Race

Snow covered the mountains; all that can be seen from Ljubljana, had a white blanket on on Saturday morning when I was driving again to the eastern part of my country. It had melted by the time I was driving back home yesterday in the evening.Once a year there's a running race in a village where Ž comes from. The best ones run 7 kilometers, the locals usually run only 3, 5 kilometers. I haven't been running for more than 20 years, so I thought that it might be fun taking part in this race. So I did. It was easy and I enjoyed myself all through the race. Of course, I didn't get the prize, because I was the fourth crossing the finish line. Luckily three girls, about 25 years younger than me, won the first three places. I can hardly imagine what people would think, if me, coming from Ljubljana, a place despised by most of the people living there, would get one of those golden cups! :) I admit, I am glad that people finally start to realize that I am not so different from them, and that I am slowly, after so many years coming to those places, becoming friends with some of them. Lots of them have a hard life, but in spite of this they keep their spirits high. That's why it is so pleasant to be in their company. Although sometimes they speak so fast in their local dialect that I don't understand them at all... :)I hope you had nice weekend, too.

At the coast

Quite by coincidence I had to drive to one of the natural reserves that organization I work for manages in the coastal area. To drive Ž back home. To visit my colleagues who work there. To give kiss and hug to one of them celebrating his birthday the other day. To find one more treasure located right there in middle of the reserve. Have I told you already that I almost lived there on a hill that you can see on this photo below? Once upon a time. It was not meant to be, because I didn't want to live there. Today I would not resist at all, living there. It is a nice place after all, and eventually I would have to learn how to speak Italian. Yesterday I came home with a crate of figs and tomato (no photos, sorry). I picked up another Geocoin. I enjoyed the ride. It was a pleasant afternoon.It will get colder today, and the landscape already shows its autumnal colors. I don't know where I will spend the next two days (it will snow in the mountains tomorrow night), but I am sure I will be on a treasure hunt again. :)

Happy weekend!

Addicted

I admit, I have become addicted to this Geocaching treasure hunt. Though, it is great fun, so why wouldn't I spend my time somewhere outside searching for hidden caches? Maybe I am just a bit lazy and instead of going there by bicycle, I drive to the hidden point by car. Probably this will change one day, too. Well, sometimes I do walk six hours to get to the cache... and five more back home. :)I picked up my first Geocoin yesterday and now I have to place it in a cache where reindeer live. A good reason to visit my brother then, who lives in the woods in my parent's weekend house.I've decided to send a Travel bug around the world myself. Maybe you will be the one too, holding it in your hands. I will let you know when it starts its travel. Hopefully soon.

Krn

This influence can bring with it a deeply satisfying, liberating experience; perhaps you will simply enjoy yourself with more gusto and freedom than usual and take pleasure in life. There may be a very meaningful encounter during this time - with your partner, someone close to you, or someone whom you have never met before.

~Robert Hand, Planets in transit, transit valid for me for 1 September 2009~

First day of September is first day of school for pupils in Slovenia. I spent this beautiful day - I am sure you have guessed it where - in the mountains. I haven't been up there for nearly a month, and believe me, those peaks had been calling me for quite some time - COME!I spent a wonderful day in company of completely unknown man. I met him on my way up the mountain, and we talked and talked and talked, and walked and walked and walked, for about ten hours. And I thought of spending a day completely on my own with my own thoughts!

On the way I spotted one of the rare birds in Slovenia, flying over me and landing on a rock nearby. Just to make my day even more perfect!

The view from Krn (called Monte Nero in Italian) is one of the most beautiful views from our mountains. Weather was so nice that I could even see the sea from it. Amazing, really. I wanted to visit the ruins from the I. World War, where the fiercest battles of Soča front took place, but it was already very late. Poor people who had to fight there for a stupid idea of bunch of people.

I found two treasures this day, one on top of Krn, and the other one in Zelenci near Kranjska Gora, where river Sava rises. It was almost dark when I got there, so I didn't take any photos of that emerald lake with springs. On my way back home I picked up two hitchhikers, two Austrian guys who were climbing the mountains the same day. We had a nice chat and they were very grateful that I gave them a lift - it was getting dark and they had about 20 km to their car.

Just before that I tried to find another treasure, next to the emerald waters of Soča river, but I wasn't successful. I had to cross a hanging bridge and it was quite exciting to swing to
and fro, not knowing if the boards of the bridge will hold my weight. Loved it!

When I was standing on top of the mountain, I was thinking of this how far we can actually walk with our own feet, and how much a man can endure if he has to. We can get very far with patience. One more lesson I am taking right now.

P.s.: I know, there are lots of photos today in my post, but who knows if I am going to the mountains this year again.

Having fun

It is the last day of August, and I can say that it was the nicest month in this year so far. Peaceful, but far from boring. I couldn't resist not to try searching for hidden caches during this weekend, and I was able to find four of them in two days. I wasn't successful yesterday, but this won't stop me from trying to find them some other day.I took a Travel Bug from one of them, little kitty that came all the way from Indiana in the USA. I have to put this kitty into one of the caches I find next, but it is important that the box is big enough.Treasure hunt is fun, I tell you. I stopped for an ice-cream, saw some nice sundials while visiting lovely park beside a castle, visited places where I had spent my childhood. Perhaps it was just a pity that I was alone; however, I spent some pleasant hours in my own precious company. :)

Treasure hunt

I didn't find it, although I was standing exactly on a spot where it should have been located. Alright, I will try with another cache, also located near my home. Though, it was great fun, and I suppose that if there are even more people, especially children included in this treasure hunt, it is even more fun. If nothing else, we do not spend days inside behind the screen...Yesterday I finally started to read a book that I bought a long time ago. On the cover it is written: Time fades everything. Except desire.

I am not so sure that this is so true. Sometimes even desire fades...

Free falling

I wanted to write a post yesterday, but I had to rush to our reserve because children were having an excursion there.

Actually I wanted to write this time that skydiving is great fun. We had to wait long hours to board on a plane, but the feeling when I was finally falling free from the sky was incredible. Unfortunately we didn't go higher, so the jump passed really quickly. Too quickly. When a parachute opened, I could enjoy the view. It wasn't scary at all, not even one moment of the jump. I wouldn't mind doing it again, if only it wasn't that expensive.

And I was flying again by plane, seeing the lakes, landscape and my bellowed mountains from above. It is a shame that it is such a terrible year, as I can't enjoy my treks in the mountains like I could. I hope for the best though, wishing that the next year will be a peaceful one for my heart and soul. I wish to find balance in life again, and people with whom I will be able to share it, feeling safe at the same time. Each and every moment of my life...