Dr. Filomena

Photo by dr.filomena: Butterfly (moth?) grounded on Mt. Triglav (click to enlarge)

I just cannot believe my bad luck! Just as I decided to go back to law school, I found that everything I learned a long time ago is now obsolete and I will truly have to start from scratch.

I was quite aware that based on the 49:26 vote in the National Assembly back in May, a new Criminal Code will enter into force in Slovenia on 1 November 2008. I was furthermore aware that contrary to what I was once taught, Slovenian criminal legislation has introduced life sentence, semi-public records of pedofiles and several other novelties.

I admit that I did not know, however, that Slovenia introduced additional definitions of criminal offences, such as the “Meeting of People” (sestajanje oseb), “Grand Filth” (velika svinjarija) and “Minor Filth” (majhna svinjarija). I thank Minister Mate and Prime Minister Janša for the pointers!

I do not think law books by some dusty old Professors compromised by the system of yesteryear will come in handy in any respect. I have resolved to study by watching live TV broadcasts from the National Assembly and reports from news conferences held by the Government’s Ministers.

If I fail an exam, I will know exactly whom to blame! And whom to ask for deus ex machina assistance.

Photo by dr.filomena: Rinka Waterfall (click to enlarge)

hodim po robu
miže
in tipam pravo pot

prsti se zlivajo s skalami
pozdravljajo drobne kaplje
ki drvijo mimo
in se ne zavedo, da so

dokler se ne umirijo
daleč od izvira
najdejo mir in globino

jaz pa še kar hodim
miže
in tipam pravo pot
brez strahu
se vzpenjam in padam

vedno v tvojo dlan

Once I get you up there, where the air is rarefied
We’ll just glide, starry eyed
Once I get you up there, Ill be holding you so near
You may here, angels cheer - because we’re together

Come fly with me, let’s fly let’s fly away

When I feel Blue
All I have to do
…

Just sharing a few photos. Hope you enjoy. I may not have run into these guys, but can’t say I mind. My views were much better than that

Mr. and Mrs. Surefoot

Tread with care!

So delicate yet so resilient.

I’d never seen these before and found them absolutely stunning. Can anyone help identify them?

Ever wondered what the view from the Top is like? The above may help answer your question, at least as far as the view from the top of Slovenia goes. Shot taken from the inside of Aljaž Tower at the top of Mount Triglav, the highest peak in Slovenia at 2864m.

Plenty… and I do mean plenty more photos on camera. Should I go ahead and bore you with more?

Just a few impressions from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic.

The Dominican Republic is a representative democracy with a presidential system much like the one in the US. The President is elected by popular vote in elections held every four years, always on 16 May. The latest elections took place two days ago and the main candidates running for office were the incumbent Leonel Fernandez Reyna (Dominican Liberation Party/ Partido de la Liberación Dominicana; the “violet party”), Miguel Vargas Maldonado (Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD) / Partido Revolucionario Dominicano; the “white party”) and Amable Aristy Castro (Social Christian Reformist Party (PRSC) / Partido Reformista Social Cristiano; the “red party”). (See more at the end of this post.)

I was lucky enough to have spent some time in this beautiful country of breathtaking nature, great music and cheerful people who let me bug them about their views of politics and the presidential candidates. Here are a few photos that may not be as sexy as the palm-adorned sandy beaches or perfectly cut grass of spectacular golf fields to most, but I needed some contact with real life.

One thing is certain, though… the people of Santo Domingo know how to parteeeeeeee!

Not everyone can afford a home, but none of the homeless freeze to death. Or die of hunger, I was told.

The less-frequently visited hoods of the city.

What gives?

One of the most famous streets of Santo Domingo: Calle Las Damas.

The Prez’s ride and escort in front of the Presidential Palace.

Two days ago, the incumbent Leonel Fernandez won the elections in the first round, securing about 53% of the vote. During both his previous terms, the country has done well and much progress has been made. Watching this lawyer on TV, I was impressed with the way he addressed complex legal and political issues in such a colourful and simple manner, that even I with my poor command of Spanish could follow his line of reasoning. For example, he debated the various types of judicial systems with regard to the role of the Constitutional or Supreme court and went as far as to explain his view of regional autonomy on the case of Kosovo.

For the sake of Jose Miguel and his friends I hope the old new President keeps the country on track to the prosperity that the entire island (yes, the entire island) and its people deserve.

Oooook so here comes one of the more typical Dominican photos just for you, my friends:

Punta Espada, a signature golf course of Jack Nicklaus at Cap Cana, where the first PGA tournament (Champions Tour) in the Dominican Republic took place in April 2008.

Just a photo from last Sunday and a hint at where the next post is presumably coming from.

As Luka quite rightly pointed out, the green ring around Ljubljana is still called the “Path of Remembrance and Comradeship” (Pot spominov in tovarištva). It is a well-maintained gravel-paved recreational footpath running around the entire city through urban areas and the surrounding meadows and forests, along the course of the barb wire fence which surrounded Ljubljana during World War II (from 1942 onwards), when the Italian and later German occupying forces tried to prevent contacts between the city and its hinterland. The barb wire fence was guarded by around 1,300 soldiers and 400 policemen, who checked the identity papers of those travelling to and from the city.

Source and more info: Ljubljana City Website

Every year on 9 May or the Saturday closest thereto, numerous people of Ljubljana walk at least one of the stretches of the 35km hike around the city to celebrate the liberation of the city in 1945. Just as traditional is the race of teams of three runners. They have to run together and cross the finish line together. This marks the team spirit that helped the people of Ljubljana and the resistance forces outside the barb-wire ring make it through the toughest times.

Here are some random photos from the hike and race of 2008.

Today, over lunch, my favourite New Yorker claimed I posted far too few photos from the Dominican Republic. So let me try to make it up to you guys. For starters, this is Jose who kindly introduced me to the “really” fresh coconuts… one to drink from and another to enjoy the delicious taste of the… fruit? Yumm… Thanks, Jose!

The Caribbean, gorgeous weather, endless sand beaches. Dr. Fil is tempted, but still, guess what she is most interested in

Although observing animals closely can help understand the animal that has proclaimed itself superior to others.

Hope you enjoy these pics. Plenty more on their way if I find the time to connect and post.