Julian Alps

City streets hiking, around the lake hiking, up the hill to the castle hiking, down alpine roads hiking, and gorge hiking. My legs are stronger and more fit than they've been in a while. Last night before we picked up Dan (Ron's brother who is joining us for a few days) at the train station and had a late dinner, we hiked the Vintgar Gorge. It was a trail with extensive parts that were fastened to the cliff side and jutting out over the river.

Today we rented a car to drive through the Alps. It was a hair-raising drive over the Vrsich Pass and down the Soca River Valley. This was the location of some heavy battles during WWI. Ernest Hemingway drove ambulance in this area and wrote "Farewell to Arms" set in this area. It was an amazing drive. Because the roads were so narrow it was difficult to stop and get photos so just take my word for how breathtaking it was. The villages we came to were throwbacks in time with old stone facades, colorful window boxes and set almost on the road. In one town, three old women in headscarves and skirts sat outside the front door chatting -- looking like a photo from early 20th century Italy.

The chapel picture is a monument to Russian POWs (WWI) who died building the road over Vrsich Pass.