The 4 seasons

After I already bitched about the weather, it's time to see some consequences, right? ;-) Anyway, as I mentioned in one of my previous posts, there's a really awsome walking path in the Kolpa river canyon, few miles from where I live. I already had some pictures of river and it's surroundings in spring and summer, and with pictures in that blog entry I also had another season covered (autumn if anyone was wondering). So, what's left is - winter. And this is where trouble start of course. ;-) No snow yet, and although there are some vague mentioning we might get some next week, I think I might rather stay on pesimist side on this issue.
So, armed with my camera I boldly headed to the wilderness this saturday, the 20th of January. With warnings like: "Make sure you don't get lost" (It's a RIVER canyon for God's sake) and "Aren't you afraid of bears" (It IS a bear country. And they probably don't have much sleep in this heat. But I really doubt any bear would be prepare to face me.). To take pictures of how Kolpa looks in winter (not). Actually I just really wanted to have a long walk away from civilization. With that I was succesfull. They extended the path all the way to Vinica. Or it'd be better said, they made a new path from Damelj to Vinica, and they named it "Mlinarska pot" (Mill path- named after all those watermills that used to run on this river).
What can I say- it's nice. It's good. I might still prefer the Radenci-Damelj path (because it's completely in wilderness). After Damelj canyon soon widens, and there's place for small villages and fields. But altogether it's really great. I had a great walk, after 4 hours it took me to come to Vinica I even climbed Zezelj (hill above Vinica) on the way back. I didn't however take many pictures. And that's just because I still hope to get some with snow. And barren trees as surroundings is rather a bit depressing. But anyway, here are some...

Watermill and damp ruins (Kobiljača)

The water pours from hundreds of small brooks in canyon

A view from up the canyon on Krivec watermill

Sunset view from Zezelj of Vinica with Kolpa

The world order

If you follow the news- one of the last communist leaders (some would say dictators)- Fidel Castro of Cuba seems to be fighting his last fight these days. And as many Cuban emmigrants already started celebrating, my thoughts lead me to the days of my youth...
Yugoslavia was always something completely different (as Monty Python people might say). Except for few years after WW2, it was never as hard lined as Soviet Union. Sure, it was communist state, it had what most people nowadays would say a dictator, but yet people of Yugoslavia were free to travel to western Europe. Loads of them did emmigrate eventually for better life in Germany, Austria and other countries. Most people were allowed to have their own properties, and noone was forced to work on collective land.
My childhood was spent in the last days of Yugoslavia. If I look back I have to say I had a good childhood. Never had to suffer opression (at least I didn't feel it), the only bad thing that comes to my mind was inflation. But that's the story for some other time.
Anyway, what I want to say is- in my opinion communism is not bad world order by itself. It was the people who were leading that corrupted the idea which is basically good. If people would be ready to see its benefits and work for them some time in the future it might even work out. I mean- if you've seen Star trek- the civilization at that stage is nothing but high-tech-socialist-super-state. ;-) It's a shame, that at present we are just to corrupt and selfish, and we tend to start doing less and less as soon there's someone behind us. So the rule at the moment would be democratic (capitalist) countries with good social services. Ave democracy. ;-)

Soviet Union WW2 memorial in Vienna

Feels like October

The weather's having serious issues. After winter fairy tale back home on 2nd January, the global warming and El Nino took it over. 14 C and drizzle during day isn't really winter, is it? Feels like Ireland a bit. Only grayer.

Kylemore Abbey, Connemara, Ireland

If for anything- this kind of weather is good to catch up on one's correspondence, maby for posting a blog entry (haha), and just lazying around. I'm goot at that. ;-)
Take care, and use public transport!!! ;-)

(T)Euro

I'm rather pissed. Slovenia got new currency on 1st January - first of new member states that was ready to adopt Euro. We all thought the good things would prevail- Euro should be great currency for all of us who like to travel, not to mention economy would have one less mean of loosing money.
Of course, we were warned from various sources that prices might raise. But we're no Germany- you know- there's only this much ordinary people might be able to cope with. And besides- even if some shops / services would round their prices up to 10 cents- that shouldn't mean that everybody would do it (or raise prices even more). Even our financial minister said he didn't expect prices to go up. They put law in place that no price could go up between 31st december and 1st january. Just in case- Consumer protection agency was ready. And did we keep our prices?
NO!!! Why not? Because we live in f***** capitalist age, when shop and service owners use every chance to squeeze some more money out of customers. Prices really didn't change over night on 1st January. In most places, they raised them before that!!! And so just that irony is bigger, some even lowered those same prices a bit just before New Years and than advertised them!!! Of course, Consumer protection agency compiled a black list of shops and services who were most bad. But as things are lately, they might just as well start compiling a list of shops/services which didn't raise their prices- it might be shorter.
You know- in most cases we, consumers do have a choice where we take our bussiness to. But lately it looks just as if they all started cartels- they ALL raise their prices. In some cases it's subtile- going up just a few percent. But in some cases it's like they think we (consumer) (I'm sorry I have to express myself like this) shit money.
Just an example. Yesterday we ordered pizza. The brochure with prices we had was from the start of december. At that time pizza we ordered was priced at 6,89 €. So, imagine my surprise when the bill came at 7,60 €!!! That's almost 1 € difference - 10% rise!!! I don't know where they're doing their shopping, but f*** me, if cheese is 10% more expensive from the start of December!!! And what's worse- we already stopped order pizza from 2 pizza deliveries because they raised their prices, so it seems we just might be out of deliveries soon. Solution? Well- I hope all right minded citizens of Slovenia will realize this is leading nowhere, and we have to do something about it. If it's come this far- let's boycott pizzas altogether (anyone who knows me know how huge sacrifice this is for me). Let's show those bustards where their thirst for our wallets is leading them. I just hope that majority of citizens are not sheep who would just suffer in silence! Every revolution starts with small steps!!! OK- I know not everything is that bad. Most shops (those which are bigger and are watched more closely) didn't raise their prices, or at least only marginally. It's food deliveries / restaurants / public services / pubs that were most eager to drain our wallets....
Just the closing thought-

Let's support honest bussiness which didn't & won't raise prices, and we'll all win!!!

Sometimes things do work out

Best wishes for New Year 2007 to everyone!!! Hope it will be better than the last one. One shouldn't judge the book by it's covers, but if it goes in any way like first few days went for me, at least I shouldn't complain. Had a great New Years Eve party, met some interesting people, the work and € transition went smoothly (knock knock), and the broadband internet back home finally works. Even old Murhpy seemed to be away on bussiness (at least for most of the time). And can you believe- it even snowed this morning (doesn't make up for shitty start of winter so far, but it looks good anyway).



Srečno Novo leto 2007!!!