Where are we?!?!!

 According to google maps there are 3 routes to get from Portoroz to Lake Bohinj (look it up). The first one takes 2 hours 4 minutes and is 189 kilometers. The second route takes 2 hours 26 minutes and is 168 kilometers. We chose be more scenic although a little bit longer route knowing that we could take the highway back home for the 2 hour ride. We circled all the destination cities along the route on our paper map and programmed the gps. The gps did not have the same brain as google maps, neither was an overachiever. We left town at 9 am and figured we would arrive there by at least noon.

 

At 1 o'clock we were having ice cream happy only restaurant we had seen in miles and talking with a local about where we were. 

They suggested we drive 20 kilometers and put our car on a train and go through a tunnel for 8 minutes to save about 1 hour of driving. We were all for that but when we got to the train station it was another 4 hours before the train left.  Back in the car in another hour and 15 minutes and we arrived at lake Bohjin.  

Back to the hotel by 8 pm, but we did stop at a gas station for a bag of ice for only 2 euro. Best purchase of the trip so far. as you can see from the pictures the trip was not quite as google maps said. It did not show in any indication that trees would be laying over the road. But as the saying goes "It's the journey, not the destination."

Piran and Ljubljanajjjjjj

If the j's are silent, why use them?

We had our business meeting on Monday.  It was a full 90 minutes with a couple of breaks.  Our host from St Louis is the gal in charge of stock research for the firm and we got to hear her insight of the market.

In the afternoon we took a bus to Piran which is an old town about 3 miles away for our included tour.  It was built on a point and interesting, but not spectacular.  Spent about 3 hours there, then back to the hotel and the pool.  Had dinner at a nice restaurant with grilled prawns and squid.  Outdoors near the water.

Tuesday the car arrived and we drove an hour or so to the capital of Slovenia, Ljubljana.  Pronounced Lubliana.  It may as well have been spelled Ljjujjbljjajjnjja!  We found it without any problems, drove right to the center of town and found an underground parking spot.  We emerged to what else, but an Apple store.  To my surprise we were the only ones in their and only one 'associate'. . . Sell AAPL.

He gave us directions and we enjoyed the city for a few hours.

Hiked up to the castle and climbed the tower.






Did some shopping and drove back home.


Tonight is the theme dinner where they take us someplace for a Slovenian dinner and entertainment.  Doesn't start until 7 and we will be back at 11.

We are hopping to drive to Lake Bled tomorrow, but Pam's ankles are on the plump side.  She had her heels on the dashboard on the way home and that seemed to help.

Beautiful weather and very hospitable people.

First FULL day in Portozo!

We had a super welcoming meal on Saturday night at the hotel.  Great fried cod, tuna stuffed tomatoes, steaks, veggies, dessssserts, couple of beers and wine.  I would have had a few more beers, but the rental car guy wanted to drop off the car on Saturday night instead of Sunday morning.  The phone rings at 5:30 asking if we can take delivery tonight. .. . 'what about parking?' I ask.  I don't know.  The consing ere was cool and recognized that I was special , ie short bus and said no 18 euro charge, so I said I'd wait. He showed up at 7, had a problem with his printer, can they print off his flash drive for me to sign a contract.  Next how about taking a picture of your passport to publish to wikileaks, and driver's license and sorry Melissa, but your birth certificate as well!  So at 7:15 we did a damage check and the he asked if I could drive him to the marina to pick up his girl friend.  I politely reminded him that my dinner started at 6:30 and NO, go get her yourself, don't hit anything and fill up the tank.

Sunday morning I awoke at 4 a.m. to the pounding bass of some blaring 'song' from the beach across the road.  I tried to go back to sleep, but got up at 6 and went for a walk along the water for an hour.  Warm and quiet.  Locals fishing and walking.

Had a great breakfast at the hotel.  Omelet, fruit, sausage, bacon, bread and how about a coca light?  Oh, that's not included while champagne is?  okay I'll sign for a 4 euro 8 oz beverage!  OUCH

So we found the rental car sans dents and condoms in the garage! 

We talked another couple much older than us, from Vancouver to buy the gas and they could join us on our incredible adventure to the horses and the we would follow the Jones buses to the winery and sample for FREE. Easy sell.

First stop some caves!

We had dueling GPS systems. theirs a Magellan . . . our the bargain from "my good friend in China" $72 gps/game and whatever very dim very quiet system.

The Jones group paid 89 euros to go to the Li per horses and a wine tasting, but since Pam is so cheap, she thought we could do better on our own.  She was right.

Then we decided to go to the Karsts or amazing caves in the area first and then the horses.  The caves are a whole another expensive (more than $5 tour).  We found the caves thanks to our dueling GPS systems.  Got there 5 minutes before the next tour.

It was very impressive.  Much better than the Ape Caves at Mt ST Helens  http://www.park-skocjanske-jame.si/eng/index.shtml 

Then panic set in as the gpses couldn't get us to the Liper horses.  We were driving down gravel roads trying  to find the ponies.

Well we found them and Pam was in Nirvana/Heaven

So after horses there is . . . . .wine!

The Jones group for their 89 Euros also were going to stop by a winery.  Hey, let's just follow the bus and join them.  We decided that we were all tacky enough to not care and did so.  The bus parked in the bus parking and we went on to the winery.  Well when it was done with they wanted to charge us 24 euros to join the group. . . . guess what the answer was.

Back in the car we thought we could scope out a vineyard to sample on our own.  It was only 4 pm on a Sunday evening.  They have to be begging for cheap drive bys!!!

After a couple of roads almost too narrow to turn around we told Pam to go check it out or we are going back to the hotel.  She came back and said, "Park it!"

She found a guy that said the winery wasn't open, but I'll check with Mom.  We parked and had a spectacular evening with a failure to launch and his mom at a winery where they only make 10,000 bottles a year.

He spoke pretty good English and we had a private tour.  Did I mention that Jones said we could join all 100 of them for 24 euros each? 

Then down to the cellar for a tasting.  Not a pour, but open the cask, stick in the thingy ma jig in the barrel and pull out some wine tour.  Oh and let's hang up some 2 year old pieces of pig to bounce into.

1886 can you say civil war?

 

Mom had prepared some Sunday dinner snacks for the big tour group.

Then  mom brought out some kind of really sweet wine liquor. . .lots of sugar, but very good.  Danny a 23 yr old grandson/nephew showed up and added to the exchange.

We escaped with three bottles of great red wine at 6 euro each and threw in 12 for the fun!