Reset search
Slovenia Part 2
  • CJ Sherman
  • Bill Sherman
  • CJ Sherman
  • Bill Sherman

Slovenia Part 2

Back to Maribor! Read more
FollowInsightsInsightsCalendarCalendarPhotosPhotosShareShareBucket list
InsightsCalendarPhotos
  • Trip start
    July 20, 2024
    Slovenia Part 2
    1

    Ride from Pula & hiking day!

    July 21, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ 🌩️ 23 °C

    After saying good bye to the BIPSE delegation at 9am they headed to Venice for the day and night and we, Bill, David and myself headed to Maribor. What was supposed to be a 3.5 - 4 hour drive took 7 hours due to a small red light construction area, congestion at the border (but there is no border or stopping at the border anymore) and rain as well as an accident. We took the back roads which was a lovely but very long drive. We stopped at a mall for coffee and snacks and to walk Daisy and use the facilities. Back in the car we finally breezed past Ljubljana and into Maribor!!
    We unpacked, fed Daisy and walked to go eat. Dinner was great. Dave had Salmon and polenta, Bill ate chicken with rice and mushroom gravy and Cj had a nice grilled chicken salad. We topped it off with a lava cake we shared, which was more chocolate sauce than cake! BUT still delicious. Daisy is doing great sitting under the table quietly and no one really remembers she is there. David has actually forgotten she is there and sometimes jumps up realizing something is under there tickling his leg!!!

    HIKING day. We got up and had coffee on this cool morning in Maribor. Dave, Bill and I made our way to the Pohojre Mtn to climb the lower level. It is about 3.5 miles from the Solomon's house to the lower level. Daisy was a trooper again and up we went. Took some pics and had another coffee and some nuts and back down the mtn. We mowed the lawn, vacuumed the house, did laundry and then we got a call from our German friends driving up from Pula to Munich. They decided to stop and have lunch with us. IT was a nice visit and off they went by 330 pm. Naps, reading and British Open for David!
    Dinner was a small (leftovers) Charcuterie and snacks. We watched a little NCIS and off to bed!    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    Maribor water tower on the Drava RiverThe KojakVinag underground wineryMaribor Franciscan church clock towersCJs favorite landmark on the river. Maribor water TowerNOT the worlds oldest grape vineThe old water towerTwo dudes restingEurope's oldest vineWhat a foolStill celebrating his win at the GCShe's the center of attentionMaribor old town center

    Maribor biking with David

    July 22, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    Lazy recovery day. Starts with a little wake up walk, then a bike ride down to city center. As usual, Bill extended out the ride while CJ and David were a little less comfortable in their saddles. David decided to celebrate his GC victory with an extended peloton-style standing workout raising concerns about his quads and calves tomorrow. But that’s for tomorrow. Today We Ride!
    Got back for showers and naps, then drove back to city center for a nice stroll through the historic center. We returned to Papagayo for Slovenian Mexican food served with dollar potatoes, salsa, cheese, and an indecipherable white sour creamy sauce. Pretty sure it was straight up Doritos and Velveeta for the starter. Still good flavor and filling.

    Back home for sleep. Dave leaves for somewhere tomorrow from Ljubljana. Off to meet friends there for lunch then sending him off!    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    A boy and his dog
    A girl, a boy and their dogOne of many trails through the woods, with creeks, mud puddles and everything a puppy could wantFootbridge with a nervous dog not sure it will support her.Dangerous playground for a puppy who doesn't want to get wet or muddy2Old, cement footbridge. Daisy refused to walk across

    Hiking July 24

    July 24, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    What’s better than wandering lost in the woods? Not much comes to mind. Weather is cool, a little overcast, light breeze. Plenty of bird songs and trickling water to accommodate our moods.
    Our challenge is to limit uphill so we wandered back and forth until we wound up back on the road up the Pohorje, which we declined.
    Turn left to stop at the little coffee bar, then head home wrapping up about 4 miles. Great start of the day!    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    Vinag vines
    We hiked in grass, rocks, muddy trails and gravelApples kindred spirit to Little Apples my brothers apple tree in AZCement gravel trailWooded muddy trailPirmidiaRoman ruins next to PirmidiaCJ finally found the chapel on the hill!2Maribor and the PohojreAltar inside of chapelShe made it.1Maribor City ParkGazebo in Maribor City ParkOne of the three lakesMarker with all feet or paws in!

    Pirmidia (Pyramid)

    July 25, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    Mariborski Mestni Park en Anglais as “Maribor city park” is a large area with over 150 native and foreign tree types, multiple large ponds filled with a variety of fish, turtles, and other wildlife. It backs up to a series of hills 100m-350m high.
    We chose to go through the woods and into the vineyards of Kalvaria which provides an amazing view of the mountains and Maribor. In the year 1683 the people of Maribor in gratitude for the cessation of the plague, which unmercifully hit the town, made a pilgrim's path up Kalvarija (Calvary) and on the top built the small church of St Barbara and St Rosalia.
    CJ has always wanted to find a small chapel on top of a hill. We could see it in the distance. A local family told us it was Piramida and could be accessed through the park walkways. So down one hill and up another to find the chapel. As well as the remnants of a 12th century Marchburg castle. The noble Spanheim family built the castle at the beginning of the 12th century for protection against the Hungarians. The castle was in the border Drava march and it was from after that the settlement, market town and town got the name Marchpurg or Marburg, now Maribor.
    In 1790, the castle ruins were reused to create a stone pyramid which is how the site got the name. In 1821, it was struck by lightning and destroyed.
    Beautiful day for a hike. Back for lunch of cleaning up leftovers. Naps, pizza for dinner and it’s a good, relaxing, “do nothing” day.    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    Chapel on top of a hill, surrounded by grape vines
    Zoom in to see the name!CJ continues to try new photography tricks. This was from her watchSmall chapel, still holds services every weekView of Pohorje from the chapelMorning cappuccino breakShe looks good in red!

    Biking to Kalvarija

    July 26, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

    We grabbed the bikes and went down a new road for us. On the way CJ looks down a side road and spies her elusive chapel. We decide to hunt it down, go down the side road. Take the bike and hiking only trail. Cut through the gate. Find out it’s too steep for us to ride so we push to the top. Past the small prayer altars, finally to the top. And we find “Slovenska Kalvaria”. The mystery is solved. It’s a long way from the city park, like across the river far, but apparently there’s a path somewhere.
    The chapel is still active with services weekly. Great little find for us!    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    Up the Pohojre
    Going up with the bikesCoffe break at Mariborska Koča1Waterwheel for CooperSlap Skalca1Waterfall Slap Skalca2A great view

    Pohojre bike ride and Slap Skalca

    July 27, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Today we RIDE! Rent e-bikes, take the cable car to the top, and we’re off!! There are supposed to be trails over the top of the mountains so let’s find them. We start going a little up and down, off onto grass, then back to shell rock. After a little too steep and rocky of a downhill (you can only squeeze the brakes so long) we decide to head towards paved roads.
    Minimal treacherous paths get to the road and we start flying downhill. As we pass a cute little house, it’s the name of a trail target Slovenska Kače! We stop for cappuccino and find out it’s a pizza place. Have to come back here later.
    Back down the road to find the Slap Skalčan aka Fram (or Skalča) Waterfall. There’s a small brook from the mountain which runs a small water wheel of undetermined purpose, then falls over a 12-14m (35-45 ft) drop with a number of other shorter falls later on. No challenge to Niagara but a pretty little spot in the forest. The steps down and up require strong legs and balance, looking quite treacherous for winter.
    Back to the road, and as we take the straightaway up to 50kph, we head back into Maribor and up to the house.
    Great morning and now we make up for abandoning Daisy (she who was left behind and didn’t appreciate it)    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    Oldest vineDrava River walking bridge with larger bridge behind it

    City center after a rainy day!

    July 29, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    It rained for most of the evening yesterday so we suffered in silence and watched an Arnold documentary (potentially adding a trip to the Arnold museum in Thal bel Graz https://arnieslife.com) followed by Olympic action! Up (relatively) early for a return to city center. Cleaned the house, cut the grass, went shopping at E.leClerc (imagine a European Target) then down to wander the city center.
    Found some “Made in Slovenia” souvenirs, Daisy shmoozed some treats, and we found a restaurant with Bosnian and Serbian food. Turkey on a skewer, grilled veggies, yummy stuff.
    Headed back to the hiša for naps and final cleaning before we head to the hotel Arena at the base of Pohorje.    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2

    Happy Birthday Arnold

    July 30, 2024 in Austria ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    Arnold, athlete, actor, American. At least according to the 3-part documentary. We saw his museum is outside of Graz, hmmm only about an hour away. Wait, July 30 is his birthday? We’re going!!!
    Sure enough, it’s barely a village (pop 2,236) in the hills. But there are cars parked along the road, a banner is up, balloons and everything but cake.
    We get there in time for the pull-up contest. Young men, dads and their young boys, one guy takes off a suit coat and rips off about 15 in his dress shirt.
    Interesting museum with plenty of pictures and memorabilia from his career. Kind of disappointed Arnold didn’t show up but maybe he had a better option.
    Lunch at a cafe on the lake where he proposed to Maria Shriver, and found the “historic boat”!
    Back in time for naps, Olympic action, and dinner with our friends.
    Evenings are very nice and cool, into the mid-60s. It’s a great summer.
    Adio!    Read more

  • Slovenia Part 2
    The face of the challenge. About 700 vertical feet in 1km of climbing.
    The conquering heroine and her pupThe track has a sled you can ride down. With a chair lift to the top.According to legend, the BIP record is 22 minutes. We took 31She surprised herself with this pictureSadly, this was CJs view both up and down

    Channel your inner Olympic spirit

    July 31, 2024 in Slovenia ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

    And here they are, reaching for that rarified air of overcoming adversity with strong conviction and spirit. The rarified air of 64 flights of stairs climbed, the adversity of rocks and deep grass, and a blazing hot sun in the 68 degree temperatures.
    We ignored the insulting look of teenage boys climbing up and down barefoot, expressed our awe at the young moms with 1 in a backpack and another dragged up by the hand, and Daisy, ever the good pup she is, refused to get pulled into the barking excitement of the boys (young ladies would NEVER!) we passed on the way.
    Then, with the wind at our back (and fanning our pits), in the shade of the old forest, we scampered down the road to whet our thirsts and refuel our bodies with the fabulous breakfast buffet at the Arena Hotel.
    Side note: while we missed getting pictures (epic fail), yesterday at breakfast we watched a lady go up to the first level, unfurl a parachute, then repeatedly run down the hill, working to get it to stay aloft and level. On her 6th or 7th attempt, she made it all the way down about 100m to the thunderous applause of the breakfast crowd. She smiled and waved. Then went back up the hill for a few more runs. I hope she keeps it up and gets that wind beneath her wings soon enough.

    Until the morrow good souls!    Read more

    Trip end
    August 2, 2024
  • 2026© FindPenguins
  • Home
  • About us
  • Group Tracking
  • Press
  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy & Cookies
  • Help Center
  • Legal notice