The happiest days in my life (part 2)

I should have known. At your age, in a string of days the year is gone. But in that space of time, it takes so long.
~ How you’ve grown by 10,000 Maniacs

And in fact, I called Adam one day from Finland and indeed, I traveled all that way to London (though, this was never the plan) where he waited for me on 22th August. It was also hard to believe that I had a chance to sleep in a home of an unknown person (Adam’s friend) in the center of London!

The next day we drove to Derby to visit his mom Sandra and later on to Liverpool where I spent a few days with him, and of course, had those promised pancakes, too. While I was staying there I got to know a different life from the one that I lived at home. I felt alive! You know, Penny Lane and Strawberry Fields ... and lots of people telling me how lucky I was. Sure I was!

I am only sorry that we didn’t end our relationship then, that August. Instead he came to visit me in Slovenia and I stayed with him in the UK over Christmas and a New Year. I came back home in tears. We just lived too far away from each other and we were too different to be happy together. But nevermind, with that single hug and one fleeting kiss he brought immense happiness into my life for just a moment. And that counts more than anything else that happened between us after that.

I wonder what you’re doing today, Adam G. M. I hope that you are happy and that you have many good reasons to smile every single day of your life.

The happiest days in my life (part 1)

These are days you’ll remember. Never before and never since, I promise, will the whole world be warm as this. And as you feel it, you’ll know it’s true that you are blessed and lucky.
~ These are Days* by 10,000 Maniacs

Yesterday has been 20 years since the day I met Adam. I stayed in Gjeste Bu in Lillehammer and I was very brave in the eyes of my dad because I decided to travel around Europe alone. Though, at first I wanted to go to the USA to one of the children’s camps and work there over the summer. Actually I was accepted to go but in the last moment I canceled it, bought an Interrail ticket and took a tour through the northern European countries instead. The path took me through Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and finally through Germany, Holland, Belgium and France to the UK. I still wonder who was waiting for me over the Atlantic Ocean.

Gjeste Bu was a wonderful hostel, different from all the others I visited that August (well, except the ship hostel Af Chapman in Stockholm). I was writing my diary that day while two guys and two girls were chatting on the beds next to mine. Later I was told that the girls were from Holland, Mike was from Australia and Adam “the Boy” was from the UK. The guys wrote a few lines into my diary, both inviting me to visit them. Well, actually Adam later asked me to add something and it was an invitation to meet him the next day in Oslo at the central station.

In your reckless mind, you act as if you’ve got more lives. In your reckless eyes, it’s never too late for a chance to seize some final breath of freedom.
~ Noah’s Dove* by 10,000 Maniacs

He was far from what I call(ed) “the perfect man” but anyway I appeared there, on 12th August 1994, in front of the McDonald’s in Oslo. Was I naïve or just bold? More curious than anything else. I had to go to Oslo anyway. He was there, too. He prepared lunch for us – strawberry yogurt mixed with broken chocolate pieces and a banana. We were sitting on the floor (which was a little bit weird) and later on the steps in front of the station. He talked a lot but I could hardly understand his accent. He was from Derby, living in Liverpool. Another invitation came, written down into my diary, to visit him in Liverpool for the pancakes with peaches and cream.

We said farewell a bit later when he had to catch a train to the place where he stayed then. Farewell, yes; I expected a “goodbye” and a wave with his hand but instead he hugged me and didn’t let me go. We were embraced almost a minute and then, when he let me go, he kissed me, quickly, on my lips. I said goodbye, turned around and never looked back because my cheeks were so red and I was very, very embarrassed. But in that moment my life changed forever. I saw the whole world in a different light. I was simply happy. I have never been happier before or ever since. Sad, isn’t it? This feeling of happines lasted only about a month (or two?), the pressure from an everyday society (parents) was just too strong.

* Songs I played over and over again from that summer on, strongly believing that miracles do happen. And I still believe they do.

Velebit botanical garden

Whatever sacrifice you're called upon to make, know that in the Big Picture, your willingness to do so is serving the greater good of all.
~ Sonia Choquette

My favorite: Androsace chamaejasme, growing also in Slovenian mountains.

Some information at the entrance of the botanical garden.

Cardaminopsis croatica, Endemic plant in Croatia.

Endemic in Croatia: Degenia velebitica, its picture can be found also on Croatian coin of 50 lipa.

Kuterevo - the bear refuge (Croatia)

Don't search after the horses you've lost; they will return in seven days.
~ I-Ching readings

Volunteer's life in Kuterevo. (link)

Older bears at play (that grass in the picture is their food; they get some meat, too)

One of the bear names (i.e. Hubert)

Volunteers left their signs here

Velebit - high above the Croatian sea

Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you greater than any obstacle.
~ Christian D. Larson

By train

I admire graffiti. They are a piece of art. Not long ago I saw a public notice that graffiti are welcome on some walls in Ljubljana. Those walls were to my surprise specifically listed. I think that those who draw graffiti prefer trains to walls because more people can see them. These are from my latest visit of Ljubljana's railway station:

Oh yes, I was away again this weekend. Journey by train is pleasant for me as long as I am alone in the compartment. This time I was.I would still prefer to travel by car but petrol has become so expensive in Slovenia that I can hardly afford any longer trips at all. If things in my country will go on like this one will be able to see only big cars in the streets because only rich people will be able to afford to buy petrol. Where is this greediness leading us to?

Autumn on its way

Farewell summer already? I hope not. I will miss it a lot. It was such a happy summer, although I can't really say why. Life slowed down a little bit, maybe that's why I felt so happy. I made a little vacation of my summer days by resting, reading, admiring the plants in my garden. And most of all, not doing much housework at all. Only that what was really necessary. I spent two days at the seaside this summer. I will have to do something about this next year. At least double the number of such days. :) Once I took my grandmom and mom there; grandmom hasn't seen the sea for more than 30 years because granddad didn't like it. In a way she was disappointed when we came to a beach because in her opinion the water was not warm enough (although one of its highest temperatures this year was measured that day). At least the food was good.

These days I help my colleague at bird ringing. Mostly our catch are the Barn Swallows. Yesterday we hit a record - more than 500 were lying in the nets. We ringed more than 300 of them, and another colleague ringed the rest. We went home at 1 a.m.

Just imagine how far these swallows will have to travel in the next few weeks to reach their winter habitats. And then they will have to fly all the way back from the south of Africa, over the deserts and the sea. It is estimated that of those 500 caught yesterday only 100 will return next spring. Happy journey, I say to each one I set free, and do come back next year.

But let me enjoy this summer now as long as it still lasts. Happy weekend!

Traveling

Lately I've been traveling a lot. By help of the Google Earth. :) I visited some places that I would love to visit again. One of them is Fort Laramie, a small town in Wyoming. When I planned the travel route back in 2001, I never thought of staying so much time in Wyoming, USA. Well, after all, Crazy Horse never knew borders and boundaries. I followed his path then. Though, these days there are so many fences and the land is a private property, which is a bit sad. It feels like there is no more freedom in the world. I'm seeing more and more fences in Slovenia, too.

So, this is the map of Fort Laramie: It doesn't look very attractive. But when you take that little man in the upper right corner for a walk, you see this: And a little bit closer:A store with treasures in it. Fort Laramie Frontier Trading Post. I haven't seen any other stores like this one before or after. It was like being back in the 19th century when I was browsing through all those wonderful things in it. Only those beautiful people with long black hair were missing...

Some of you can see your own homes in 3-D using Google Earth (I admit, I was standing in front of some of them, too). Though, you won't be able to see mine because Slovenians still love freedom and privacy. Sometimes even our officials are doing their work properly.

Enjoy your travels!

Down the Mura river

It felt like a short holiday, being four days away from home. I spent three of them in a boat on the Mura river. More than 130 km of rowing, 31 hours on the water. Amazing! From Austria down to Croatia through Hungary led our path on the water. Swimming, laughing, being just silent... these were my days in a company of colleagues and friends. So, we started our trip in Austria: Closed, so we had to move on to get our cup of coffee. Invasive plants, though very beautiful: The most popular water mill in Slovenia: 61 more kilometers to go until we reach river Drava: Another team joined us on Saturday: Hungarians catching fish: I wish there were more days like these. Oh, sweet summer, I love you!

1000 kilometers away

There was another world so far away. Poor world with friendly people. I liked: Golem Grad (an island with many snakes, some ruins and wild flora), Arabati Baba Teḱe (place where dervish Abdulah told us things about how we should live our lives) and all those Roman ruins that we found on our way. I wouldn't like to live there. Being so far away, in the Republic of Macedonia, thoughts about our life in ex-Yugoslavia came up to my mind. I don't remember Slovenia being so poor, so untidy, so confusing. But it is good to go away for some time because you can cherish your home so much more.

So. Food was caloric:

We had snow and walked 12 hours (Šarplanina):

We visited too many monasteries and churches, Islamic ones, too. :

Arabati Baba Teke:

Ohrid by night:

Village Konjsko, at the end of the world, that I also liked (there were such positive vibrations in this almost empty village):

Means of transportation:

Lots of cows, sheep and shepherds:

And a beautiful landscape that reminded me of my past travels:

Have a wonderful week!

Kis Balaton

I don't very often visit Hungary, but it would be interesting to see more of this part of the world. It was rainy on Saturday over the border. I enjoyed myself anyway. I was in a good company of three men. I couldn't understand a word of Hungarian. Well, yes, only one word! Posta - post office. This inscription says "Catch me, if you can": It is wise to know Latin name of the birds: Lots of mushrooms in the park: And again over the border, in my home country. Lovely. Home, sweet home. I mean it. There's no place like home. Have a nice weekend! Here, we will be guarding our homes again, one can never know about the weather. :)

The American Frontier

If I can't go that far, it comes to me. The other day I went to an opening of an exhibition with a simple title The American Frontier. That's where I spent some of the nicest days on my travels. My frontier... I miss those places, the prairie, the Black hills, the Rocky Mountains. Well, maybe one day I will be traveling over the plains again, who knows. First I have to see those giant trees in California that my grand granddad talked about to my grandmom. Or my frontier this year will be only as far as Western Europe. Not bad at all.

Karma for today: Don't get upset, anxious, or angry about thing over which you have no power.

Sweet August

My mom stopped by in the afternoon and left me some newspapers. Flipping through the pages, I found this picture. It is titled Tolerance and it was drawn by Sara Mušič. Flock of birds (swallows and starlings, and sorry, no cats) are actually gathering on the wires to start their travel south. August is a month when I get that travel fever - I surround myself with maps and guides, and travel around the world with my finger...

A few days ago, lying in bed and thinking about life, I jumped up, and in a few moments I was flipping through the pages of the France guide book. It called me.

Listening to music by Jack Johnson always reminds me of driving around the huge distances on the plains in the USA. They called me the other day, those plains.

Ten years ago I gave my parents a present - a travel to Mauritius. Since they were there, they've been dreaming about going there again. Yesterday I spoke with my mom about her retirement. In my opinion she's been waiting too long for it. I suggested her to spend the money she will get then for travel. So, yesterday, talking to her, Tonga and Easter Island called me.

I tell you, August is a wonderful month. Month for traveling. Though I know that I will stay at home this year.

In 1994 I spent today's day in Lillehammer in Norway. The most wonderful time of my life has started right then, in Gjeste Bu hostel. Though, Norway hasn't called me this year. Not yet.

Deadwood

There are different kinds of treasures; for someone this can be a lot of money or jewelry, for other this can be a child. I called a man 'my treasure' once upon a time. I guess all share the same characteristic - all can be lost suddenly.

I flipped through the pages of my new book On the border with Crook during the weekend. Reading about Crazy Horse was a great pleasure for me and when I came upon the paragraphs describing Deadwood, small town in Black Hills in South Dakota, I couldn't stop my thoughts from escaping into those August days of 2001 when I was actually there.

The main street of Deadwood, twenty yards wide, was packed by a force of men, drawn from all quarters, aggregating thousands; and the windows of both upper and lower stories of the eating-houses, saloons, hotels, and wash houses were occupied by women of good, bad, and indifferent reputation. There were vociferous cheers, clapping of hands, wavings of handkerchiefs, shrieks from the whistles of the planing mills, reports from powder blown off in anvil, and every other manifestation of welcome known to the populations of mining towns.

~ Excerpt from the book On the border with Crook~

I would describe Deadwood as a mining town of gamblers and history. For me it was a peaceful place and people looked content with themselves. I wondered when I saw open doors, bicycles lying in the frontyard, something I can hardly imagine here in the suburbs where I live. Too many thiefs have been walking around lately, unfortunately. It was the only time during that travel when B wanted to go cycling. So, we went. Up, all the way to Lead, another mining town, and a little bit futher where we turned left and followed the marked trail. On the steepest part of it, among those beautiful pines and clearings, I noticed it - a spear, lying on the sandy path, waiting for me. It was obviously there for ages, and that piece of rock was for sure shaped by a human being. I took it with me, and enjoyed the ride. Later I found some feathers, got lost and tried to find the shelter from the storm. I wouldn't mind going back one day to see if everything is still the same.

Since that day, the spear is the greatest treasure I have. If we speak of treasures that can be held in someone's hand. I unwrap it from time to time and hold it in my hands thinking of that man who shaped and used it, perhaps more than a century ago. And of course, thinking of those wonderful days I spent driving around the Wild West.