We stayed another night in Ljubljana in order to drop off our car and then fly to Istanbul. We thought it would be simple but it wasn't. When we went to check in for our flight, which had a lay over in Belgrade, Serbia we saw that they had changed the time of our flight from Ljubljana to Belgrade to 8pm that night. However, they did not change the time of our flight from Belgrade to Istanbul. That flight was still a go for 12pm. See the problem? And since it was Saturday, none of the offices were open for us to call and figure out what the deal was. So after spending over an hour trying to figure that out, we lifted up the problem to Jesus and set out to a BBQ put on by our hostel. We went to bed early in order to catch a 5:15am shuttle to the airport to talk to the airline.
The lady at the information center was very helpful and helped us get in contact with all parties necessary to figure out what the deal was. The deal was, that when we booked our flight 5 months ago the AM flight to Belgrade was a new thing and then later they changed it to an every other day thing and we were trying to fly out on the off day. So, we got a refund on our tickets, bought some with an airline that was actually flying to Istanbul that day and waited around for 8 hours for our flight. On the plus side, I was able to map out our time in Istanbul and get lots of reading done. Fortunately the airport, which was about the size of my high school, had free fast wifi. In the end we made it to Istanbul and that's all that really matters.
Saturday, August 9, 2014
Predjama Castle and the Postojna Caves July 19
When we left Trieste, Italy we decided to stop at the Predjama Castle along the way. Ben had looked up directions and written them down before we left but even still it was quite confusing getting there. There are no street names and many, many small villages that we had to drive through to find it. As we were about to give up we saw a sign for the castle and eventually found our way there. The castle is built into the caves. The most famous occupant was Erasmus, a Slovenian Robin Hood. He lived there during a one year siege because he was able to walk through the caves to the other side to get food etc. It is said that he would through fresh fruit and vegetables at the men sieging the castle just to mock them. In the end he was betrayed by one of his servants and was shot with an arrow while sitting on the toilet.
After the castle we went to the Postojna caves. So beautiful!! There were stalagmites and stalactites everywhere, a 'spaghetti' room, wide open caverns with huge pillars; it was quite spectacular! To get into the main part, we took a train ride in for about 2 or 3 kilometers and then we walked around with a guide for a few kilometers. The caves maintain a steady 48 degrees throughout the year. We also saw the "human fish" or olm, one of the creatures of the caves. They are called the "human fish" because its skin is flesh covered.
The Predjama Castle
The torture room.
Trying to stay protected from the sun while waiting for our tour of the Postojna caves to begin.
The underground river in the caves.
The building on the far left is where we entered the caves. We saw about 5 kilometers of the caves but they are about 20 km long. This video shows a little bit more of the caves: Postojna Caves
After the castle we went to the Postojna caves. So beautiful!! There were stalagmites and stalactites everywhere, a 'spaghetti' room, wide open caverns with huge pillars; it was quite spectacular! To get into the main part, we took a train ride in for about 2 or 3 kilometers and then we walked around with a guide for a few kilometers. The caves maintain a steady 48 degrees throughout the year. We also saw the "human fish" or olm, one of the creatures of the caves. They are called the "human fish" because its skin is flesh covered.
The Predjama Castle
The torture room.
Trying to stay protected from the sun while waiting for our tour of the Postojna caves to begin.
The underground river in the caves.
The building on the far left is where we entered the caves. We saw about 5 kilometers of the caves but they are about 20 km long. This video shows a little bit more of the caves: Postojna Caves
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Trieste 18-19
We didn't get to Trieste until about 5pm and then we had difficulty finding the hotel. We were trying to look across four lanes of traffic to read the small street signs posted on the corner of the buildings. Needless to say, not easy. Eventually we did find the hotel. We got settled and then headed out to explore a bit and find some dinner. We were pretty tired so we called it early and headed back to bed.
To Trieste via the Julian Alps July 18
It was a beautiful drive through the Julian Alps and Triglav National Park. To get to the summit there were 24 hairpin turns, 26 on the way down. We saw lots of WWI sights, including a cemetery, Fort Kluže and bunkers along the road.
A Russian chapel built in honor of the Russian laborers who died in WWI. Many of the them died on the mountain in an avalanche.
See the lighter part of the rock? It is supposed to be the face of a girl who was cursed and now she looks down on everyone.
A picture of what the cemetery used to look like:
Fort Kluže
See the rungs? The soldiers used them to get from the fort to the top of the mountain quickly.
A Russian chapel built in honor of the Russian laborers who died in WWI. Many of the them died on the mountain in an avalanche.
See the lighter part of the rock? It is supposed to be the face of a girl who was cursed and now she looks down on everyone.
A picture of what the cemetery used to look like:
Fort Kluže
See the rungs? The soldiers used them to get from the fort to the top of the mountain quickly.
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