This year it took me longer than desired but I did it: I got away from the extreme heat of Tuscany in its yellow phase and escaped to balmy Slovenia, even though Piran on the coast, where I am now, is hot and humid too.
G
e
t
.
a
w
a
y
.
Birds and butterflies are not silly. Migration is a thing.
I’m in Piran on the coast already but these photos are from Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia – and this just in, a culinary capital and one of the 100 World’s Greatest Places 2021 according to Time Magazine – as well as my city of birth and most of my life, where I spent the first four days of my escape with my sister.
Imagine that you have just arrived in the city which you can’t even pronounce (it’s “Lube-Lana”) and this is what you see.
Welcome to get away with me. Oh, by the way, Tuscany is on this Time list too. There are projects going on I have heard nothing of yet, such as “The Sense Experience Resort in the southern coastal Maremma area”. Waitaminute. That’s us.
Our puddle! After all the dry yellows, wet greens is what I gladly embrace. 
Nice continental climate. It’s good for you. 
Ever since I was little, this former playground had nothing. This summer this table tennis table has grown there. Well played! 
Geometry of home. 
A shock. That new building they are building is something out of “Brazil”, the movie. You wish it would fly away to where it came from. 
To rest my eyes. The Ljubljanica river (“Lube-Laaanitza”) and the pink Franciscan church. 
The most famous monument in the city to nation’s No. 1 poet France Prešeren and his muse, and yet I never really looked at this carving on the side. 
“Dallas cannot be spelled without”. Somebody’s proof-reader was on holidays. Also, Dallas Mavericks, you sillies: no ad could ever buy our love for Luka. It is hard-earned. 
Cooperative Union of Slovenia, Miklošičeva St. 
I found lots of bestias!! 
Central train station. Another post from here coming up one day soon for the PPAC, the public art challenge. 
Opposite the train station, an ad for my coffee brand. As in the case of Luka Dončić, no need for it. I take it with me to Italy as it is. 
And I thought Italian war monuments were fierce. To the fallen comrades. 
Sign of the times. Slovenian Prime Minister is a bit too Twitter-happy. 
And then this… Quietly they have built our own little private Manhattan. 
The old Post-Telegraph-Telephone tower reflected in a new giant. 
But I admit: considering how much I hate these modern steel cages, this one has a few things in its favour. 
Back home. Nothing if not Scenic. 
In search of four leaves on my sister’s birthday. 
Bestia has an opinion and plans to voice it. This fir tree is the same age as I. Photo: Sis
For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, guest-hosted by Bert and Rusha at Oh, the Places We See: Getting away
This day in my blogging history
2016: It can be very dangerous to see things from somebody else’s point of view without the proper training.
—Douglas Adams
So glad you got away 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sofia. I’m glad too. It was necessary.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic – you got there at last
LikeLiked by 1 person
I did, Sue! 🙂 Happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I too love both green and yellow. Ljubljana is undoubtedly a beautiful city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bojana. When did you see it last? Yellow desert vs. greenery? Hm… for me the choice is clear. Green Ljubljana for the win!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Munich vs Belgrade is a perfect example. Greenery vs desert-like landscape everywhere you turn. No wonder. It’s been over 35 there for over a month now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right! You have it opposite, your people in a hot place, your new home in a cooler one. Even though it’s getting really hot here in Piran too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
UV protection and smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A great journey Manja. I love that pink church 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Bushboy. You might remember the church but if you strolled in the night, you might not have noticed it was pink. 🙂 Also, sorry, nothing personal, but on Monday we will be enemies for some two hours while Slovenia and Australia have their Olympic basketball game. No hard feelings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The church was lit up a bit. Yes frenemies for a couple of hours.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nooo, not you!! Dammit, I looked wrongly. It’s Argentina tomorrow!! We are not even in the same group. 😀 Hope to meet you in the finals!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wonder if we will. I haven’t looked at the groups yet
LikeLiked by 1 person
I saw Australia at the top in your group… That’s a good start.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think our womens team won their first game too
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a grand tour of new spaces. I’m drawn to the art mostly, but I do love the tall building and the reflections. Your getaway is an interesting one! Thanks for participating this week with the challenge.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! More art from my town of birth coming up in the coming days. To getaways!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That pink Franciscan church is very pretty, and the figures on the Cooperative Union building remind me of the art deco in Riga 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Sarah. I’m yet to visit any of the Baltic states. Art deco (secession – is this the same, I wonder) is pretty well represented in Ljubljana.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So glad you finally had this chance to get away. The river walk is a great place to rest the eyes and enjoy time to watch the day go by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Donna. This is a good city to rest in at present, especially if you come from the heat. I have moved to the hotter coast by now but here is the sea.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So many things to see here…good you went away to this place and showed it to us.
And I would have never imagined that that’s the way it was pronounced 😂😂thanks for sharing Manja!
LikeLike
You’re most welcome, Teresa. Truth be told, this is how the locals would say it. The official pronunciation is a bit more complicated. Hang on tight in some 12 hours, Australia. You’re facing Slovenia in basketball at the Olympic Games. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh wow! Good luck on the game!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jooooooj, I beg your pardon. Slovenia’s opponent is Argentina, not (yet) Australia!! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh ok. It will be soon enough
LikeLiked by 1 person
Slovenia is beautiful! And your captions are so witty. I’ve added the country to my bucket list :). Thanks Manja for the beautiful photographs.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, Smitha, this is wonderful. Do tell me before you come over. I wish to make sure to be here as well and show you around. 🙂 You’re most welcome and thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I definitely will let you know Manja. Thank you for offering to take me around💛
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great get away. Ah, modern architecture. But is it progress? 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmm, a good question. Development is not the same as progress. Thank you, John.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a lovely arm-chair stroll, Manja! It was lovely seeing you too in the window selfie!! Enjoy your visit with the family, and friends. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Deborah. Oh I am, even though we already got one parking ticket and a huge parking cost elsewhere. Piran is a terrible town to park in!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for taking me around town. I appreciate the lesson on how to pronounce your hometown 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, I did my best, Sandy, but it’s just an attempt. Also, this is how we say it, the locals. The official version is a bit more complicated.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry we have exported our glass buildings..but I do like the reflected sky. And your river. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, K. Ljubljana has a really small number of tall buildings. I don’t mind a couple. What I hate more is that every new building is this kind of modern glass cage. Like the modern cars. No soul.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s exactly right. They are all the same now, rows and rows of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person