Monthly Archives: May 2013
Mdina & Rabat, Malta
Mdina lies almost in the center of Malta high on a hill. The walled city is so immaculately preserved that it almost feels a little like a movie set! With only a few hundred residents, the Silent City as it is also called, is a peaceful and lovely town. The view from the walls. … Continue reading
Mellieha & Mosta, Malta
Mellieha is a relatively young city by Maltese standards. Located at the northern end of the island of Malta, the area was sparsely populated for hundreds of years due to its vulnerability to pirate attacks. Under the British, settlement was encouraged in the mid 19th century and town Mellieha is home to around 8,000 people. … Continue reading
Comino & Gozo, Malta
By far the smallest of Malta's 3 islands, Comino is just 3.5 square kilometers. What it lacks in permanent residents (the number varies between 1 and 3 depending on your source), it more than makes up for with hotel guests and day trippers when the sun is shining. The island is reachable with a quick … Continue reading
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Small and friendly, Ljubljana is so cute I wanted to cuddle it and put it in my pocket for safe keeping. The main square, Prešernov Trg, features a statue of Slovenia's beloved poet, France Prešeren, standing underneath his muse. Across the square is a small statue of a woman looking out of a second floor … Continue reading
Black & white Ljubljana
Along the river, tourists and locals can be found wandering and enjoying the cafes at all hours. But just by turning a corner, especially at night, I would suddenly find myself the only person around in a dead quiet street. It felt quiet and peaceful, never spooky or lonely, so it just seemed like a … Continue reading
The bridges of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Of the dozens of bridges that cross the Ljubljanica River as it winds its way through the heart of Slovenia's capital, four in particular are noteworthy. The Triple Bridge wasn't always a triple bridge. A stone arch bridge connected the two sides but became too congested with horses and people over time. In 1929, … Continue reading
Maribor, Slovenia
Maribor, in the northeast, is the second largest city in Slovenia after the capital. The Town Hall is located in the central square alongside a nice looking monument. Upon closer inspection, the column monument turned out to be the Plague Monument, dedicated to the memory of the 1/3 of the city's residents who died … Continue reading
Lake Bled & Vintgar Gorge, Slovenia
I had seen enough photos of Lake Bled and the picturesque island nestled at its far end to be really excited to arrive there. I was hoping to go whitewater rafting in the emerald green Soča River, take a long hike in Triglav National Park, and maybe do some rock climbing, too, except that it … Continue reading
Giro d’Italia: stage 9
Today’s stage was 181 kilometers long with several steep climbs thrown in. Beginning in Sansepolcro, the stage featured several rated climbs and finished with one last climb up to Florence’s Piazzale Michelangelo. I found a great spot just a couple of meters shy of the finish line where I watched the crew finish setting … Continue reading
Giro d’Italia: stage 8 time trial
I was literally up with the sun this morning just to be sure that I would catch a train and arrive in Gabicce Mare, Italy with enough time to secure a prime viewing spot for today's stage of the Giro d'Italia. Stage 8 was a 54.8 kilometer individual time trial on a tough and unusually … Continue reading