Slovenia Road Ways - TRAVEL - HUMANITIES - Two on the Loose

Old Yugoslavia. Slovenes in Trieste. The Three-Sided Cooker: Changing rule, and minorities.

2008-06-09T17:11:00.001-07:00

Slovenia's Setting

A Straddling of Cultures, Wars

Slovenes in Trieste

Small countries at the crossroads of great powers, such as Slovenia, may lose identity temporarily as the great powers and their wars sort themselves out. Trieste was caught in that crossfire, once part of the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire, now, after two world wars, Trieste is part of Italy. Discussions of Trieste straddle two of our own sites as we travel on our own in the region: 1) see Trieste Road Ways, and 2) Croatia Road Ways; and 3) Austria Road Ways,

A casual traveler will be confused at the outset, and remain confused about who was part of Slovenia history, and when, and why. Our own visit was a quick in-and-out, consisting
of two basic site in Slovenia, just because we happened to be nearby: Lake Bled, with less expensive overnight accommodations are at nearby Kranj; and then the capital, Ljubljana. There are also parks and Alps. We wish we had had more time. Take that time.
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Take much more time. The bucolic views of the castles and lake are only one aspect of this area. This is a vibrant culture, where conquerors marched and divided, and the consequences are still being felt.
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And appreciate the history of this region. See timelines. This one starts, however, at the close of WWI, in 1918, with the downfall of the old Austro-Hungarian Empire, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/1097340.stm

After WWI. Slovenia becomes part of a new conglomerate of nations, Yugoslavia -- Croatians, Slovenes, and Serbians. Nazi Germany and Italy then occupy it at WWII.
After WWII. In the years following, Slovenia becomes part of a socialist conglomerate "Yugoslavia" -- adding more nations. In 1989, Slovenia seeks to secede, and does so. 2002: Slovenia joins NATO, and in 2003, is supported in its quest to become part of the EU.
If you or your children are lacking in this basic history before going to this or any overseas area, you are shortchanging yourself if you do not plan to research it, before or after.

Seek more than a mere WWI-WWII Timeline. Find this timeline going far behind WWI: to 43,000 BC -- see http://timelines.ws/countries/SLOVENIA.HTML That gives a realistic sense of the reach of these cultures, these issues.

Slovenia, Trieste, Italy, Balkans - Croatia, Austria. Interwoven.
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1. Triangle of three nations.
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Slovenia and Trieste presents the crossroads of three nations, Slovenia, Italy and Croatia that join at the tip of the Istrian peninsula.
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Prepare to cross several boundaries in a short time and have your car insurance forms in order. If you rent your car in Croatia, as we did, you have open access to Slovenia and Italy. If you rent in Italy, however (Trieste), you cannot cross over into Croatia.
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2. Population shows history. All is not Italian.

Trieste. Trieste now is part of Italy, but the population of Slovenes remains substantial in Trieste and the region. See Trieste at Trieste Road Ways, Crossroads and Minorities. In 1911, a third of the population of Trieste was Slovene. And in the rural areas surrounding, at least 90% were Slovene. See http://www.ce-review.org/01/6/pozun6.html No wonder Trieste had so many suitors. Look at the location. Admire and envy the Trieste urban kayakers downtown - port and dock area now includes recreation. But then see the mountain areas surrounding, like a bowl, and remember the atrocities of WWII there.

3. Crises.

After WWII, Slovenia wanted Trieste, as did Croatia and Italy.

Italy got Trieste, fully in 1954; see its tactics to get Trieste after WWI at <a href-"http://www.triesteroadways.blogspot,com">Trieste Road Ways</a>.
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But a declaration does not a solution make.
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Slovenia, as part of Yugoslavia, had some leverage against territorial incursions of Italy and Rome. Slovenia has long been a crossroads of trade, culture and conquests, see http://www.15years.gov.si/backround-information/carantania

Look at the history.

Celts, Romans, invasions by Huns and Germanic tribes, dominance by the Germanic Langobards, Slavs, formation of the Duchy of Carantania by Slavic peoples after severing ties with others now in the Czech Republic, Bavarians, Franks, Magyars who then cut off Slovenian Slavs from other Slavs, enabling variations in culture and identity, and on to modern times -- see the 15-years site.
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4. Fast forward to basic Chronology of interweavings. Pre WWI, modern. Slovenia was governed by Austria, the Habsburgs.
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After 1918 - Trieste was given to Italy.
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1920 or so - This was a time of increasing Italian assaults and violence against Slovenes in Trieste, an attempt at forcing assimilation. Banks shut down, Slavic or German languages could not be spoken, priests were arrested and sent into exile. Slovenes even had to take on Italian last names.
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Enter an era of atrocity, as WWII ended. See http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D9163EF933A15757C0A961958260&n=Top/News/World/Countries%20and%20Territories/Serbia%20and%20Montenegro. A long-sought investigation was commenced into the perhaps hundreds and even thousands killed, and left or buried in the mountain ravines surrounding Trieste. But it was soon blocked. Italians and Slovenes both have reasons to avoid exhuming bodies. Read about the foibas - potholes, some large, like mines, where things and people were thrown. http://miran.pecenik.com/ts/balkan/balkan6.htm
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WWII to 1954 - Trieste was administered by British and Americans. There was supposed to be a free city of Trieste, but instead it ended up with the Italians, a sore point to Slovenes who felt betrayed. A 1949 election clearly showed rejection of the idea of secession to the Italians.
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1957 - Belgrade (capital of Yugoslavia) built up a rival port, Koper. It thrived. Trieste lost ground.
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Minority status of Slovenes in Trieste - precarious.
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For nations whose history includes invasions and take-overs, there are broad swings. In Slovenia, there was Rome in ancient times, to self-governing, to medieval Swabian Germans to Habsburg Austrians to WWII Hitlerian nightmares, to multi-nation administration, then a Division regardless. In the United States, we are isolated -- or have been --and our isolation makes our judgments on other people's tumultuous lives look juvenile. As we are, with our 250 years.

The Expunged, Ancient Dynasty of Carantania. Propaganda in Identify Theft. The denied Slavica Lex. Beatrice, of Charlemagne's Line, Denied.

2008-06-08T15:11:00.000-07:00

Carantania. Long gone. Vends. Long gone. But with traces.

Why pay attention to history, especially in a country like Slovenia, small in size, not now a major power, which once was Carantania. What do the Slovenians, as a currently undervalued population in terms of military and commercial control, know of the heritage that once was. Great topic. Go from there to others - indigenous Mexicans - some day we will go there and do a Mexico Road Ways that highlights the glories of any people later taken over, used.

Good reason to look at History. Carantania rising! Hillary Clinton's supporters are expressing their anger and dismay, at US democratic delegate rejection of her candidacy as nominee for the Democratic Party for President of the United States. How culturally-imposed is a perception that women do not belong in leadership positions, is it founded in genetics, and is any of that relevant.

Girls look back

We supported Obama in our house, but remain keenly aware of the issues and empathize with Hillary.

Issue: Are we our history, and if so, can we see what is artificial and cultural. Can we, by education and perspective, change current cultural values -- as not etched in stone at all. Just cultural, and flawed as serving the interests in power at the time they imposed their power.

Identity theft gives a clue: What was there once, was stolen. See the theft at work here in Slovenia, of female place in power with full capacity to act, in the Vendic culture, the peoples known as the Vends, in broad areas of the now-Germany, and Slovenia, with similarities to the Celts.

Best site so far: See Vendic culture at ://www.carantha.net/the_vends_and_the_germans.htm, we suggest, by the macho Germanic types, Swabians and later the Habsburgs (Austria); and specifically, loss of the grand tradition of the ancient Slavica Lex in establishing succession rights for both male and female. Is this right? Follow along. The Carantanian dynasties are also known as "Medieval Slovenian Vendic (Slovenian) State." See the carantha.net site above.

Start with history and the place of men and women.

In Slovenia, political change was forced, as usual. Go to your map and see where we are. We are looking at the old Carantanian dynasties of Slovenia, that were overcome by the German Swabians. See their Schwabisch Hall, town named for the Swabians of old, at Germany Road Ways Schwabisch Hall, Swabians. Swabians made their mark in many places, including Sicily, the Crusades. The Swabians were different from another group living in Germany and Slovenia at the time, these were the Vends. Their laws and customs were nothing like the Swabians. So: from which group do present Germans derive, the Swabians or the Vends.

But it was the Swabians that took over Slovenia, and in so doing, the Swabians cast aside a basic tenet of the old Lex Slavica, the Slavic law, that did not differentiate between succession by a female or a male. And this change, this barring of female succession and legal rights to act, affected every land that the Germans took over after that. Scroll down the left-side margin at the carantha.net site, for all the topics.

To the Germans from the North, no. No woman could take the throne. And so it went. And this was also true for the Jewish cultures. Capacity to act, juridical capacity, was a male prerogative. See carantha.net site. Vends also lived in Eastern and Central Germany (not the same borders then) and there are Vendic names of people and towns. See carantha.net site. Near the Elbe River is "Vendland." [do they make square burgers at Vendy's?] Bavaria used to be Vendelicia. Carantha.net site.

Read ://www.theslovenian.com/articles/savli.htm. We were looking up the geneology of Premysl Ottokar II, father of the good Wenceslas, and found this chronology, roughly. Who has time to do all the research on a topic like this, so we lay this one out to encourage replies:

Rough chronology:

1. Tenth Century Slovenia was comprised of a combination of Franks and Slovenians, based on the old "Carantanian" social structure, with leaders from the villages elected to a general assembly. Lords, however, were hereditary. There were three major dynasties or "houses." The people were "Vends" - a population that spread through much also of eastern and central Germany. See the German maypoles today, and traces of the custom to the Vends. See Germany Road Ways, Maypoles; and Germany Road Ways, Vends.

2. One "house" connected to the Swabians in Germany (currently in Germany) through Beatrice; this "house" produced the dynasty of Carantania. Not entirely clear on details, this is only so far.

3. This dynasty is significant because Carantanian law permitted succession to any child, male or female. The last duke of this line was Ulric III in 1269, and he appointed our research subject, Otokar II, to the throne - Otokar was King of Bohemia, in the current Czech Republic. See Czech Republic Road Ways - Hluboka nad Vltavou. Otokar was a maternal cousin.

Then, in time, the Swabians from Germany, who also went to Sicily, see a Schwabian town at Germany Road Ways, Schwabisch Hall. the Habsburgs from Austria took over, and - stay with us here - the German and Habsburg line refused to recognize the Carantanian dynasty or its laws, and imposed instead, the German.

4. The old Carantanian law was known as the "Slavica Lex" and soon diminished in influence, and understanding. This means no more female succession in the Carantanian lands. Yet, even today, the Swabian coat of arms in Germany bears the reference to Beatrice, and the female succession from the Carantanian and Slavica lex, law of the Slavs.

5. And it is Beatrice who is of Carolingian descent - from Charlemagne. She is considered the "mother" of the two houses of Carantania.

6. In the 14th Century, the Habsburgs from Austria took over Slovenia. More Germanic roots. See ://www.slovenia.si/history/habsburgs/

Soon the Carantanian culture was so downtrodden that the Slovenian people were referred to by the rulers only as "historical serfs." See theslovenian.com site.

In the 15th and 16th Centuries, in came Turkish influence. See ://www.slovenia.si/history/habsburgs/. And in 1572-73, the peasants' revolt. One system of laws followed by another with each cultural overrun, and none serving the needs of the Slovenes. Uprisings continued until the mid 18th century.

In current times, according to theslovenian.com site, this attitude followed through to Serbia and the old Yugoslavia, of which Slovenia was a part, in imposing from Belgrade a "cheap instrument for their ideological and political manipulation."

Other devalued populations today. Probably not "inherently" so - who did what to them when.

European Union - Slovenia Holds Current Presidency

2008-01-22T00:10:00.000-08:00

The value or membership in the European Union to a small nation - here, small-sized Slovenia enjoys its turn at the rotating presidency trio of the EU: Slovenia, Germany and Portugal this time. Jose Manuel Barroso lays out his priorities at ://ec.europa.eu/commission_barroso/president/focus/slovenian-presidency/index_en.htm. See ://www.eu2007.de/en/The_Council_Presidency/trio/index.html (German perspective) and ://www.mzz.gov.si/fileadmin/pageuploads/Novinarsko_sredisce/sta/maj-ang.pdf (Slovenian perspective). Slovenia presides beginning 2008.

Particular interest: the issue of Kosovo's independence arises in 2008, see topic already in headlines, at ://eux.tv/article.aspx?articleId=19700. Meeting in Ljubljana, Slovenia's capital, already held in January 2008. See Ljubljana posts here for photos.

However, Russia and the United States apparently are not attending. Great, guys. Slovenia is a neighbor in the Balkans, was part of the old Yugoslavia, as was Serbia and Kosovo, Croatia and Bosnia and Montenegro - it has unique knowledge and perspective. Listen up, someone, please.

Ljubljana, capitol - French. Austrian and Jewish connections

2007-10-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

In the city, there are canals and other waterways, markets, and this Square commemorating the French. The French occupied Ljubljana from 1809-1813; then the area came under Austrian control. See www.ljubljana.si/en/ljubljana/history/18th-19th/default. There you will find more on Ljubljana in the 18th-19th Centuries.

Napoleon is well respected here, and the French are seen as less exploitative than other occupiers. See www.ijs.si/slo/ljubljana/ for more on Ljubljana.

The Jewish population was small by 1919, and they joined with the Jewish community in Zagreb, Croatia. Their history in Slovenia dates from Roman days. See www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/slovenia. Do look up Jewish history and culture in Slovenia and the other Balkan countries. The populations were decimated in World War II in many places. Renewals are happening, though, and the European Jewish Press cited a specific annual day of celebration of Jewish culture, held in Ljubljana this year. See www.ejpress.org/article/news/10772.

Beats US in education, despite our disregard - Can we learn from that?

2007-10-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

Slovenia. Beautiful, and cultured. It enjoys another side of the Alps. See //www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/europe/slovenia/. As far as most of us are concerned, however, we are in the dark about it. Slovenia used to be part of the countries comprising the old Yugoslavia, and there were many of them: Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia, Slovakia, Montenegro.

1. We don't know where it is. It's just that more people don't have maps in their houses. See //www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57327. Slovenia variously borders Italy and Austria and Croatia - look at a map and find Trieste, Italy - that is a handy reference. It sometimes gets mixed up, by the more mainstream (self-selecting) West with Slovakia, the country that used to be united with the Czech Republic as Czechoslovakia, see //www.slovakia.com/; or with Slavonia, an eastern region of Croatia. See //www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-slavonia-slovakia-and-slovenia.htm
Silly us. Our lack of education is showing.

2. We are very behind it in education. See where the years tested were grades 4, 8, and 12 as follows: Slovenia surpasses the US in Math grades 4 and 12, Science grades 8 and 12, Advanced Science and Advanced Math (both) in Grade 12, See //www.4brevard.com/choice/international-test-scores.htm. This is a site with an ax to grind, in promoting a school voucher program, but their figures may well be fine. You check. You will also find all the other countries we may disparage in our separate ways, that surpass us.

The point is that a major international power is failing its children, while those we sometimes look down upon are succeeding.

Earlier post, 9/06, referred to President Janez Denovsek and his book on leading a life not bound by consumerism or power, but mutual responsibilities, a common good.

We may be seeing more leaders lead in new ways. High time. See the film/book complex by Al Gore - now a Nobel Prize winner, see //nobelpeaceprize.org/; and his film won an Oscar, for "An Inconvenient Truth." Time for a statesman with vision and ability to implement for the common good? Maybe. Who can fit the slipper. Put the wrong foot forward again and everything shatters.

Ljubljana - Peasant Uprising 1515 - Ordinary people, independence

2007-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

Slovenian Peasants' Revolt 1515
See look-back at Contemporary Peasants Uprisings: Issues

Peasants' Revolt 1515, Memorial, Ljubljana, Slovenia

A theme of traveling is finding monuments to people casting off shackles of one kind or another.

In Slovenia, Croatia, elsewhere, it takes the form of peasants rebelling. See //www.posavski-muzej.si/puntarijaang.htm. Here is the 1974 statue on the grounds of Ljubljana Castle commemorating the revolt here in 1515.

Peasants' revolt.

Read Slovenian history at ://www.slovenia.si/history/habsburgs/.

The peasants' revolts continued from the 1500's until the mid-19th Century. Invaders took over the ancient Carantania as it was known, and I understand that the people were 'Vends' or Vendic, in Germany known as Wends, a group that also stretched into large areas of what is now northern Germany.

Among the Carantanians, female succession was considered normal. Women enjoyed full rights of action, protection by law, as any man - the Slavica Lex. No wonder the Roman tradition of Christianity could not stand them.

Then came the German Swabians, with a male culture and stamped out the Slavica Lex, then came the Austrian Habsburgs, and on and on.

Ireland: Another peasants' revolt. See Vinegar Hill., near Wexford, and the farm boys getting out their pikes from the haystacks where they had hidden them, and holding out - not long - against the English Cromwell and his cannons. See Ireland Road Ways, Wexford.

Everyman as Peasant. Ordinary people worldwide.

Put your own face on ordinary people doing these brave things. Look in your own family albums or second-hand shops for those unnamed faces.

This is not a Slovenian, to my knowledge; it came from a dear elderly friend's trunk, long forgotten after her death many years ago; but he could have been in the ranks anywhere of people trying to get out from under.

Ljubljana and Jason - Golden Fleece

2006-12-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

This is Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia. A kind of Venice. Many squares, canals, waterways. Wonderful for walking, with canals coming together with bridges all over.

We are told that Ljubljana was founded by the Greek hero, Jason, who arrived with his Argonauts seeking the Golden Fleece. More at www.ljubljana.si/en/ljubljana/history/default. Find the Ljubljana -Jason connection.

There is more on Ljubljana's past also at that site. Slovenia is a Western Balkan country, but its connections flow strongly to France and Austria.

More blogs about Slovenia Road Ways.

Ljubljana Castle - Ljubljana (city) Austrian-French influence; Jewish history

2006-12-18T07:04:00.000-08:00

Ljubljana Castle. Two cameras, slightly different angles, looks like two different seasons - one shows a tree with the leaves all out, another shows a neighbor just budding. We were there in early May. Travel with a buddy.

Lubljana dominates the view of the capitol city, Ljubljana, as it should. Still, finding the way up is not simple. Go through a park drive, leave the car, and then walk. Detail to check out, next trip: What is the history of using angular towers instead of round? Which came first? The square tower in the background was built in the 1800's. The earliest beginnings of the castle area: 1100's. See www.ljubljana-calling.com/ENG/inCallingZnGrad.

The castle has a cafe, and reception halls - used for many cultural events. See www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Slovenia/Mestna_Obcina_Ljubljana/Ljubljana-688015/Things_To_Do-Ljubljana-Ljubljana_Castle-BR-1.
Wear good walking shoes - parking on the way up the hillside is limited, and the road hairpins.

Links, posts

2006-12-10T09:32:00.000-08:00

References to third-part sites here are in written form, not the direct quick-click link in the familiar blue underlining. This appears prudent, see www.bitlaw.com and other sites on the convoluted area of copyright, internet and the like. A loss. Writing out web addresses instead of linking defeats the speed-access, hop-around exhilaration, of the web. Surely somebody smart can work out reasonable copyright protections for the internet setting in a better way.

Posts: These are laid out in the itinerary order, not necessarily by actual date. This made more sense in a travel-site. A new post may appear at the beginning, but will probably be incorporated elsewhere later on.

Technorati Profile

People conflicts; Gypsies (Roma) - And Music

2006-12-06T18:36:00.000-08:00

Gypsies. Beautiful music, background still misty. Here is some of the music: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6077876602430937809". This particular bit is Russian, but you can search for gypsy music and get many nationalities, and there are broad similarities.

The most beautiful, neat settings can foster deep-rooted prejudices, people against people, like anywhere. Here is a New York Times article, nytimesagency.com/preview/NTA2006112674803, that reports on one particular Slovenia Roma family forced out of home.

A simple search of news for "Slovenia gypsies" produces many more articles on the overall topic. We saw gypsies (known as Roma) mostly in Romania, and Croatia, but we were also looking for them more there. There is a wide variety of economic situations among them, as with any group, and some are in traditional costume, others blend.

Here is a site to remember: www.politicalgateway.com/news/read/47348. This site lets you click on the different countries for overviews on Roma and progress (or not) and learn about the history.

Also see our country-blog, Romania Road Ways.

Here is a site where you can scroll down to the music part - click, and enjoy. Go to www. worldmusic.nationalgeographic.com/worldmusic [the rest of the address would be /view/page.basic/genre/content.genre/roma__gypsy__music_778]. One of my favorits is this traditional Balkan singer - sounded very familiar after hearing radios and groups in pubs. Excellent.

New thinking- President Janez Drnovsek

2006-09-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

A government's leaders can set the tone and priorities that citizens value. See and compare the tone of this country through an interview with Mr. Denovsek when he was Prime Minister: at www.nekdanji-pv.gov.si/2000-2002/en/elementi/vsebina.php?&v1=../&v2=vsebina/&amp;v3=mediji/&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;v4=clanki/&v5=el-mundo.php.
See his book, below. Not that all his ideas are implemented, but he spearheads more than consumerism.

The President of Slovenia, Janez Drnovsek, joins the many in Slovenia's history, and those of other countries, who periodically emerge to change the Powers. People like him may lose ultimately when they go against the power-finance tides, but keep watching.

Mr. Drnovsek's book. Janez Drnovsek, in taking on the Powers, takes a different tack - he has written a new age-type book, "Thoughts on Life and Awareness," that references his survival of kidney cancer and that he attributes to a vegetarian diet, positive thought processes, natural remedies and other means, including fasting. The book is reviewed in the New York Times 9/9/06, in "the Saturday Profile" section. This includes human interest stories including his discovery that he has a 19 year old daughter, and their now close relationship. He seeks to apply his new vision to world affairs.

Read the review on line at that author's blog, try the long form first, then keep shortening it until you get it. How much easier a direct link would be. www.mojavas.blogspot.com/2006/09/drnovek-profiled-in-new-york-times.

Rethinking leaders? Yes.

An interview with Mr. Denovsek when he was Prime Minister, his articles and speeches, are at www.phnekdanji-pv.gov.si/2000-2002/en/elementi/vsebina.

Slovenia, history overview, and the old Yugoslavia

2006-08-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

This black bear was in our yard in US (tagged B-4 and later sedated and moved 10 miles away, to bigger woods). We thought of him as we read of the bears in Slovenia mostly brown bears, I understand. Slovenia is bear-friendly. See www.slonews.sta.si/index.

Slovenia is a beautiful and very tidy-looking country. Strong alpine influence, efforts to improve and restore habitats for wildlife. Do a search for walking tours, natural history tours, and the photos and accounts are splendid.

Slovenia was part of the Austrio-Hungarian Empire until WWI. The country then joined the Serbs and Croats as part of Yugoslavia in 1929. There is a good historical overview, a photo gallery and easy-to-read map at www.uvi.si/eng/. Click on the presentation and photos sections especially. This is the government Public Relations and Media Office.

Slovenia consists of varied cultures, related to a broad range of geographic features. For an overview, see www.rtd.si/sycp/documents/discoverSlovenia/area_by_area. If you cannot get that site, then try just the "rtd.si/sycp." There also is a beautiful poster under a search for "rtd." Alps, skiing, all beautiful and mostly prosperous-looking.

Groups have struggled for centuries with invaders and internal ruler issues, as did the rest of Europe. The Balkans were at a particularly divisive crossroads, and now part of the Balkans, like Slovenia, and Croatia seem to look north, to France and Austria-Hungary; and other parts of the Balkans seem to look south, to Turkey, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Serbia, Albania.

Recommendation: Find a copy of the old Baedeker's Yugoslavia (Jarrold&Sons Ltd., Norwich, Great Britain 1987-89) complete with old map. Baedeker's alphabetical list and pictures of all the main places for all the countries, not by separate country, and excellent understandable history, make for easy reading. Roads different, of course, but cultural descriptions remain.

The listing of previously separate ethnic groups/countries there are: Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Vojvodina (now part of Croatia), Beograd (as its own listing), Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Macedonia. Baedeker at page 9.

After WWII, Yugoslavia began to identify less with Russia, but remained communist. In 1991, it declared its independence from Yugoslavia, after a brief war; and by now - 2006 - all the former Yugoslavian states (Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Slovenia) are independent. There have been horrific wars and ethnic-religious killing in those other areas.

Some regions within the original Yugoslavian states are also in process of determining whether to be independent (such as Kosovo, from Serbia). See CIA informational website, with map and factbook, at www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/si. From the map, you see a small port access area south of Trieste (part of Italy), but the rest of the country is landlocked, much within sight of the Alps.

The tourist board has set up several recommended tourist routes -- as in Germany, taking themes and showing you where to go for those theme. Those sound good if you are focusing on Slovenia for a larger part of your trip. See map and info at www.slovenia.info/?stranske_poti=0.

Kranj - for a local overnight instead of crowded Lake Bled

2006-06-09T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is an old industrial town, now revitalizing itself by renovating the old area. See www.randburg.com/si/kranj. It is a "regular" business center and residential town, close to the touristy Lake Bled - so it is good for the overnight. It has a lovely old pedestrianized square, and - as we have found each time no matter where we were, a good hotel. The earliest settlements there date from the 1st Century BC, says the site.

Although Slovenia is part of the EU, there had not been the full shift to the euro. Be prepared to have to use local currency, with the exchange rates, etc. Check it out first. You will lose out with each exchange.

Lake Bled

2006-06-09T08:15:00.000-07:00

This is picture postcard - holiday card country. It has long been a resort, with walks and drives all around. There are other fine photos at websites from a search for photos Lake Bled. The site also gives the historical overview. The country has a shorter history as an independent land, but its roots go back to Roman times, and before. A search for history Lake Bled should show a site identified as "Bled Through History." That leads to a large information place - back to the Ice Age when the lake was formed.

See also www.resort-bled.com. For logistics - where necessities are in the Lake Bled area, see www.itisnet.com. Festivals, hotels, bus and stations, police, prices for tickets.

Our photo is the required view of Lake Bled, with the Church of the Assumption on the island. It www.uvi.si/eng/slovenia/photos/tourism/. The Church is 17th century, and the bell rings often. Each time, the wish of the ringer will be granted. Yes. Other tourist sites are listed at www.itisnet.com, under "Sight" as you scroll down.

More Lake Bled - you can't help it

2006-06-09T06:17:00.000-07:00

Lake Bled. Pictures, pictures. We did not spend the night, because of all the touristy hotels, but moved on to our preference for less-pricey places. We found Kranj instead, and it had a real-town feel to it.

Slovenia is the ultimate Christmas card country, with the tidy villages and onion dome churches. For us, it was visually much like other parts of Europe, so we focused on other Balkan states. For more photos of the area, you may want to visit this website: community.webshots.com. Plug in Slovenia in the Europe category. People post pictures on that site from all over the world. There are also other album-type sites, but we liked the Slovenia photos on this one.

Itinerary After the Fact

2006-06-09T06:11:00.000-07:00

We incorporated parts of Slovenia into our Croatia trip. First, we landed in Zagreb, Croatia, and headed to Rijeke, Croatia; and further east to the Istrian Peninsula, where Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy (Trieste) share boundaries. From Croatia's Istria we went on to Trieste; then back to Slovenia across and south, again to Rijeke, Croatia. This makes sense if you look at a map - just search for Istria.

Then, after being a length of time in Croatia, Bosnia and Montenegro, we drove from the crossroads at Karlovac, Croatia, back to Slovenia, through Ribnik, Metlika, Toplice, Novo Mesto, and Trebnje. There we got on the motorway to to Llubljana, the capital of Slovenia, and on to Lake Bled. Return trip: another way, back through Kranj for the night, and then the motorway to Zagreb, Croatia.