Bear Diversity

Last night’s last dinner with the five of us included a circle of appreciation and there was much to appreciate about each person in the group and the group as a whole. In a situation where there were lots of decisions to be made—about the route, about the restaurant, about the time to meet for breakfast and more— we always arrived amiably at an agreement. Long hours at the dinner table never brought uncomfortable silences as if we had run out of things to talk about and indeed, there was much conviviality and good humor. When the group met my various Orff friends, I was mightily impressed with their social skills, asking good questions and engaging in interesting conversations. We capped it off with a sunset drink on the rooftop bar and went to bed.

 

The next morning was our last breakfast and we ended up splitting up, Karen, Terry and I walking up to the hillside castle (of course) while Gerri swam in the sea and Dennis put the finishing touches on their packing. Then we went with them to the bus station and had our farewell lunch at a nearby restaurant before bidding them goodbye. They’re off to Trieste for three days, then fly to Brooklyn to see their grandkids before heading home finally to San Francisco.

 

With a few hours left, the three of us dipped into the sea, a pleasant temperature and less sun-blazing day than yesterday and then sat in the shade of the hotel verandah, reading, writing and sketching. Then off we went to the bus station, having triple checked that the bus left at 4:36 and not at 4:15 and 4:50 as it said at the station. Got there around 4:14, no 4:15 bus, a bus pulled up at 4:35, but it wasn’t the right one and the driver had no idea when the right one would come. Finally, the right one pulled up at 4:50, but filled with passengers and those of us waiting crowded around the door with no regard for order of arrival. We were too polite and the bus driver angrily barked there was only room for 11 people and that left us and 5 other people out. When we asked when the next bus would come, he brusquely shrugged and said, “I don’t know” and drove off. 

 

Off all the things I have found so impressive about Slovenia, the bus system is now off the list. There was an English couple and a Finnish couple with us and we called a taxi on the off-chance someone would be willing to drive us two hours to Ljubljana. One said yes, for 200 Euros, more than twice as much as the bus would have cost us per person. But what choice did we have? While waiting for the taxi, we also called our hotel and they offered to take us for 280 Euros. When 15 minutes had come and gone, we saw a taxi van approach and waved him down, sure it was our driver. It wasn’t, but he was willing to take us for 180 Euros. We jumped on it and jumped in and cancelled the cab, which was 10/15 minutes late anyway. He drove a short distance and then stopped and got out to talk to a cab driver behind him, who turned out to be the one we cancelled. He agreed with us that “you shnooze, you lose” and we went on at our agreed-upon price. 

 

Back to the same Ljubljana hotel we had been at a week ago, but now in perfect summer weather rather than rain. We sauntered down to the river and found a Japanese ramen restaurant with outside seating by the riverside. Joy of joys! Edamame! Tofu! Udon noodles! A treat for the tongue and the weather and setting just perfect. Walking back, we passed through outdoor restaurants on both sides of the path, the evening humming with the buzz of companionship—good food, good company, good weather, good sights for the eye in need of aesthetic refreshment. 

After dinner, we made our way to the bear sculptures where various artists representing some 140 countries tried to capture a bit of their identity through painting the same bear 140 different ways. So fun to see them all, from the whimsical to the profound. I counted 54 countries that I had been to and felt a special interest in what they chose. (I have not given up on the photo gallery version of this trip. If I can make it work, it will come.)

 

Tomorrow the castle, the park and more strolling await on our last full day of a most marvelous three weeks. And true to form, some rain is predicted!

 

Good night!