Chicken-Shaped Country
I sincerely intended to spend most of the summer at ‘home’ in Slovenia this year, but after one thing led to another, as it tends to do, there was only a scant ten days or so left before having to head off again - most of which was spent saying hello to old friends (and their dogs and kids), followed almost immediately by goodbye.
Dinner with a view
Unfortunately, the first, last and only rooftop picnic of the season has already come and gone. Time marches on. Not much that can be done about it. But spring will be here before we know it!
Hello from lovely Slovenia
If you're not very familiar with the country of Slovenia, then, let's be honest, you're in pretty good company. But two of the most essential things to know about it are both conveniently conveyed on this postcard: 1) It's shaped like a chicken, and 2) It's got 'love' in its name.
Now the next time it comes up in polite conversation, instead of mentioning how you once visited when it was still part of Czechoslovakia* or bringing up that one lady married to the doughy orange chap, you can dazzle everyone with these two wholesome facts.....
*Just to be clear, Slovenia was not in fact a part of Czechoslovakia, but that doesn't stop lots of people from thinking it was - including postmen apparently, as there's a long-running joke / story / rumour that in countries with both Slovenian and Slovakian embassies, they get together once a month to exchange missent mail.
Slovenian Anarchy
Ljubljana has become increasingly gentrified, sterile, soulless* and more or less indistinguishable from any other mid-sized Central and Eastern European city. But at least a few brave rebels manage to carry on the punk ethos of the olden days, despite the insurmountable odds stacked against them....
*Many people, including those who follow this page, would probably just call this 'nice', but hopefully we can at least agree to disagree.
Vintage Ljubljana
This has long been one of my favourite random buildings in Ljubljana, but it's almost never been in good light on any of the countless times I've passed it over the years. But it definitely was on this sunny September day. What's more, the group of tourists standing in the foreground are all carrying bags from a well-known secondhand chain, making the throwaway title above (ie Vintage Ljubljana) something of an accidental pun.
Winter is coming
Judging by the white stuff that's already appearing on the lower bits of Alps in mid-September, reports of the death of the ski industry have been greatly exaggerated.
Although that said, if it's 25°C and sunny come Christmas time, no one should be surprised....
Beware of Dog
When you can't remember exactly which floor your friend lives on, but then recognise a souvenir from Malaysia you gifted them a few years prior.
Rozi the dog didn't seem very impressed though. Nor was she keen on going for a walk outside in the early autumn rain. But that didn't stop her from donning her sportiest sweater and making the most of it!
Literally, as the walk required no less than three plastic bags, and included chasing two cats, multiple swans and getting into some fisticuffs (or pawsicuffs?) with a corgi.
It was like an abbreviated homage to the 'Twelve Days of Christmas' or something.
Beware of dog indeed. The sign ain't lying....
Yugoslavian Cola
Almost never indulge in sugary drinks, but will gladly make an exception for a Yugoslavian cola from time to time!
Despite its totally new branding after being bought by Croatians (like a bunch of iconic Slovenian brands were), it's still got the original taste of rose hip, lemon and orange.
Superior in every way to more ubiquitous global brands that shall not be named.....
On the road again
If you ever get the chance to take a train through the Austrian Alps, take it....
Window seat
Deutsche Bahn's homage to Ryanair's infamous row 11 windowless window seats. Not ideal for taking in the scenery passing by at 300km/h, but not terrible for trying and catch up on work....