Ljubljana, Slovenia
Two weeks ago, I would have had trouble pointing to Slovenia on a map. Today, I rank it high on the list of places I want to return to.
Parishioners must travel by boat to attend this church on Blejsko Jezero island, near Bled, Slovenia.
We had less than a full day to explore the little country south of Austria, north of Croatia, east of Italy and west of Hungary, not far from Bosnia-Herzegovina. At every turn there was another wonder.
Whether it was a village, a waterfall, a lake, a mountain, or a colourful pensioner, every sight had its charm.
In Dobršnik, I did my usual dead-end-on-a-narrow-street driving routine and was forced to make a U-turn in a tight spot. As I was wiggling the Toyota back and forth between a fence and a stone wall, two elderly gentlemen approached, arm-in-arm. One went to either end of the vehicle and guided me out of the predicament. No words were exchanged, but their graciousness and good humour was evident. Kind-heartedness seems to be a national pastime in Slovenia.
The history of the region predates written records, by centuries. The oldest known wheel, and a Late Pleistocene musical instrument have been found in Slovenia.
5300-year-old wooden wheel found in a marsh near Ljubljana.
A pierced cave bear bone flute, possibly made by Neanderthals.
There is one characteristic of Slovenians that takes some getting used to. They have an appetite for Edible Dormice.
Dormice aren’t really mice, technically they are squirrels, and they have nothing to do with doors. The “dor” in dormouse is related to their habit of hibernating (going dormant) for up to six months each year.
Dormice forage all summer and are fat this time of year, ready for the long hibernation. Slovenians trap the animals by the hundreds every fall and hold an annual dormouse fiesta; “Jednega puha u dvi fete kruha” (literally; “One dormouse between two slices of bread”).
I am not saying I wouldn’t try roasted Edible Dormouse, but I was happy they never appeared on the lunch menu in Ljubljana.
We came across this group of buildings while on a hike up to a waterfall. There was a woman behind one of the sheds with a box. It took my entire reserve of discretion not to take her photo, but I will describe her.
The woman was a hunched elderly person, wearing a long skirt, rubber boots, and a babushka. She was standing behind the shed on the left, with what looked like a wooden trap under her arm. I can’t say for sure, but it appeared to me that she was intent on catching…
… an Edible Dormouse.
Judy
You continue to be the gift that keeps on giving in the driving department! It sounds like you are giving the locals some stories to tell their friends later on. You will be legendary before you know it.
Russ Paton
I would like to blame it on the GPS, or my co-pilot, but every wrong turn is entirely my doing 🚙
GG
This is timely, we seem to undergoing a mouse invasion between the bedroom walls. Maybe with this intelligence we now have a new pantry!
Russ Paton
They pair well with a Slovenian Merlot.