sLOVEnia

My first day in Slovenia was, as I have mentioned, very slow and relaxed. I arrived on a Sunday, and due to some poor planning on my part, didn't get to go to church. When I asked the receptionist at my hostel to give me directions to the nearest grocery store, she looked at me like I was crazy for a second and then told me it was closed, because it was Sunday. "Wow, that's neat," I thought. "A place that respects the Sabbath." Then, I went out for an evening stroll up to the castle and through a park or two. At first, it was almost eerie to see the absolutely deserted streets and hear the almost deafening church bells. Nothing was open and no one was there. Later in the evening people came out for walks, and luckily for me the kebab (gyro) places were open on Sunday. I honestly don't know what I'll do when I have to go back to the states and can't eat a Doner Kebab every day. I need to petition to have one put into the Cougareat or something.
Today was also pretty chill, it it's own, exhausting way. I jumped on a train this morning, only about 70% percent sure that it would take me where I wanted to go. It did. After a short bus ride, I asked for directions to Vintgar Gorge. "Up the hill to the left," she said. This is where I ended up:

Not a bad destination, to be sure, but not what I was aiming for. Someone there gave me new directions, "Leave the castle and go left.It's not very far." But the next person I asked said, in his very British accent, "It's at a terrible distance. Too far to walk, I'm afraid. We took a coach." "Yes, well," I wanted to say, "you are old and rich; I am young and poor and very stubborn. I'll walk." He insisted that I needed his map more than he did, which was probably true, so with that in hand, I headed off again for my destination. It was quite a walk, but quite a pleasant one, because the scenery was to die for.

But my destination would have been worth a much longer walk through much less pleasant territory. This is where I ended up today.


After the gorge, most people exit the same way they came in. I am not most people, and went for the road less traveled by. It was great. I got lost in the Slovenian woods for a good 30 minutes without ever seeing a soul, and it lead to just the right amount of hiking--about all that my weary legs and flip-flop-laden feet could handle.
I love, love, love sLOVEnia!