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Day 288
Sunday, August 11, 2019 at 2:03 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 278 m
Slovenia Gabrje 46.19748, 13.68515846°11’51” N 13°41’7” E
No Soca fields
August 11, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
The town is Kanal ob Soci as it lies on the Soca river and Slovenian names change their endings according to unfathomable rules.
Did you swim there? Van
8/19/19Reply
Tony HammondI suppose SOCAcretes never went there?
8/19/19Reply
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Day 287
Saturday, August 10, 2019 at 2:03 PM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: 237 m
Slovenia Sveta Gora 45.983842, 13.66172545°59’2” N 13°39’42” E
A bridge too far fetched
August 10, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
Had to include this rather uninteresting bridge just outside Gorizia as it claims to be the longest stone arch in the world. It was built by the Italians after the first WW.
Tony HammondThey obviously left no rock unturned.....
8/19/19Reply
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Day 283
Tuesday, August 6, 2019 at 2:03 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 164 m
Slovenia Loke 45.962367, 13.68575845°57’45” N 13°41’9” E
Trad folk
August 6, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Here at Grad Kromberg concerts are held periodically. Since Manca and Sebastian, my hosts, had performed there quite often, they knew exactly where we could sit in the adjoining vinyard to hear and see the concert without forking out 20 Euros, so they invited me to join them in an evening of folk music.
I expected traditional Slovenian peasant songs: instead we were treated to a Mongolian band with a selection of throat music from their country. With a beer in hand and lying on the grass comfortably it was an amazing experience. We were all in awe of the range and variety of sounds the lead singer could produce, sometimes simultaneously. And of course, we had a couple of western style, clippety clop cowboy tunes from the steppes, the hoof beats made by instruments but the neighing etc by the singers. Only Clint Eastwood was missing - eat your heart out Morricone.Read more
Tony HammondHope they didn't end up with sore throats.....
8/19/19Reply
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Day 280
Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 2:03 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,635 m
Slovenia Stol 46.278338, 13.452546°16’42” N 13°27’9” E
Stohlen moments
August 3, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Stohl mountain (1668m) rises from Breginj and I popped up to see the view one day. The ascent was by a 45 degree slope from the valley to the summit as you can see. No trick photography.
The views were stupendous down the Soca valley and across to Mt. Kanin (Canin) which is linked to the ski resort of Sella Nevea in Italy.Read more
Which of course was just down the road from where we were (altopiano del Montasio) for ferrata Leva.
8/19/19Reply
Tony HammondI suppose nobody wears fur Stohls up there?
8/19/19Reply
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Day 280
Saturday, August 3, 2019 at 12:03 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 518 m
Slovenia Sedlo 46.257578, 13.43276846°15’27” N 13°25’58” E
Breginj
August 3, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
The mother of my host has a small wooden house - technically a food drying shed to avoid building permissions - in the mountains at the head of the Soca valley. We spent a couple of weekends up there as a holiday away from the building site. This old village was destroyed by an earthquake but one row of houses built in the traditional oval shape has been restored. They built like this to provide shelter from the 'borea' a wind with exceptionally strong guststhat is channelled up the valley from the south-east.
Small streams have been dammed to provide water for animals and agriculture but they run dry frequently leaving these moss walls behind.Read more
Tony HammondGlad you didn't get the wind up while you were there....
8/19/19Reply
Rose SivaI could definitely see myself there with a few good books....
8/19/19Reply
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Day 278
Thursday, August 1, 2019 at 12:03 PM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 72 m
Slovenia Šempeter pri Gorici 45.921247, 13.64635445°55’16” N 13°38’47” E
Wrongly Racked
August 1, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
Initially I thought this paperwork had been filed in the wrong part of the supermarket but after much careful anal ysis I determined that this was not some sort of rap mag as the header explained "Skandinavske krizanke s humorjem za sladokusce.... ...
Scandinavian crosswords with spicy jokes!Read more
Tony HammondLooks like a bum rap to me!
8/19/19Reply
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Day 272
Friday, July 26, 2019 at 12:03 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 560 m
Slovenia Velika Pristava 45.668468, 14.19017745°40’6” N 14°11’25” E
Pivka Barracks
July 26, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
were built by the Italian army but rose to fame on the so-called 'Day Before'. On 26 June 1991 the first tanks of the Yugoslav People's Army left from here to suppress the independence of Slovenia, which following the fall of the Berlin Wall and the success of the democratic opposition parties to hold free elections resulting in an 88.5% vote for sovreignty, had declared Slovenia a Republic.
The T-55 tank was the principle type used and perhaps to commemorate this with an emphasis more on peace than war, the Tree-55 was built to guard the museum entrance.
The crushed car is a re-creation of one such symbol of suppression.
The museum has a fine collection of armoured vehicles from WWII, as well as aircraft, a pocket submarine and a German Class 52 steam locomotive.Read more
Tony HammondGlad to see you all tanked up Rols!
8/19/19Reply
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Day 271
Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 4:00 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 1,068 m
Slovenia Mašun 45.623198, 14.36105145°37’24” N 14°21’40” E
Found in a Slovenian trunk
July 25, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
I know - its a bit of an old saw.
Check out the two man chainsaw and the gate.
The old castle was actually built as a forestry protection station rather than as a fort.
Rose SivaSo you saw it.....(sorry)
7/30/19Reply
Tony HammondAt least you can say you saw it!
7/31/19Reply
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Day 271
Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 4:00 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 1,068 m
Slovenia Mašun 45.623198, 14.36105145°37’24” N 14°21’40” E
NRA nightmare
July 25, 2019 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
In some countries you do not have the right to bear arms.
Mona's MeanderingsHilarious 🤣
7/29/19Reply
😂van
7/30/19Reply
Rose Sivagroan...
7/30/19Reply
Tony HammondHe looks armless enough....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 271
Thursday, July 25, 2019 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 28 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Croatia Luka Veli Lošinj 44.523812, 14.50141844°31’26” N 14°30’5” E
Dummy spit
July 25, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C
No Mr. HereWeGo, I am not driving down that road.
Tony HammondDon't blame you! More like a rocky pathway than a road....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 268
Monday, July 22, 2019 at 2:00 PM
⛅ 30 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Croatia Osor 44.692978, 14.39246544°41’35” N 14°23’33” E
Between 2 islands
July 22, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C
The little town of Osor where the bridge linking the 2 parts of Losinj lies, is really quite charming and usually bypassed.
The citizens were holding a music festival week whilst I was there and the event that night was a chamber opera in 5 acts recited in the church. I listened to a bit from the town plaza but since it was in Croat I didnt last long.Read more
Tony HammondWhen it came to listening to opera in Croat you must have found yourself between a rock and a hard place....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 267
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Croatia Luka Veli Lošinj 44.523812, 14.50141844°31’26” N 14°30’5” E
Cape Leva
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
They even buried the old folk with a good view of the sea
Rose SivaVery fitting resting place
7/30/19Reply
Tony HammondFascinating but a pity you couldn't find an official to say those immortal words "Don't you know who I am?" considering you are part of the Leva family....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 267
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 124 m
Croatia Grošulja 44.939444, 14.42305644°56’22” N 14°25’23” E
Old and new
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Tony HammondInteresting info too that the Leva family owned large ocean-going sailing ships. The harbour has scrubbed up nicely....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 267
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 10:00 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 124 m
Croatia Grošulja 44.939444, 14.42305644°56’22” N 14°25’23” E
The house the gggggrand parents built
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
The GPS offered to take me down Ulica Vladimira Gortana to no 11 where the Leva house was to be found. As you can see, I took one look and decided to walk.
The house was only 50m or so from the harbour and covered in German signs: mainly zimmer. The Communist Yugoslav government had retrieved the houses belonging to the Italians - with compensation - after the War but obviously when the country split up the Croatians put them back on the market and the Germans snapped them up for holiday homes, or as in this case, to turn them into holiday boarding houses.Read more
Many Italian families & there are still about 11,000 left ( after natural depletion) have not yet received any compensation. The Italian state owes Italian citizens between €2.4 & 4.2 billion -since 1947. Basically Italy paid its war debts with jugoslavia using those properties etc which belonged to Italian citizens! Van
7/30/19Reply
Tony HammondAnd how ironic that they are now mainly occupied by Germans!
7/31/19Reply
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Day 267
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 9:00 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Croatia Luka Veli Lošinj 44.522623, 14.50008544°31’21” N 14°30’0” E
1
Big lozenge
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
The Leva family were one of the principal families in Veli Losinj and this is the inner harbour which is now flanked by one restaurant after another. Its one of the prettiest harbours I've seen on the Adriatic.
The church covers the old cemetary where many of the Leva's were buried. Unfortunately it is only open once a week and I was 4 hours too late to check out the interior.Read more
Adam Hammond Such a beautiful spot. I have fond memories of jumping into the sea from the rocks at the mouth of the harbour!
7/29/19Reply
Tony HammondGood to know that the Levas were part of the 'rich upper class'. You should have applied LEVArage and insisted on being let into the cemetary to visit your ancestors....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 267
Sunday, July 21, 2019 at 8:00 AM
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 140 m
Croatia Luka Sveti Martin 44.522415, 14.48198744°31’21” N 14°28’55” E
Lozenge for the soul
July 21, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Took the 20 minute ferry from Brestova to Porozina on the island of Losinj in order to visit the ancestral (maternal) homelands.
There are two islands, but the 10m gap between them has long been joined by a swing bridge.
Most of the island is dry, rocky and covered with dense shrubs but there are numerous trails down to the remote rocky seashore.
Here are 3 of the towns: Cres, Ilovic and Mali Losinj.Read more
Tony HammondFerry nice indeed....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 264
Thursday, July 18, 2019
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 549 m
Croatia Plitvica 44.896423, 15.60939744°53’47” N 15°36’34” E
Crowd funding nature
July 18, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
I counted about 20 buses and estimated about 200 cars on the day I visited the Plitvicka National Park. At 40 Euros admission and another 20 or so for parking, I had to do a little work to enjoy the place - without paying. All the road verges in the vicinity of the lakes have been staked to discourage parking,
I went for a hike and eventually found the best place to see the falls. Even though there was a storm there were still many people so I didnt bother going down to the waterside where wooden paths channelled the human flow.Read more
wow beautiful! van
7/24/19Reply
Adam Hammond40 Euros???
7/27/19Reply
Tony HammondA lovely place although it seems people have more money than sense....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 263
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 234 m
Croatia Butišnica 44.0375, 16.19583344°2’15” N 16°11’45” E
Knights of Knin
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Haven't seen a decent castle for at least 20 km so here is one. Settled since the Neolithic times, its first mention as a city was in Strabon's Geography in the 7th C Before the Common Era. And the rest is history.
Rumour has it that the city was paid some upfront money to use the castle as a GOT set and that the mayor absconded with the cash. According to the barman.Read more
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Day 263
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 5:00 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 480 m
Croatia Kijevo 43.976945, 16.35593843°58’37” N 16°21’21” E
Phoenix in Kijevo
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Spotted the towers and thought maybe it was from the series "Twin Peaks".
But no, this time no Hollywood connection. The Crkva SV Mihovila was first built at the beginning of the 13thC and is now in its 4th reincarnation: the Serbians knocked it down 3 times in the last century. Perhaps they wanted a new Canon.
I liked the cemetery for the old church parts.Read more
Tony HammondA towering achievement....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 263
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 3:00 PM
⛅ 29 °C
Altitude: 410 m
Croatia Gornji Radošić 43.698694, 16.59892643°41’55” N 16°35’56” E
Every hill has one
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C
Walked around Sinj.
Tony HammondWhat a charming little church....
7/31/19Reply
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Day 263
Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at 11:00 AM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 295 m
Croatia Knin 44.034445, 16.19388844°2’4” N 16°11’38” E
Feeling the squeeze
July 17, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Some roads are a little narrow.

Best pub so far!
Tony HammondI always thought you had tunnel vision!
7/31/19Reply
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Day 262
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 50 m
Croatia Tresteno Arboretrum 42.712365, 17.9744942°42’45” N 17°58’28” E
Arboretum Trsteno
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Trsteno is a charming little harbour good for an afternoon swim; but the house is empty and falling down. Probably the owners can't afford fixing it and want too much money to sell it.
In 1494 one of the Dubrovnik super-rich traders built a house for the Summer season just above it, and laid out an extensive garden: in fact one of the first Renaissance gardens in Europe. Now the 70 acres includes the original garden as well as later additions. In particular it is a haven for threatened Mediterranean plants. I never knew there I existed a Mediterranean Oak, a Downy Oak not to mention an Incense Pine or an Aleppo Pine. My favourite has to be the 'Bridal Veil Broom" (according to its label.)
BTW in case you were wondering, yes it was used as a set for GOT.Read more
Tony HammondVery much Oakay with me!
7/31/19Reply
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Day 262
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 10:30 AM
☁️ 25 °C
Altitude: 178 m
Croatia Srđ 42.649793, 18.10329342°38’59” N 18°6’12” E
Dub
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C
How did I avoid the masses?
Tony HammondI think you've achieved new heights!
7/31/19Reply
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Day 262
Tuesday, July 16, 2019 at 10:00 AM
☁️ 26 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Croatia Uvala Danče 42.646538, 18.09297842°38’48” N 18°5’35” E
Game of marketing
July 16, 2019 in Croatia ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C
Separated from the main part of Croatia by a tiny Bosnian finger pointing to the Adriatic, the area around Dubrovnik seems just like Montenegro to me. I felt obliged to brave the hordes of sightseers to check what the fuss was about.
As Ragusa, the town was formed in the 7th C as a refugee camp for people fleeing the advancing barbarians and became one of the strongpoints for shipping control in the Adriatic when the Venetians took over. The wealth of the town made it an impressive place and even Machiavelli applied to the city fathers to work there, (he was turned down.) All except 2 buildings were destroyed by the 1667 earthquake so what we see today is the baroque reconstruction.
Or should I say the reconstruction of the reconstruction because Serbian artillery tried to destroy it in 1991-92 in order to sap the morale of the Croatian Army. It didn't of course, and in fact the TV footage produced the opposite effect.
So whilst the town is pleasant, the real attraction for tourists seems to be to visit film sets, those for Star Wars and Game of Thrones. Tour guides lead their columns of consumers with one hand raised like a biblical prophet, holding the book of location shots and pretending they know more than their audience.Read more
Tony HammondA case of reconstructing history?
7/31/19Reply
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Day 259
Saturday, July 13, 2019
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 21 m
Montenegro Veliki Potok 42.513389, 18.69767842°30’48” N 18°41’52” E
Risan from the sea
July 13, 2019 in Montenegro ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
The Romans had their capital here but everything has gone except a few mosaics in the museum: there are no visuals of ruins.
I took the photo from the huge concrete hotel which has been abandoned for many years and ruins the visualsRead more
Tony HammondIt looks like nobody in authority has Risan to the challenge of giving this place a facelift....
7/22/19Reply
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