My life experience has taught me that if you think you belong somewhere, you might miss an exciting option.
There is a Slovenian proverb Povsod je lepo, doma je najlepše which translates as “Everywhere is beautiful, at home is best”.
Somewhere I saw it flipped and instantly preferred it: Povsod je doma, lepo je najlepše. “Everywhere is home, beautiful is best.”
No wonder that I prefer the amended English version of this proverb as well: “Home, sweet home grown.”
And so I’ve been growing a new home, country and language for five years now. Nothing personal, Slovenia. It just had to be done.
Below are photos from one week in May last year when my parents were last here to see me through my birthday. Since another one is coming up next week, they are just about to arrive again, and this is my welcome to them. We shall have a good one and it will be over in a flash like always.
As for the rooster in the featured photo: he barely let me enter our car on the return from Torri. As if he was saying “Look at me, I’m a beautiful creature,” together with the Israeli Eurovision Song Contest winner from last night.
I was hoping Italy wins so that next year I could go and see the show live in Rome but they came 5th. Even though the winning song is not my style, I’m glad for Netta because of her style, talent, guts and message.
Slovenia’s song Hvala, ne made the finals, which was great to see, and now a substantial number of (non)Europeans will know what to say when they visit Slovenia and are force-fed some instant “culture”. (=Thank you, no!)
And now glimpses from the last happy May visit. Thank you, parents, for bringing old home to my new one, proving that home is on the inside. All the rest is just geography.
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: Place in the World
You speak right from my soul !
Three days before Your Day Of Glory !
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Right we are, Matthias. Don’t know about glory, though. Danke!
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Great photos, I love the shot looking down the well.
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Thank you, Dan. I love this well but interestingly Lexi says that it would give her nightmares. 🙂
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So many warm fuzzy feelings in this post! I did feel a bit dizzy looking down that well though! (I’m not good with heights) Glad it was just the batteries that went flat, and he didn’t drop the camera in! I would’ve been holding on really tight!
I’ll wish you an early Happy Birthday 😄 in case I don’t get a chance before the actual day! Thank you for some memorable quotes too!
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Thank you, Pistachios. 🙂 Cin cin on Wednesday! I love this well. The stairs that lead down and back up in a double helix are wide and comfortable to walk. Oh, I get dizzy from heights too and clutch at everything. But photos need to get taken… 🙂
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It is certainly an impressive sight to behold!
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Happy Almost-Birthday! Your parents look like such happy, cheerful sorts – just like you from what I can tell through the ether. I am falling more and more in love with Bestia every day. And I’m sorry I saw that well; I’m afraid it might be the stuff of nightmares!
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Thank you, Lexi! Bestia is decidedly lovable, as are my parents. And I’m sorry you’re sorry about the well. To me it’s not scary at all but a historic foundation of the town and a fascinating photographic experience. Imagine it pink, for example, to take away the edge. 😀
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Very lovely. That well is crazy. I felt dizzy looking at the photograph.
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Thank you, Emma. It is rather crazy. Heights make me dizzy too but I suffer for a photograph. 😀
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Look at cute bestia all snuggled up, waiting for a bedtime story, so patiently 😍 Loved your thoughts on ”home”. And happy Manja Day!
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Hihi, SMSW, he likes to be like this. 🙂 Sometimes in the morning he wakes me up by snuggling next to me. It beats barking or scratching me with his paw, which is what he used to do. 😀
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He misses you. ”Where’s my buddy, get up already so we can go play” 😉
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❤ Yes. Even though he is 35 or so in human years. 😀 You've got two buddies who tell you just the same, I'm sure. 😉
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Yes 💕
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Where there is love? In Manja’s images of Parent’s and Bestia!
I love the all the images of your Mom and Dad, and that image of San Galgano Abbey. You always nail this technique with framing perfectly. Bowing to your skillage! xx
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Ahh, Deborah, you’re so kind. ❤ Thank you! I'm glad that love is visible. As for framing, I'm afraid I only post those photos where this has more or less succeeded. 😀 And to clarify: San Galgano Abbey is in the valley below. This doorway belongs to the chapel on the hill above in which King Arthur's sword is stuck in stone (if you believe it). 🙂
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what a delightful article, Manja… …and I like that “Everywhere is home, beautiful is best.” 🙂
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Thank you so much, Markus. After posting I realised that the translation “best” is not the best. It should be “nicest” to make it even less sensible: Everywhere is home, beautiful is nicest. 😀
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…I like both! 😀
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Facebook lied! It told me your birthday was today! Then I think you must celebrate for the next week!! Party on 🙂
Your place in the world is a lovely one and I love that version of the expression that says everywhere is home, beautiful is best 💕 I agree wholeheartedly!
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Hihih, Joanne, Facebook didn’t lie. It is today! I said next week on Sunday and I meant this week. 😀 Thank you, celebrating all day long with my parents on a nice, if rainy trip. And more to come in the days to come.
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Woohoo! Happiness on your birthday!! 💕
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But of course, I hope for you too! Cin cin!
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Happy Belated Birthday! I’m so sorry I missed it yesterday! I hope you had a wonderful day with your Amore, and your year is amazing! xx
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Thank you, Deborah. 🙂 My parents are here again and we’re strolling around. A bit rainy but we don’t mind. Sun promised from now on. Enjoy your weekend!
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Happy belated, Manja! As usual your post is a gorgeously joyful well of strange and happy thoughts! I always smile when reading and thinking of you. And that well – is it really a well? Well, thank you for posting, and hope you had a glorious birthday ♥
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Thank you, Leya. I had a most excellent birthday week with my parents here and they left today. I’m glad my posts make you smile. This is truly a well and in the past the water was brought to the surface by mules.
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Wow – will for sure visit if I ever get there. 😉
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You write beautifully
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Thank you, Candice, means a lot. 🙂 I’m so glad you came to have a look and liked it.
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Great pictures! P. S. Why did you ‘move’? 😊
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Thank you, Elena. Glad to see you found my new blog. 🙂 I had to move, back in January, since the previous one was full. This is my third and after this one? Who knows.
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Hmm.. smart move! ☺
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