Thursday Doors 6/1/22: Maribor

Since today is my grandma’s birthday, I’m taking you on a door tour through Maribor, her city, where my father was born. It is also Slovenia’s city number 2.

We visited her often and I spent many happy times with her, but she died two years before I moved to Tuscany almost nine years ago. I only returned to Maribor three times since: in the summers of 2014, 2017 and 2021. Here are some of the doors I captured on all three occasions.

First, a funny story from the first time. We reached the cemetery and just as I was trying to figure it out and remember where my grandma and grandpa were buried, a heavy downpour forced us to return to the car. Roman people carry no umbrellas. My Roman man, used to short showers, suggested we waited it out in the car. Half an hour later he, bestia and I were all asleep.

The rain didn’t stop for three days. The first thing we did when we woke up was go to buy new windshield wipers.

When we returned in the sunshine, I got totally lost, had to admit defeat and inquire in the office about the location of the grave, no matter how many times grandma had taken me along to visit her husband, my grandpa, who died on her birthday. Today.

More memories of them in my blogging history at the end of this post, and now a selection of Maribor doors and sights, starting with the Old Vine, officially the oldest vine in the world (how could they be sure?). And my father has its descendent growing in his garden in Piran, on the other side of the country.

Let’s start in 2014. Old Vine is looking good. Bestia was one year old here.

Plague Column, erected in 1680, after the plague had claimed one third of the city’s population.

Father’s high school, Prva gimnazija. He loved it so much that he was sorry he had to move on.

A reunion at the Three Ponds with my friend who lives in England.

This was before I discovered Thursday Doors and yet I was onto them already.

This house was in its last breath.

A fight shop (?) next to Jabolko which means Apple.

The rabbit says that it is near but look at that door painting in the window! Only now I notice it.

G. B. S. as in Shaw? I found this quote attributed only to Charles Baudelaire.

A book shop just below my grandma’s apartment.

Next visit three years later. I hate the tagging.

Father showing me for the first time the house where he was born. We went through the door.

A door in that courtyard.

A door advertising Italian coffee.

Two lawyers, one chair, one door that looks like it was burning.

Ilich Café, probably the best sweets in town.

Here they have their rooms counted. And a nice door.

One of the Maribor Cathedral doors.

The last three photos are from this summer. Betnava Castle.

A striking one near the Drava river.

And finally, happy end at Jack & Joe.

For Thursday Doors challenge hosted by Dan at No Facilities

Congratulations Teagan, the new badge contest winner! I love its colours.

This day in my blogging history

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  2015: On Baca Zana’s sofa. I wish to celebrate her, today and every day.

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  2016: It would be her 90’s birthday. With a tune by The Who sung by her generation.

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  2017: Peace, Baca

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  2018: Father in his birth town for his mother’s birthday and my ultra-flash memoir that ends with:

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  So many words!

  Could have done it in fewer. (Read all)

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  2019: Grandma’s bridge and the poem The most of it which ends with:

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  It was always so good.
  You were always so there. (Read all)

• 

  2020: January 2019 in 20 images

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