RINK AROUND THE ROSIES

"Americans put value on the creative element and artistic side of things, whereas we here in Europe care about times, and athletic achievement and such."

You'd think it just the opposite really, if you spend any time looking around Europe.


But, after all, that was just the opinion of one European --- the British accented EUROSPORT Live commentator, on the third day of their Winter Olympics coverage.


One wouldn't expect the combination of Confinement, infirmity, and piggy hell-hole, to be pretty, but EUROSPORT Live's, 24 hour a day, coverage of the Vancouver Games didn't help.

And, unfortunately, it is the single way to get any video images of the winter games here in Slovenia.



"Competition Video from the 2010 Winter Olympics is available to US viewers only"
is the message one gets when trying to access any other Olympic coverage via the Internet


There are several problems with EUROSPORT,live.



First, things aren't really live, instead, each event is carried two and three, sometimes four times in a day, and next, as the commentator said, they like the time element, and the endurance thing. That means every last cross country ski marathon, cross country ski with guns, and cross country ski race, from start to finish, is broadcast multiple times each day - - intermingled with bobsled (yes!, for the .0001% of us who follow that sport), downhill racing, and ski jumping.
It's like a Sound of Music/Groundhog Day medley, with pretty people in gaily colored suits, running around snow-capped mountains ---over and over and over again.

"Didn't we just see this?"

"It's kind of mesmerizing, their legs just going back and forth."

"That poor woman, we have to see her fall, again?"

"Don't look! here it comes"

"Gross, that drooling, spitting man again."


Next, there are not any of those creative Olympic-targeted commercials, that you think you get tired of, but in fact that are the perfect remedy for the monotony of all those robotic legs and arms moving in unison. The term Winter Olympics certainly has a different meaning here.

The only commercial is an advertisement for Eurosport, Live itself. The ultimate in conveying human characteristics, and rights, to corporate conglomerates, the "Eurosport Woman, by Victoria", in her shimmering gold corset, really big bosoms, and even bigger lips, sits in her chaise lounge elegantly, sexily making incoherent sporty comments. Her purpose is still not entirely clear to us, but what is clear is that other than curling maybe, she just doesn't seem to fit in with any Olympic fortnight event.

And that is NOT meant to be "sacri-curly" -- because curling IS in fact, sacred in my book. It makes me feel my own Olympic potential. And I know many of you feel the same way. Give you a set of black tights, faux high heels, earrings, microphone, other women to chat with, something to clean, a tight shirt, a stunning piece of marble, and some glittery clean ice to make your moves look graceful, and you can do anything.

" EUROSPORT by VICTORIA"

But the biggest problem here, and maybe this goes back to the artistry and value thing, is the paucity of televised figure skating. No men's skating at all, a snippet of pairs skating, three ice dancers, and 90 minutes devoted to the women's finals.

And that has turned out to be a BIG problem, because if Slovenia weren't so far away, I might be there with that Russian women, sitting at the end of Johnny Weir's driveway, admiring his every move.
If, as the Canadian commentators tell us, Johnny Weir gives men's skating a bad name, then I say Eurosport gives Olympic coverage a bad name. How can true 24 hour Olympic coverage omit such an idyllic figure?

Johnny Weir first skated in 1996, at age 12, on the frozen cornfield in his backyard.
Really, could that be possible? From cornfield to cutting edge in just 13 short years?

It is possible, and last week was the second Olympics for fashion-forward Johnny Weir. Ravens and snakes may be "manly", but roses, and corsets, and heart-shaped pillows are just plain fun, funny, artistic, you know, in a sporting kind of way.

Mark Lund and Quebec commentators be damned. There is just something intoxicating about Johnny Weir, even to us females. Creative brilliance at least, fearlessness at best, humility swirled amidst flamboyance in the middle.

You can't watch YouTube's Johnny Weir skating to Poker Face in Korea and not be inspired by his artistic and bodily talents. With the added bonus of hearing Korean commentators say "Lady GAGA, poku face" it is well worth watching. Google it today.


"I may not be the most decorated person in the skating world, but judging by the audience reaction, well, they go on my journeys with me."

That was Weir's comment after his undeserved (not my bias, remember, I didn't see it) poor finish this week. And what is that journey exactly? The courage to be who you are, I would guess. Because, how else could one wear a vinyl pink and black corseted porn star suit, while attempting to win the hearts of all those white-haired judges in navy blue pinstripes?

"I just want to inspire kids that dance to a different beat", he said.

You know, "Be everything that makes you, you. Show that and never be afraid. What other man's going to go out in a hot pink tassel that looks like a helicopter when you're rotating? That to me, was GORGEOUS. There's something so boring to me about going out in a black cat suit and looking like you're a giant sperm."

So, I say, Johnny Weir, you are my pink tasseled Vancouver hero.

And if any of you bloggists are still skeptical about a man's public display of rosy wreaths,

just take a look at Kerr and Kerr's pair's skate.

Now, that's the kind of public display that makes me uncomfortable.
Brokeback Mountain has nothing on these cowboys.

So, go on, put on your pink tassel, and dance to your own "different beat".

Sestre did, and it paid off for them,
and for their country.


The three man Slovenian group, dressed in drag, singing their hit song "Samo Ljubezen" (Only Love) became an overnight sensation when they represented Slovenia in the 2002, very popular, Eurovision Song contest.

And overnight, "thanks to Sestre (Sisters), homosexuality became an open subject of discussion throughout the country."

SESTRE

In that same year a visiting Canadian gay poet, Jean Claude Daust, was denied entry into a well-known Ljubljana cafe, Galerija, because of his sexual orientation. Also, that year, the book
"Media representation of Homosexuals : An Analysis of the Print Media in Slovenia 1970-2000" was published by a well-known researcher, and it exposed the "homophobic" reality of the former Yugoslavia.

These were among the events that prompted the newly formed Slovenian government to take up equal rights, and protective rights for gays.
In 2005 a registered partners law was passed, insuring some, but not completely equal rights to gay partners.

Then, in 2009, a prominent gay activist and journalist, Mitja Blazic, was injured by a group of masked men, storming and burning a Ljubljana bar during a gay literature forum.

And Slovenia has this really gutsy Minister of the Interior named Katarina Kresal.
This was her comment after the attack on Blazic.

"These are people like everyone else, and I wish that human rights would be secured for them as they are for everyone else. I have already proposed to my colleagues in the coalition parties to reflect on whether the drawing up of the family legislation is not a chance to also put their rights on par with everyone else’s."

THEN she went on to attend the 9th annual Slovene Gay Parade, which took place two days after the assault. "Side by side with around 500 people, she marched against the violence and discrimination against gays and lesbians. The parade was also escorted by a strong police force, in order to prevent any additional attacks."

And words took on action when on July 2, 2009, "the Constitutional Court of Slovenia found that it was unconstitutional to prevent registered partners from inheriting each other's property. It held that treating registered partners differently from married partners constituted discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, breaching Article 14 of the Slovenian Constitution. It gave the Parliament six months to remedy the situation."

Slovenia's Katarina Kresal

In response, in September 2009, the"center-left" Government drafted the new "Family Code", which would allow same-sex couples to marry and adopt children. Minister Kresal's comment was "Slovenia is likely to legalize same-sex marriage in the near future" and " the government is committed to providing equal rights for both opposite sex and same-sex couples."

December 2009: The bill was approved.

May 2010: Amendments will be considered and the bill will have its final parliamentary vote.

If passed, Slovenia will become the first Central European country to legalise same-sex marriage.
Surveys show that 31% of Slovenians support same sex marriage, and 17% support the right of gay couples to adopt -- As compared with 44% and 33% respectively in the EU.

These opinions are driven by the Roman Catholic church here, and are skewed by the elderly.

So what an interesting phenomenon, the government doing the right thing, in the face of relatively little support from the people.

Hum, that sounds eerily unfamiliar.

Mr. Obama, may I have the honor of introducing you to Minister Kresal?

Notable, is that here, unlike in the U.S., there is no anti-gay movement organized against the legislation.

Market Graffiti

Marquee over Maxim, Ljubljana's business district supermarket

.

YOUR DOOR TODAY

ORANZNA

I knew it, I just knew it. But the doll had made it certain.

When Brina, our apt's owner's 4 year old daughter, delivered the orange-haired loaner doll to Zue as a gesture of hospitality, it was just the evidence needed to confirm that Slovenians, when choosing a hair dye, prefer orange.

Leicester, North Carolina is a far cry from Ljubljana, and so is Sally's Beauty Supply Store on Patton Avenue. Patton is the main drag in Leicester, and Sally's sits not twenty feet off of the busy four-lane, in a strip mall, between Krispy Kreme and Taco Bell, just across from Tropical Gardens Mini-Golf, KFC, McDonald's, Wendy's, and Dairy Queen.

Like Slovenia has a high orange hair to head ratio, Patton Avenue has a high Fast Food to people ratio. And because it has four lanes, cars go very fast, and people go for chains, multiple tattoos, and unusual body piercings.

"Mom, we are going die here. You always say you don't want to die in a hospital, well I don't want to die on Patton Avenue."

"No, we're not, just stay in the car. Lock the doors."

"If we die, it will be from all the toxic chemicals; Did you smell that when that lady came out?

and did you see her skirt ?" Hollin piped in.

"Just hold you nose, and help me; and watch your sister. She MAY NOT open anything here, it's poison."

"Hello, I wonder if I could ask you a question about my hair. A few weeks ago I had some highlights put in it to cover my new grey hairs, and they turned an orange color. Then I tried to have the highlights covered, and now, as you see, my whole head is the orange-y color."

The ash blond and black striped-hair woman in a dingy white smock, looked at my hair. expressionless.

"Well water."

"Well water?"

"We call that well-water hair."

"Well-water here?" I replied, thinking the Leicester accent was confusing me.

"No, well-water HAIR," she repeated.

"You got well water, don't you?"

" I do."

"Well, you got well-water hair."

I stared at her blankly.


"Ya live here in Leicester, don't you?"

"Yes, I do, I live out North Turkey Creek."

"Yep, you got well-water hair."

"Really?" I said with a hint of skepticism, and naivete.

"Look lady, I ain't no chemist. All I know is that you got well-water hair. It's the iron metal in the soil, and you know, it mixes with things, and,well ain't you ever noticed the orange clay around here, or an orange ring in your toilet bowl? Well, that's what's in your hair."

I wasn't feeling any better.


"You see that red iron, it gets stuck onto your highlights. "

"Um, well, is there anything you can DO about this well-water hair problem?"

"Time,

or move," she laughed out loud, in a somewhat empathetic tone

"I tell you what you do. You go across Patton, to this Ingles out here, and you get you some DAWN dish detergent, and baking soda. And wash your hair real good. And then do that a few more times. That might help things. The only problem is, (here's where the moving joke comes in), it'll just get that iron in it again next time you wash with that well water."

I had quickly added bottled water to the Ingles list in my head, when she added

"Or some people try that "Well-Water" shampoo. It don't do much, but it might tone you down some. Can't remember the name of it. OXIDE IRONING or something like that. It is back there on the shelf. You'll see it."

Under the guise of a homeschooling Chemistry lesson, I sent Hollin off to hunt the shampoo, while I scoured the shelves for some other potentially magical treatment.
I took a couple of seemingly relevant products to the front.

"Do you think any of these might be of help?"

"Nope"

But the words "Red Reducer", "Color retardant", and "Brassy tone eliminator", were too much to resist, so I placed them on the counter just as Hollin and Zue appeared with the 64 ounce bottle of shampoo.

And then, as if aggravated that I had gone against her product advice, the white-smocked woman blurted her final proclamation,

"I think you just need to let that grow outta there."

GROW OUT... I thought

GROW OUT?

I did a quick calculation in my head. . . .

One inch , two months, 16 inches---
That'll take two years

"That'll be $27.82.

and good luck."

A bottle of Dawn, one box of Arm and Hammer, and six bottled water washings later, those
brassy tones (obviously a euphemism for orange hair) persisted, and it became clear that I was going to Slovenia with orange hair. Perhaps there would be a salon there that "could fix it"

Now in Ljubljana people's bodily colors do not vary much. In fact,there may not be one person of color in the whole of the country, and only two or three with blond hair. Zue, therefore, really stands out.

But me, with my orange hair? I fit right in.

"See mom, it was meant to be. Your orange hair. Haven't you noticed, everyone here has it".

How could one help but notice. From day two onwards we had all noticed that while there may be only one skin color here, there are two hair colors -- dark brown, and well, orange. Not necessarily the brassy toned, well-water orange, but orange nonetheless.

Older women, young alternative women, realtors, ritzy women, law students, school principals, and professors. They all like orangey-brown, or even downright oranzna, hair.

And as if just looking around wasn't enough to confirm this oranzna hair phenomenon, last week during the masquerade days of winter carnival week, more eveidenced surfaced when there was clearly a majority of oranzna colored wigs. And, for the children, Pippi Longstocking, with her orange braids, topped the list of costume favorites.

But still, it was hard to completely trust one's own orange hair instincts when in another culture.

Especially, when one's own hair is orange. Was it just wishful thinking?

That is why when the doll popped out of that MERCATO bag, and IT TOO had orange hair, there was no longer any doubt.

Whether it is fad, fun, or fundamental,

it is a fact:

Slovenia has a disproportionately high number of orange hairs per capita.

The bad news is: that doesn't bode well for "fixing" mine while here.

But maybe that's for the best. Because as we all know, when you're in a hole, and it's a hair-hole, not a well-hole, it's best just to stop digging.

POKLJUKA

Pokljuka

a painted rendition

It seemed a bit harsh to send the kids off to VERBA'S "Zimske (language camp at) Pokljuka" for a week, alone, only three weeks after arrival in a country that speaks well, you know, the language that makes even easy, hard. But we did.

The country shut down this week for "winter holiday,"
and skiing seemed like a natural activity choice, in a country that despite its small New Jersey-like size, has over 30 ski slopes, and lots of snow.

The camp brochure, like the building sign for the language school, had no English, thus provided little information. The little animated skiiers were reassuring though in that they were exclaiming excitedly, and surely, at least one of them was yelling "English", though it wasn't entirely clear given words like "Smucanje" and "Zabava". But even so, certainly someone at the camp would be speaking English.

7:00 am, February 15.
Meeting the bus for Pokljuka,

and an unfortunate last minute translation of the VERBA camp brochure.

"Mom, I got google to translate the VERBA website. You know those little skiers on the brochure?, They aren't really talking about English, their bubble blurby things say "Croatian and Spanish, Italian"
Really?
Yes, really.

No French?

"Nope"
"Is there ENGLISH?"

"I think the Anglescina means English, but I 'm not sure,

Do you think we're going to learn Croatian?"

oh, and listen to this: it says"

"The highlight of the ski events will be held on Friday, which will turn eagerly anticipated game, even earlier, on Thursday evening, but is awaiting tekmovalke young athletes and solemnly draw starting numbers."

and then it has these quotes from last years campers.

Natlalje says, " I liked the most when we jump on skis and have a march with torches"

Alen says, "Takooooooo fun, teachers face, I most enjoyed the wedding."

(a wedding?, really?)

and Metka said " I was skiing very much, especially enjoy when I drive the lift, I can not wait until next year".

(Now, if you want to check this out for yourself, just google Verba, Ljubljana

, and click on that little animated skiier brochure on the right.

And oh, be sure you have your google translator on.)

Drive the lift, the ski lift? and march with torches? a wedding?

I was getting worried. Could it be that those animated little skiiers weren't telling the whole story?

The bus was in a parking lot with 40 Slovenian children ages 7 to 14 saying lots of Slovenian words and smiling to their parents. Primozu (pronounced Primosh) the camp director, introduced himself and said,

"Hello, you are so kind to send your children with us. I wvant to ask yvu. You do not mind if we speak Slovene with yvour children do you? They can learn Slovene? yes? It will be good for them, yes? ".

Now, I think it is safe to say, that if one's mother is not Slovenian, he or she will never, ever, be able to learn Slovene.

When Slovenians talk to you, they have this endearing habit of looking straight into your right eye.
And so, at that point, I had no choice other than to look Primoz straight in his right eye and say, "Okay, Okay, yes, yes, I am sure they won't mind at all".

And really, even if they do, they won't be able to tell you.

.

YOUR DOOR TODAY

Zue's Slovenian School

"GETTING" EL GRIPO

Centralna Lekarna
Ljubljana's main pharmacy,
or "Central Drugstore"
(note Hermes in the background)




When our lunch companion late last week muttered something about "El Gripo" (pronounced Greepo, rolling the r loudly) being the reason for not finishing his beer and Yota, it was just one of those many things that one initially doesn't "get" when in a foreign country. Listening, and copying, are key survival skills abroad, but not all things heard are at first understood, when they are out of the context of one's own culture .


Upon arrival to Ljubljana, having depleted our supply of Elderberry syrup incident to transatlantic travel, we began the search for Sambucol, or any brand, or form, of Elderberries, in order to ward those new winter viral strains to which one is exposed when traveling. Six stores, and two weeks later,---- with the hunt including two teeny weeny (too small for 5, half of us had to wait outside) organic shops, one no longer existent store, one natural item 2' by 5' booth in the two square block open market, and one Maxim, the upscale very large business district department store, ---the possibility of a replenished supply looked grim. But alas, at Maxim, I was directed to the "PHARMACY".

Pharmacies in Slovenia are like Walgreen's in the states, but without the flip flops, coke 12- pack deals, Valentine's Day candy, and myriad of hair dyes. The Centralna Lekarna is the largest of its kind in Ljubljana, and sits in Preseren Square, just below Hermes, the messenger God atop the building next door. One can't help but wonder if his raised hand is in fact wielding one of those FDA black box drug-warnings.

According to the World Health Organization's Regional Office for Europe, Slovenians consume more than their fair share of prescription drugs. WHO notes that "Despite the measures taken to date, the situation remains unsatisfactory, and comparative data show that drug consumption is still relatively high compared with other European countries." and furthermore, Slovenians are just too healthy to "warrant such a level of drug intake". And WHO goes on to say that "a set of measures has already been taken to address the pharmaceutical sector."

Wow, now that would get John Boehner's blood pressure up.

And as if the WHO wasn't watchdog enough, the Slovene's themselves have had the foresight to attempt to curb their own prescription drug use, and in 1994 they set a limit placed on the number of prescriptions per person, per year, that a doctor could write. Do you think that would include refills?

The government limited the prescription per person, per year to 6.8. In the United States we consume 12 prescriptions per person, per year, so that would cut our consumption just about in half. That seems reasonable enough, as surely half of the drugs prescribed in the US are unnecessary.

For Slovenians, the drugs that top their usage list are Cardiovascular medications, drugs for respiratory illnesses, and drugs to treat infectious diseases and parasites. Parasites? Really? Let's hope this is my last trip to Centralna Lekarna.

Slovenia does in fact have their version of the FDA, if not a somewhat socialist version. In 1999 the LAW ON MEDICINAL PRODUCTS AND MEDICAL DEVICES was passed, with its main objective being to enforce the country's national policy on prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The ministry in charge of carrying out this law helps to monitor the effectiveness and flow of new drugs in the country, interface and price-set with pharmaceutical companies, and cut drug costs by limiting the supply of non-generic medications being marketed as a "newer and better" brand.

The pharmacy was pristine, with the only merchandise being behind a long counter. There were several lines of people, from which one could see, that in addition to prescription drugs, pharmacies here sell tonics, and lozenges, and creams, and cellulite pills, and cold remedies in brightly colored packages, and back supports, Centrum vitamins, and well, juices -- all needing a consultation with a woman in a white coat to obtain. It is an eclectic assortment of necessary, and seemingly unnecessary things, and I was desperate to take a picture. But it was very quiet, and very serious, with a lot of white coats, and since I have a (bad) habit of respecting that medical feel, well, somehow it seemed disrespectful to flash a photo.


Then, there it was. A TV repeatedly giving what appeared to be informative medical tips, kind of like a mammogram waiting area in the states. Suddenly, the word GRIPA appeared, surrounded by other unintelligible Slovenian words. Then again, and again, and again. It became apparent that GRIPA was something important.


Yes, It was the flu, and this of course, was flu season.

And since, or because of, having lunch with a GRIPER (pronounced GREEPER, not complainer) I had in fact, been gripped. Not only did my lunch companion have the wrong article for the word (at least for this country), he also had the word. So, I get it now --

hence the title.




It was my turn in the long line.

"Hello, I am looking for Elderberry syrup, or Sambucol, or this black berry." I pointed to, and handed my empty bottle of Sambucol brand Elderberry syrup across the counter to the white-coated lady.

"Ah, yes, yes, I svee, I will get it. Vone mooment, please"

I looked back at Jed excitedly.


The woman went to the rack to her right and pulled off one of the 30 bottles of Dr. Weidermann's Juices from the display shelf. It was the one with the black-ist of berries on the label. I wondered just what type of juices needed to be pharmacy controlled.



"Here, I thivink thvis is it. do you see. Vit has vee berry on it?"


It had just touched my hand, I was elated, already feeling the grip of the gripper easing,
when suddenly,and out of the blue,


"Oh, no, just a moment, just a moment, just ene moment"


She rushes the bottle back to the shelf and disappears.
My hopes, dashed. Wasn't that berry at least close enough?

But,then,

"A Hah, Vi have fvound it. You need Bezej!

Oh, but I am sorry, ve do not have Bezej. Here, I will write it down for you (in that beautiful handwriting that all Slovenes have, as if they were all once architectural students). SANOLABOR, Cigaletova St. BEZEJ. "



She handed me the small piece of paper, and again, I felt as if the GRIP might be loosening.



Only to find that Cigaletova Cesta was not on our map.



Elderberry syrup was to come into our life again though. Upon return to the apt there was an inquiry response email on gmail, from Basoula Pavlou, reporting that unfortunately
Elderberry syrup is not yet available in Slovenia because they are "waiting for registration, and it should be soon in the market there."
Hum, that darn Medicinal Products Law.

In the meantime, he would suggest ordering direct from their UK factory.

And that is just what I did. Six bottles in fact, as that is the minimum order for a shipment to Slovenia.

Sign on Centralna Lekarna's front door

Sign outside Kalcek, one of the two, very small in-town natural food stores

Ashevilleans: feel right at home.

Eckhart Tolle, now in Slovene

So, just to sum things up:

If you want to speak Slovene, you'd better believe in reincarnation.

If someone tells you flamboyantly that they have "EL GRIPO", immediately stop any further exchange of respiratory fluids.

Elderberry in Slovene, is Bezej. The reason this is significant is that you will never be able to find that translated for you on the internet. The reason it is not significant, is that you will never be able to find Elderberry Syrup in Slovenia, even if you do know what to ask for.

If you like organic food, you may turn into an angel.

If you are vegetarian, you will feel very comfortable in a pharmacy.

If you are not, leave your hotdog at the door.

If you believe in vitamins, herbal remedies, or supplements, perhaps there's a future for you here, selling Elderberry Syrup from the UK.

YOUR DOOR TODAY

The Centromerkur

on Preseren Square

(originally built as a department

store)

AKA Urbanc Bldg (after the name of the initial owner)

1903

Sides: Vienna Succession

Door: more traditional Art Nouveau

YOUR DOOR TODAY

YOUR DOOR TODAY

MORE POETIC INFORMATION

Valentin Vodnik, poet

and mentor of Preseren

1758-1819

A Wreath of Sonnets (2/14)
by Frances Preseren Translated by: V. de Sola Pinto		A record of my pain and of your praise Will this be to Slovenes as yet unborn, When moss shall grow upon my tomb forlorn, And over all that grieves me and dismays; And haughty maids with beauty to amaze Like yours, on hearing these my strains, will scorn To lock their hearts in armour; they'll adorn Their love with faithful thoughts and faithful ways. For all Slovenes will then dawn brighter days And kindlier stars upon their land will gaze, More brilliant songs will come with better times. Yet my songs, too, with sweetly flowing rhymes May still survive the future's changing phase, Since from my heart's deep roots have sprung these lays.

Visual Poetry

Simon Gregorcic
(1844-1906)

Monument to the poet, and to his
poem, "Cup of Life"
as evidenced by the urn above him.
French Revolution Square

YOUR DOOR TODAY

A VALENTINE'S DAY MESSAGE FROM HERMES

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY, FELLOW BLOGGISTS

















There is no better architectural style with which to say "Happy Valentine's Day", than the Baroque. Well, maybe a little Art Nouveau as well.

As if it were created on the 14th day, the Baroque period is filled with cherubic faces, and chubby cupids, curly qs, and swirly curls, twining branches and heart-shaped leaves, gods of power and goddesses of love -- and, there are even reds, if not orangish reds.

So if the poets of Ljubljana weren't enough to lace these Valentine's weekend posts, these two lush and laden styles are.


Supposing there is no changing the forces of nature, Ljubljana's massive earthquakes of 1511 and 1895 couldn't have come at a better time. Having to rebuild a city first in the Baroque style, and then again at the height of Art Nouveau was a gift for future generations. And if that were not enough, after WWII, Joze Plecnik (Slovenia's version of Frank Lloyd Wright) was around to expand the city using his unique architectual ideas. These included a strong committment to functional, as well as pleasant, public spaces.

Needless to say, the combination of lines here, is a perfect visual fit for any day, but particularly for this day of celebrating beauty and love.


There are Baroque buildings, and churches, and fountains, and statues, and monuments, and doors, and adornments throughout the city, which abut the undulating, lively, and organic Art Noveau (apparently they have their own subset called Vienna Succession here) style gates, and houses, and bridges. Then there is an intermingling of Plecnik's libraries, monuments, thoroughfares, marketplaces, and virandas. And eventhough many of the elegant older buildings are quite dilapidated -- the origin of shabby chic I guess -- they still serve as a powerful dilutant for the socialist-era high rises. That's only opinion though. Some feel the osmolality is just fine. One of the Fulbright Fellows this semester is an architect, and over lunch this week, he discussed the attribute of "equity" (and it followed that equity was a good thing of course) in socialist-era architecture, because of its functionality and ability to accomodate large numbers, at a low cost it. I say that is looking at the bright side. He also appreciated the "austere" quality of it. I am not sure I do. I'm all for leveling, but can't we do it on a little higher plane?

Or in fact, does functionality alone make something beautiful, and thus leveling at any level, is good, and beautiful? Do we need a poll?


Or maybe it is just that in architecture, beauty is simply what no one is tired of yet.





So, for your Valentine's day enjoyment, here are a few "Baroquen" hearts, leafy hearts, and chubby cupids, as well as other-era structures, in which you may, or may not, find beauty.

The Hauptman House c. 1904

The Embassy again
1897









The Dragon Bridge, 1901




designed by a student architect. The most famous Vienna Successionist example in Ljubljana,




and the most photographed sight.

And now some Plecnik

The Triple Bridge

Plecnik 1931

Triple Bridge railing, and market promenade,

both by Plecnik

1931




Plecnik designed library

and some more recent styles

Socialist era, 1969

and finally,

Consumer era

2010

Lollipops for polymer clay lovers















and Happy Valentine's Day, AK Bloggists.










.