Lens-Artists PC: 15 special places

Hi, I’m Manja Mexcessive, this is my blog An Embarrassment of Riches and here are my 15 special places.

As you can imagine I could come up with more than 15 places that are dear and near to my heart, but you are lucky that I already covered 20 of them two years ago in my Lens-Artists post for Leya when she asked about our Special spot shots.

I’m especially happy that I discovered the first four of today’s 15 only last year here in Italy, either with my uncle or with my visitors from Oregon. Two getaway destinations with Flavia follow, even though I could include more.

After a stop in Trastevere, my favourite part of Rome, we cross into Slovenia and revisit some of my favourite places in my country of origin, such as the view from grandma’s apartment in Maribor, the spot by Lake Bohinj where we used to spend happy family holidays, magical Kranjska Gora, and my parents’ garden in Piran which I hope to see again soon.

I finish with two beach scenes which are no longer accessible: first one because the path is off limits now, second because it’s too far and I can’t climb rocks any more.

It just so happens that additional three locations, which I first thought of including, appear in my blogging memories at the end of the post. They are fabulous Massa Marittima, zen Lake Bolsena, and thirsty Torri, a town without a bar but with a lovely abbey.

What’s with the dog in the featured photo, you ask? No, this is not Bestia. It’s Žak, our first dog, and he gets two photos today. This month will be 23 years since we found a whole new-born litter in the garbage container and raised three by the bottle. I loved walking him in the wooded hill in the centre of Ljubljana which was also the location for my mother’s #60 surprise party.

Welcome to my life and thank you for the gift of your time which is more precious than any jewels.

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  Let’s start with a ghost town. Celleno, a small town between Viterbo and Orvieto, has a freely accessible open-air museum in its castle. Only heard of it last year.

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  Very near Celleno there is Sant’Angelo di Roccalvecce, the town of the fairy-tale murals. What an excellent double bill these two make.

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  Another day I took my visiting uncle to walk by the murky and scenic Elsa river between Siena and San Gimignano. A brilliant idea for a hot day.

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  Santa Fiora with its pretty fishery was a lovely discovery last September when Crystal and Pedro came over from Oregon.

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  This abandoned monastery in Monterano was a complete surprise. I felt like I knew it already. Must be the movies.

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  This street in Viterbo called Via Larga deserved its own poem. This door and gelato and Flavia for company – all I needed.

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  Trastevere in Rome is a particularly interesting spot if you like street art. Haven’t been back in years.

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  This blue chapel at Javorca in Slovenian Julian Alps is full of names of fallen soldiers. We had to hike to it for half an hour! Maximum, if you ask amore. He is from Rome.

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  Lake Bohinj is pretty all over but this is “our” special spot, at Ukanc. Much fun was had here over the years. You can hike in the Alps and look down or ski at Vogel (above left).

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  Kranjska Gora nestled in the top left-hand corner of Slovenia below Austria and next to Italy, one of my favourite places on Earth.

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  But nothing tops this garden of my parents in Piran, especially when it’s laid out like this. Check out the kiwis above.

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  The view from my grandma’s window in Maribor, Slovenia’s second city, where my father was born. This is the Drava river. Grandma used to stand on the windowsill to wash the windows.

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  Žak in his element in the woods above Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, our city. I let him run free. He always came if I called.

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  Whereas this was in 2013 when I moved to Italy and we got this little bestia. Amore stopped going to the beach with me almost immediately. This passage is closed now.

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  Where this is only I know and I’m not telling. Suffice to say, it’s in another life, both geographically and mentally.

For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge, guest-hosted by Karina at Murtagh’s Meadow: A Special Place

This day in my blogging history

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  2016, February 29: States of mind and trust – Zen Lake Bolsena

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  2016, February 29: Give the children love, more love and still more love – and the common sense will come by itself. —Astrid Lindgren

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  2015: Almost in Africa

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  2017: Street smart

  My Grandma said: “Steven, here is 5 dollars and don’t tell your mother I’m getting this to you.” I said: “It will cost you more than that.” —Steven Wright

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  2018: Torri, Tuscany

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  2019: Friendly Friday turning point

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  2020: Massa Marittima (Photo: Norm)

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  2020: Friendly Friday sea creatures