Category: LJ Pic of the Day
Tivoli Park Trio – Three Snaps From Ljubljana’s Central Park
These were taken with my somewhat crappy Nokia mobile phone yesterday at Tivoli Park, giving you a general idea of what the center of Ljubljana looks like as seen from the west. I purposely left home without my camera, throwing books in my pack instead. That didn’t keep me from snapping photos.
I don’t think the park is quite central in a purely geographic sense, but Tivoli has certainly become central to my life here over the past few years. It’s an amazing resource than lots of people here simply take for granted. Bad, bad, bad. But not this guy below who appears to have nearly mastered the art of camouflage.
These mark the 45th straight day I’ve posted at least one daily pic from Slovenia’s capital, part of a project that began back in January 2007. And I need to take a break. So I’m going to. 
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Supermoon Minus 1
This was last night’s moon as seen from the balcony, which I feel compelled to post as today’s LJ Pic of the Day in the event that I won’t be out there snapping tonight. I’m feeling kinda lousy and my body is telling me to sleep. Lots.
Some technical details for those interested: shot at f6.3, 1/400, 200 ASA, focal length 300, so obviously cropped. This was taken while the sky was still fairly blue, so shoot earlier if you generally wait until it’s dark when shooting the moon. That may not be news to some of you, but it was to me. Good luck and looking forward to lots of great pics tomorrow.
Related articles
- ‘Supermoon’ to dominate night sky (rt.com)
- Wonder What Werewolves Are Doing Tommorow – It’s a SUPERMOON!! (bugeyedupdates.wordpress.com)
- Look Up: Tonight, ‘Supermoon’ Is Closer To Earth (wnyc.org)
- Supermoon 2012 (111collagedesign.blogspot.com)
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Salamiad 2012
Today’s LJ Pic of the Day is another call to action if you happen to be in Ljubljana tomorrow (Saturday 5 May), happen to not have afternoon plans, and happen to not be a vegetarian.
It’s the Salamijada 2012, in the village of Dvor pri Polhovem Gradcu, just west of Ljubljana, sponsored by the Vetrnik Tourist Association (Turistično Društvo Vetrnik). It’s a very pretty area and just about a 30-40 minutes bike ride west of the center.
Links (Slovenian only): [TD Vetrnik] [Salamijada] [Map Link]
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McCurry in Ljubljana, Thru June 17
There won’t be too many of you who won’t recognize this iconic photo taken by Steve McCurry, whose work will be on exhibit at Ljubljana Castle through June 17.
McCurry popped into town today for tonight’s official opening, hosted by Slovenian President Danilo Turk. A facebook friend was kind enough to send me an invitation, but a late hour work-related boondoggle came up and kept me away. Call me Cinderfella. At least I’ve got the next month-and-a-half to make it up castle hill to check it out. If you’re in Ljubljana between now and mid-June, you should too.
More on the exhibit on the castle website. Admission 10 €.
Related articles
- Famed Photographer Steve McCurry Launches New Online Presence That Showcases Thousands of His Images (prweb.com)
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LJ Pic of the Day
This is another shot of one of my favorite sculptures in Ljubljana, a memorial at Žale Cemetery for civilians killed during the German occupation of Ljubljana during the second World War.
I posted another of the same sculpture about a year-and-a-half ago and another four years before that, during the first week of the LJ Pic a Day chore, back in January 2007. It’s a very sobering monument, one I never tire of looking at.
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LJ Pic of the Day Hits 40, International Museum Day Reminder
Considering it took me more than five years to manage a period of 40 (!) straight LJ Pic of Day postings, it’s no wonder that this otherwise subdued dude, permanently stationed in front of the Museum of Modern Art, is shouting the news to anyone who’ll listen.
Which reminds me: Friday 18 May is International Museum Day, and all museums and galleries in Ljubljana will be participating as well, offering free admission, special workshops, lectures, and more. Here’s a good starting point for a museum directory. Ljubljana in Your Pocket has a very good, continually update culture and events listing with plenty of museum, gallery and exhibit links.
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Reflecting..
.. on precisely what it means that I’ve managed to post a daily photo from Ljubljana for a record 39th straight day. When I figure it out, I’ll let you know.
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Cossack-dancing Chinese-Slovenian Pre-teens
Today’s LJ Pic of the Day is from another neighborhood Chinese restaurant, Halo Shaolin, which is almost directly across the street from the main train and bus station. Is there anything that screams ‘EAT HERE’ more than a bald pre-pubescent boy wielding an impaled roasted chicken while doing a Cossack dance?
No, I didn’t think so.
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Eastern Europe Envy
I just came across this interesting piece –Six Enviable Traits From Eastern Europe– in Big Think by Francis Tapon who spent the past three years traveling in 25 Eastern European countries. Just six? 
Two stand out:
1. There’s one characteristic that all Eastern Europeans share, from Finland to Macedonia, from Slovenia to Ukraine—it’s toughness. Eastern Europeans are a gritty, intense, and supernaturally sturdy people. Communism, wars, and winters have sculpted their tradition of getting by with little. They may whine and complain, but they’ll endure any hardship and overcome any challenge with a stoic and grim determination.
and
3. Eastern European cities have outstanding pedestrian zones.
He also describes Slovenians as workaholics. Like the ego-trippin’ dude at top whose boots are certainly the envy of everyone he crosses paths with. He’s working over-time today –on a holiday no less– moonlighting as the subject for today’s LJ Pic of the Day.
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Project USA Update
USA, as we all know, stands for Uninspired Socialist Architecture, the working title of a photo project I’ve been toying with for the past few months.
There’s no shortage of USA, constructed in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, here in Ljubljana, so plenty of fodder to play with to piece together a collection drab enough to suit the subject matter. This, the 36th (!) straight LJ Pic of the Day, was snapped during the tail end of an early evening bike ride. Thoughts?
