Transients in Transit

Sunday May 20.  We left from Ljubljana at a leisurely time this morning as we had all day to explore a few things and make our way to drop off our rental before we jumped on a train.  Our first stop was breakfast at our hotel where the kids loaded up on hot chocolate and super sugar crisp to power them for the day ahead.  Things that they never get back home, so when in Rome, or Ljubljana, do as the Romans or the Ljubljanians.

Our first stop was the Postojnska Cave.  We were really not sure what to expect here but were very pleased with our tour.  The caves are a 20km network that is filled with stalagmites and stalactites and some very large caverns up to 40m high.  The lighting creates some very interesting effects but were difficult to capture.  After a train ride in of 2km we walked for another km then took the train back.  Flashes were not allowed.  My train shots are very poor, and I did my best with no flash on the others while stationary.

Our next stop was Predjama castle.  This was an interesting castle for a number of reasons.  First it was built into a cave and had a secret access tunnel for replenishment and escape if necessary.  This tunnel was used on one occasion to torment the attackers after a long campaign by picking fresh cherries and tossing them down upon them.  Second, like adding additions to a house, this started small and more castle was built up around it overtime preserving the earlier inner castle versions along the way.  Finally, the most significant occupant had been killed by a catapulted rock while he was answering natures call.  Oh, and I managed to get a great shot of some hot-red hair.  She moved on me a few times but I managed to get her and the castle in the same shot without blowing my cover.

The Huth party waged an occupy style sit-in at McDonalds as we laid siege to a comfy corner of the Udine, Italy McCafe for the 3 hours leading up to our 11:09 PM train departure for Linz, Austria.  We did buy a Coke, two ice cream cones, fries and a salad from those money grubbing capitalists who happened to have some American comfort food and a nice place to hang that was not the train station.

No cuts, no butts (sp), no coconuts.  We, Patti, has found that, just like in America, we have to use the bathroom on a regular frequency.  Also, like in America, the guys have no line and the girls line never ends.  The similarities end there as Patti has been on the receiving end of a rather bold move made by some bathroom patrons whilst she has waited patiently in line.  About 80% of the time, a woman, older but not necessarily hot-red in the hair, will wander in with complete disregard for the line, try all the stall doors, then stand at the front to take the next available.  Patti, being the bold American, will tap her on the shoulder and give her the international sign for 'hey lady, there is a line', and that usually does the trick.  Patti has received some kudos from her fellow Bathroom Betty's and hopes this will empower the women of Europe to take back their right to civilized queuing.

Until next time, the pics are up in the Ljubljana section.