MESSNER CHRISTMAS NEWSLETTER - 2014 December 16th.

We just wanted to take the time to wish all our friends a Merry Christmas!

Just click on the Link below & the Christmas Newsletter should open in Google Drive for you.

Happy New Year!
Jim & Barb.

Messner Christmas - 2014 Newsletter - December 16, 2014

Piran, Slovenia and Home

After our four days in Ljubljana we took a bus over to the Adriatic coast and stayed in a very nice town called Piran.

Now let me answer before you ask. Yes... This was probably my favorite place on the whole trip. In fact so far, its one of my favorite places in Europe.

Small, friendly, inexpensive and scenic. Oh and did I mention it is right on the coast of the Adriatic Sea! You can't get much better than that in my books. I love being next to the ocean!

How do we find these places you ask?
I have no idea, its all Barb and I give her credit for finding these jewels. We love going to places off the tourist path as you may have noticed and this is one of the best kept secrets. Sure Europeans come here in season, but people from our end of the world rarely set foot here. I'm glad, the less tourists the less a place gets ruined by greed and capitalism.

The bus we took to Piran.
European buses are more modern than ours!

We haven't seen many police since leaving Italy.
Here's one!

Views as we walk from the bus to our next
little home.

Man I love the ocean, I love boats and...
I love marinas!

Walking.. Were almost there!

Second from the left is our new home!

The view from our room!

The view from our room!

The view from our room!
Love it!!!

How can you beat this?

Barb loves that we have a Coffee Maker
that is just like one at home!

In fact I think she approves of the kitchen too!

Our little living room with english TV!

A nice comfy bed with good pillows!

I knew you would want to see this!

The view from a nearby restaurant on the water.

The last view...
A sunset on the ocean... Ahhhh...

We stayed in Piran for three nights.

We would certainly come back here again too. Its too bad its so far to travel, but who knows maybe one day?

On Wednesday October 22nd we were on our way again.

This time was the long trip back to our home.

If you have ever travelled to Europe from North America then you know what its like being on a plane for hours on end. We try to break it up as best we can, especially when we have to travel across Europe as well.

On Wednesday we travelled back to Venice, Italy.
Starting off with a Taxi to the train station in Trieste, Italy. From Trieste we took a train back over to Venice where we spent the night. 

Bottom Left is Venice, Italy. Top Middle is Villach, Austria.
Just an inch or so down to the right a bit is Bled, Slovenia.
Just down and to the right is Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Left of middle at the bottom is beautiful Piran, Slovenia.
You could see the next town over (Croatia) from where we were in Piran.
Just up the coast from Piran is Trieste, Italy.
.

The next morning we took a hotel shuttle to the Venice airport and flew to London's Gatwick airport. The unfortunate part (and we knew this) was that our connecting flight back home was to fly out of the London airport at Heathrow which may seem close but London is a very large city. So off we went again with an Airport Transfer bus over to Heathrow. A couple of hours later we had finally made it, luggage and all.

Slovenia is in the bottom right corner across the Adriatic Sea from Venice, Italy.
London is near the top on the left.

Inside Heathrow airport.
Looks nice & quiet here?

 

      

      A few more people over here.
  London @ Heathrow

The Zoo begins @ Heathrow!
It was like your largest shopping mall at Christmas!

Our plane was 2+ hours late leaving London and by this time we were almost used to lounging around the place so long. Finally we were able to board and fly home. It took another 8.5 hours to get home and by then we were both exhausted. 

We arrived home Thursday evening Oct. 23rd, 2014.

TIP: Bring music, ear buds, ear plugs, and Melatonin to help you sleep.

Met by one of our children at the airport we were so glad to see her and be back off that plane! Don't mistake that statement, we had a wonderful trip and wouldn't change it for the world. It was awesome to see so many things, different cultures, foods, scenery and wonderful kind people most everywhere we went. But home is home!

We will stay anchored at home for about two months. 

Spend Christmas with our awesome family and then... you guessed it we are off again. Back to Arizona for the rest of the winter!

Until then... safe travels to all, be thankful and hang in there! 

Thanks for being patient with us and all our problems with formatting.

See you soon!

Ljubljana, Slovenia

From Lake Bled we hit the roads by bus over to a wonderful city called Ljubljana which has had people living in the area since 2000 BC.

I should hold a contest to see how many people can pronounce that name after seeing it for the first time!

I will help you: "Lube Lee Anna" there, ist that simple!
I'm still not sure I wasn't messing it up by the time we left.
Heres a link to what it says on Wikipedia about this place:
 Wikipedia on Ljubljana

If you know who Rick Steves is he is the guy we get a lot of useful information from for our travels, mostly we research that before we get there. Rick states that Ljubljana is the next, next Prague. In other words its not the next Prague but the one right after that. If you don't know anything about Prague (we haven't been there yet either) it is a spectacular city with beautiful architecture and so much more. I can tell you Ljubljana did not disappoint.

Ahead of time reserved in a nice room which was like a 3rd floor apartment. It was the top level of the old building complete with two dormer windows.

Remember if you "click" on the pictures they will get larger.

On arrival we find a note with our name taped to the wall.

I guess thats for us?

Inside was a full stainless steel kitchen.
All very clean and nicely done.

Through this gate is our courtyard to the front door.
We stayed here for 4 nights & would come back. 

They called it a B&B as they had coffee, tea, cereal, juice, milk, bread and more all freshly stocked up in the kitchen for us.






As usual when booking ahead Barb does thorough research checking the reviews online etc.
It is the best way to protect yourself. Barb nails it every time!

From the courtyard, the front of our new home.
Our room is the top left two windows.

Street Views
Fall is coming here about the same time as back home.

People ask what we do for laundry.
Most times its a laundry-mat like this one.

Can you see the castle on the hill top.
A beautiful view of the city - Slight fog today.

Often the streets are lined with outdoor cafes.

The BIGGEST ones I have ever seen! 

Scenes like this in stores make me lose my taste
for fish.

A popular "Beer & Burger Festival!"
On the street in front of our home.

I thought we had BIG burgers!

One has to be careful & know what you are eating.
Like Sicily they like horse meat.
Let me be clear that's like eating a dog!
I would never eat a horse!

Beautiful buildings & streets!

Here's a store with my Mom's name!
Irene!

Lots of European cities have bikes to rent.

Squares with fountains are common
throughout Europe. Even here.

"Got Milk?"
This is a streetside automated milk dispenser.
You pay your money... you get your fresh milk!
Supplied by a local farm!

Cobble & brick streets.
Very walking friendly as are most European cities.

A Farmer's Market every morning outside our
door. Look at the fresh flowers too!

Street views by night make for nice walks.

Dinner out in a unique restaurant. 

This was a good place to eat!

They said they have the best tea in town.
I have to agree with them - the best anywhere!

The Ljubljanica River

The Ljubljanica River 

Sometimes it doesn't matter how far away you get
you just see something that feels like home. :(

I think I have to agree with this one!