Last Collection of Photos from Slovenia

Whilst I have so many more photos I will make these few the last of my Slovenian trip as it encapsulates and finalises the span of the wonderful places we visited, thanks to Dolores during our superb holiday with her.

Our visit to the Postojna caves was somewhat overwhelming and this photo does not show the grandeur and spectacle of it all. We rode really fast in a rickety train, which was just like a metal toast rack. The tunnels and passages were so low that we were strongly warned not to stand up or move to either side as it raced into the hillside. We travelled for 15 minutes, viewing many wonders of stalagmites and stalactites. We then disembarked to follow pathways, walking through the multi million year old wonders of cavern after cavern for an hour before we met the train to return to the outside world.

The formations took so many forms which rocked our minds and imagination.... some looked like draped transparent fabric, chambers of Hobbits, chess sets, tiered wedding cakes, water falls, Moomins... etc., etc., etc!!!

It takes 100 years for 1cm to form on a stalactite so it was mind blowing to see what millions of years had produced in this fascinating place.

Photos were banned until we reached the vast chamber of the

The Concert Hall 

A group of people took advantage of the amazing accoustics in there to sing in harmony, much to everyone's delight.

Ljubljana old town

... note the shoes hanging high across the street??!!??

Statue of Preserem, a famous Slovenian poet

Engraved padlocks are fastened to the sides of the bridge as declarations of love... the bridge has glass on each side of the walkway making it so weird to walk across and the tour boats can be seen passing beneath. Remember to wear jeans and not a skirt!!

Handcrafts everywhere and here, carved walking staffs for sale.......

Beautiful views at every turn on the road to Kranjska Gora

The story of the road and church

Tiny Russian Church built as a memorial to all the prisoners of war who died in the construction of this high mountain pass.

The man walking up the steps gives the scale of the church.

The Winter Olympics Ski Jump

Two brave souls were walking up to the top but I wouldn't fancy that any more than I'd fancy jumping from the top in the snow. I'll have greater respect now for the jumpers.

The new jump in progress for the next Winter Olympics

Trieste

 across the border in Italy where we were caught in a rain storm so it became really humid in the heat.

Bikes and scooters everywhere.

If you've never been to Slovenia... GO!! 

WOYWW 163 / Birthday Treats

WOYWW brings together the snoopers and the daring folk who share their desks via Julia's stamping-ground each week. 

My work desk this week has been the cutest one ever as I enjoyed my first attempt at face painting on such a wriggly canvas, namely my little fraulein grandee. 

As I've been enjoying special time with my family this week, I am showing more of my belated birthday gifts which are still on my desk. Donna didn't know about my birthday, (which was June) so she made an extra special box of tricks to give to me before we left for our Slovenia adventure.

(Be warned....more Slovenia pics next post to finish off my saga of fun so pop back if you are at all interested.)

Here's the box top...

the inside of the lid....

The treasure chest of gifts within....

Also the mini tag file filled with wonders....

Thanks so much Donna, so exciting to open... it's a forever keepsake and I can't stop browsing it's contents. I'm well blessed to be treated so fantastically.

Neet, another lovely friend, you'll know from Hickydorums, gave me a pack of nail grooming products which includes this amazing magnetic nail polish (by Nails Inc.). It is such fun! Neet is so thoughtful, and knows me so well, so this is a great treat for me. 

After a first coat, a second coat is applied nail by nail then the magnet provided in the lid  is held over each nail, one by one, giving a special transformation from plain to patterned. Quite fascinating! There are different designs and this one is a fishnet effect and Neet has one with a wave effect. I'm told it can also be applied over a coloured base. The varnish is exceptionally chip resistant and so lasts really well.

Neet, thanks again and you are a star!!!...Hope you are recovering PDQ from your hospital stay this week....brave gal!

I also received a parcel of goodies from Lorraine including a much needed hand scrub I have wanted for ages. Lovely gifts, really appreciated, but even lovelier friends! 

Slovenian Specialties

The Castle at Lake Bled

We sat in the shade looking out over this beautiful lake and tried our best to stay cool whilst we were introduced to the specialty cake of Bled. It's similar to a Vanilla Slice but ginormous, crispy and utterly delicious.

D & D lakeside

Lovely pic of Donna dipping her toes in the crystal clear turquoise lake at Bohinj

Dolores did her amazing impression of a rally driver and drove us right up one of the highest mountain passes where we were overwhelmed by the spectacular views at every hairy bend.

Bosom buddies!

Here's the proof that we were 1620 metres high.

We had left our hats behind so, at over 40 degrees, emergency measures were required to protect us from the sun but, despite looking like mad English women abroad, I still got my nose burned. 

The next morning a dab of lipstick to my nose scared the wits out of Donna who thought it worse than it was!! 

Roasting in the sun, overlooking the mountains, we devoured the huge delicious smoked Slovenian specialty sausages, Kranjska Klobasa, for lunch with sauerkraut and crispy bits of pork.

 With a huge portion of apfelstrudel for pud and another local treat, Struklji, we were so full and needed only salad for evening dinner. 

The building in the distance is the restaurant where we ate our lunch!

Just read this menu....we gave the sausage in Hegs Grease a miss! 

Here's the local weather forecaster. If the donkey's tail is swinging... forecast wind.

If it's wet, forecast rain..... etc.,!!!

WOYWW 162 & D,D & J in Slovenia

WOYWW 

This sorry state has been created after dumping so much on my desk after returning from our jollys. Donna kindly brought me home and we had some extra crafting time together which all added to the messy melange which now lies waiting to be tidied.

I finished off my mini book pendant from Donna's workshop.

These pages for my Holiday Memory Book were made when we played with spray starch backgrounds, Distress Ink techniques, Stencilling and Paste stencilling and Dylusion Sprays.

There'll be so many more desks on view if you escape to Julia's stamping ground where each week we show and tell just what is happening in our creative spaces.

It is a great snoop but it is also a place to make crafting friends and I have been lucky to make some very special ones and, as a result, I've just been to foreign lands with Donna to visit Cardarian in Ljubljana. 

We're back from our most wonderful adventure in Slovenia so the wacky sunglasses have been stowed away and the cardigan is back on now that we're back to the cold and wet of England and no longer roasting slowly in 40 degrees as we did over there. Such a contrast! 

Comment from one of us at 1am, whilst late night crafting on the terrace........ "Oooh! it's much cooler now!" Temperature check... it was 31 degrees!

Dolores, of Cardarian's Happy Place, gave us the best of times, taking us to so many amazing places in her beautiful country, but we thought that we would hatch up a brilliant ruse and tell everyone it was so dreadful that no one else would want to visit so we can go again!! So keep the secret!

We ate wonderful food, laughed so much together and crafted until the wee small hours each day. The perfect crafters holiday. Amazingly we didn't drink very much, (no honestly, we didn't,) as we really were tooooooo happy having crafting fun to spare time to pop a cork or lift a glass.

I have so much to show and tell and this is just a starter.... be warned that there will be more photos day by day.

Dolores is a star and after we left she went into hospital for an operation on her knee (no! I assure you that it wasn't our fault). She is now home recuperating.... from the operation silly not from our visit. That is to say, she is lounging and being cared for by her loved ones ready to dance the okey kokey, (which we taught her!) as soon as she can. Get well soon Dolores and do take it easy!

Huge thanks to Dolores, and also to Donna, for everything that went into making our time together so special.

Ljubljana 

Nice touristy photos of our trip here....but for all the mayhem and madness pop over to Donna's for the video evidence.... HERE! There may be a rush in Primani for wacky sunglasses now!!

Dolores, Donna and Jo, waiting in the noon day sun for the funicular up to the castle....

High above the city

The restaurant at the top where we had an amazing lunch.

The old town, Donna, Dolores and her DD Anna who was our special tour guide for the day.

The market

The spice girls selecting from the wide choice on the market.

amazing graffitti in the old town amongst the bars and shops.

I came home to a lovely surprise... a fabulous ATC from Vicki of sandylonelycards in Australia.... thanks so much for thinking of me and I love it!

There'll be more pics very soon....Lakes and mountains, castles and caves...