WPC: Re.silly.ence

Here it is, a new year, and this fact alone proves how resilient we are. Something else is beating us in the resilient game though, counting centuries when we count years.

(We shall leave the sentence above as is and shall not prove it wrong by calculus.)

Where I live now – southern Tuscany – mountains are replaced by cheeky little hillocks playing to be volcanoes, that’s why I’m most impressed by Slovenian mountains whenever I return. Even if I merely watch them from afar.

But first a recap of the last week in 2016 on my blog:

• I took you along on a path around Roma’s Monteverde where we encountered unusual sightings;
• I showed you twelve photos from February, taken within a 15-minute driving distance from home;
• I showed you a window in Piazza Navona in four moments in time;
• then we reached Slovenia and took the first hedonistic walk along the Slovenian coast to Lucija and Portorož;
• Thursday Doors were freshly baked: that day we visited a nature reserve and coastal town Isola;
• and yesterday I shouted out Happy New Year from the highest and the deepest that Slovenia has to offer.

The photo in that last post was taken two days ago when we visited Goriška Brda, also called “Slovenian Tuscany”, a prime wine-making region near Nova Gorica, a border town with Italy. We climbed (well, our car did) the hill above Gorica called Sabotin where a huge inscription “Tito” is persevering, despite some changes. (For example, two years ago it was briefly changed into “THC”).

From its top there is a view towards Mt. Kanin (2200 m) with the highest Slovenian skiing centre which has just opened again after four years. Even a quick glance from afar proves that so far there is very little snow on Slovenian mountains this winter.

If you make a few steps to the other side of Sabotin, you can see Mt. Triglav, the highest Slovenian mountain at 2864 m, and the Soča river running below with its peculiar blue-green colour which evades the lens so you must visit and see it for yourself.

But when you look at the same mountains from the seaside, can it be that you see one (Triglav) from Izola and the other (Kanin) from Piran, no matter that both towns only lie 10 km apart?

This photo was taken from a gas station above Izola before we even started our trip.

See, there is the sea. And this is Triglav, three-headed highest Slovenian peak. It’s been confirmed by experts.

Then we passed Nova Gorica and drove to the top of Sabotin. Mt. Kanin presiding.

A view of Goriška Brda, “Slovenian Tuscany”.

A close-up of Kanin, the skiing grounds with not much snow this winter.

These mountains in the distance we shall let be as they are – unnamed.

This is WW1 territory. The Isonzo Front was right here. On top of Sabotin tranches have been excavated and surrounded by barb wire.

There are also caves and you can only imagine what went on in there.

Pilgrimages are often made to Sveta gora on the left.

When you exit the caves and turn the corner – there it is, Triglav again.

Surprisingly little snow here as well.

Sveta gora from close up.

This was taken from Šmartno, an amazingly beautifully restored town. More from here coming up soon.

Some more Slovenian Tuscany before I return to the real one.

Another one from Šmartno: Kanin in the back.

Still Kanin, this one is from Dobrovo Castle.

The castle has lovely natural frames.

The last view towards Kanin.

And this is the first batch of photos for this year from this morning.

No matter that Piran lies 100 km away from Brda, this again appears to be Kanin, rather than Triglav which you can see from Izola in my previous post. No matter what it is – enjoy!

Photo: a © signature mmm production

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Resilient