed for two hours through a wonderful woodland trail, emerging into the sunlight, and the sound of tumbling and crashing water. Marvellous.
My best beloved positioned me for the perfect photo and then in slow motion of the kind seen only in movies, he somehow dropped the camera.
It landed out of reach on some leaves, stayed there for a millisecond, and then continued 300 feet down on its merry way, out of sight, never to be seen again: A moment of silence, a wry smile.
What can you do? I might have wanted to "Slap" him once upon a time, but that wouldn't have been a "Winning Way" now would it? Still I'm glad it wasn't me!
Everything was too lovely to allow anything to spoil it. We hired a Canadian canoe and paddled around the lake. That was a first, and I'm glad there wasn't a camera around recording that undignified half hour. I honestly feel like completing this article with the classic ending to every child's best essay, "Tired but happy we returned home," however Ljubljana had one last surprise for us.
Storm
After ten days of spectacular weather, there was a most dramatic thunder and lightning storm, as we were sitting in the airport.
It would have been foolhardy to take off in such weather, so we did actually have time for one last cup of coffee, which even in the airport was cheap and perfect. I'm in two minds really about telling anyone about this superb holiday venue, but there you go I just can't keep a secret. Go before everyone finds out!
- Jo Middlemiss is a personal life coach, living in Edzell and working from home. She can be contacted on (01356) 648 329.
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Weather for Brechin
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 14 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 15 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: East
