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Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Portoroz, Slovenia.
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Tito’s Bridge with a looming mega-mall in the background.
If I had to pick one picture that kind of captures Slovenia for me, this would be it. In the foreground you can see Tito’s bridge, a drab socialist construction from the year 1963. It spans the river Drava and leads (inexorably, one is tempted to say) to Europark, a hulking, brightly-lit, 95.000-square-meter temple of consumerism built around the turn of the millennium.
It’s almost like revisiting the Cold War: two massive constructions facing each other down, nose-to-nose. On the one hand, the cold, ugly and strictly utilitarian bridge. And on the other, the colorful and beloved center of endless diversion.
And never the twain shall meet.
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Yes, Mike you’re right, it’s like you’ve read my mind (was I ever your guide in MB?:-)) I always show this to my visitors in MB and the ones coming from former YU are always amazed and nostalgic about not re-naming the bridge. There were times in SLO when we had ideas about renaming those constructions, streets, squares etc. But fortunately, some people have been smart enough to decline to do that. After all, it’s part of our history, some other times, that were different and perhaps more relaxed. Anyway, we don’t build those kind of things anymore (monuments and similar). For me, Tito’s bridge and monument of Victory (so called Kojak) are great symbols of our republic.
I really can’t see why Tito’s bridge
(second one from the bottom) is ugly. Probably cold, but ugly? It was
even great architecture achievement (longest span between peers in
Yugoslavia) in the time it was erected. And Eurpoark is nice? Do names
something to d with it?
for me a picture to summarize slovenia would certainly have lots of nature in it. at least some forest or even a picture of vintgar pri bledu.http://www.burger.si/Slapovi/Bled/Vintgar/Vintgar.htm http://www.bled.si/default.asp?id=154 i was also in MB and to me this bridge looks nice too. many buildings in ljubljana certainly look very blocky/communist style.
Well, Slovenia (or this part of then Yugoslavia, if you will) was always a place where east and west meet. The border between Yugoslavia and Italy was the only border between east and west bloc that didn’t sport a barbed wire and crossing the border was relatively easy (given the standards at the time). I’m not saying that there was free movement of people, but it wasn’t a Berlin wall either.
Matej, you’re probably right. "Ugly" is a bit much, although I guess it always depends on one’s frame of reference. It doesn’t quite stand out, or compare to say, the Golden Gate Bridge or Charles Bridge. And I don’t think any tourism sites give it a special mention or anything. So, I would take that back. And for the record, I don’t think Europark can be described as beautiful — just colorful and beloved. (They’ve had 20 million customers in four years, according to their site.) God knows I’m often in there.When I think of Slovenia, or describe it to outsiders, I usually go along the same track as Emmanuel does. But I think those kinds of pictures show Slovenia at its finest, rather than capture a metaphorical message about the country. (Insofar as that’s possible) Also, I’ve never seen Vintgar — this will be something I’ll have to remedy.
Won’t there soon be much of the white stuff? Not the grey snow
that’s in the pic, but genuine
white-make-everything-beautiful-stuff? That should eliminate the
ugly. Even Tito looked comforting in snow.
"Won’t there soon be much of the white stuff? Not the grey snow
At least for me. But I agree: better white than grey.
that’s in the pic, but genuine
white-make-everything-beautiful-stuff? "You mean white like this. Not such a good idea
Matej,Those are some scary-ass pictures, especially the Belina one. But if the snow is powder, wouldn’t the landing be softer than if there were no snow at all?
"wouldn’t the landing be softer than if there were no snow at all? "Yes, but there are no thermals while snow is covering the land :-(