frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. Can never tire of saying how interesting and gorgeous this city is. And then I get to hear the stories. Some horrifying ones from WWII. The city was not bombed but the commies did a job on the people.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thanks. Great being back.

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

nice picks been there 2 years ago if you have the time go to bled you wont be sorry would love to go back. But having a bad time right know went to the hospital 5 weeks because my blood p was 240 spent 2 day in there went home 2 day later my leg was twice the size it was support to be went back to the HP found out I had a blood clot in my right leg spent 4 days in the HP went 4 days later went back in to the HP which I had a bad pain in my side found out I had a bad inflamed gallbladder so they had to put in a drain ,I went home and 2 days later went back to the HP to have it removed in out patient using scope when got a look they` had to open me up nice 8 in scare which end up with major surgery my gallbladder was attached to my liver lost 1.1 leaders of blood spent 5 day in the HP then I went then I got the good news the gallbladder was cancers now I have to start kemo on Monday all this in 5 weeks.so know I'm holding off on the new camera and lens D750 and a200-500 MM lens
PS at least there keeping me happy they got me on oxycodone 4 timer a day maybe tomorrow I may get out and take so pictures.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Quite a course you are going through at the moment. I was in Bled last year. It was one of those mystical days for photography with fog, mist, and at the very end some sun popping through the clouds. Unfortunately it was with a sort of tour group I'd been asked to accompany to celebrate Mass in English, the only language they had in common, at the shrine at Brezje nearby. Not certain I would want to attempt visiting Bled on a weekend in the summer.

tboro

Ain’t travel wonderful! Especially when you have the talent to photograph it, as you clearly have.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

Thank you. Travel is great. I got my first passport at 17 and haven't been without one since. Just renewed to come here as the last one was set to expire in October. Probably my last renewal. I've spent between three months and one year in multiple countries over the past fifty years. When I told my oldest sister that I was going to France and Chad for three months she sighed and asked if I knew the difference between "the three of us" (number of sibs) and you." Uh, which one . . . She replied, "We go to another country for two weeks. You get a new zip code." Correct again. There is something about this part of Europe in particular that draws me and makes the shooting easier.

tboro

I understand about the draw. In the not to distant past we spent a month in Rome. When I tell people that they give me a blank stare like what did you do. What they don’t realize is that one could spend a lifetime there.

tboro

I understand about the draw. In the not to distant past we spent a month in Rome. When I tell people that they give me a blank stare like what did you do. What they don’t realize is that one could spend a lifetime there.

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

That is hilarious. People generally have an idea of where Rome is. When I told a Jesuit colleague is was going to Slovenia for about a year he asked what I did to get the provincial angry. A lifetime in Rome with a camera would scratch the surface but not much more. Thanks for the comment.

D and ME Loc: Stevensville MT

frjack:
I am interested in a trip to Slovenia. Have relatives that have a guest house in or near Cerkje. Did you use a tour guide or a travel guide for your trip?

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

I don't use either. I am a Jesuit priest. When I come here I live in one of our communities. They show me around, take me around, and so on. When I was here for a year the work I was doing took through several parts of the country as well as into Lithuania and Hungary. I don't know much about tour bookings here but I've run across guided tours of Ljubljana in which the guide was speaking Chinese (and she was not Asian), English, and multiple other languages. The Jesuit church is only seven minutes by foot from the center of Ljubljana. It is two blocks to the road that leads to Ljubljana Castle.

Tourism is increasing rapidly in the country. My one recommendation is do not come in November. Rain. It doesn't stop. The earlier fall can be beautiful here and spring is a riot. The temperatures while I've been here have been in the mid-80s. Humidity has not been a problem for this New Englander. You won't regret a trip to this gorgeous country. To put it into context geographically, Slovenia is only ten square miles smaller than the State of Massachusetts. You can see a lot in a few days. LJ is a must, Piran (the coast) is a must visit, Maribor, the second largest city (pop 100k) is delightful, Ptuj is, I think, the oldest city. Love the food. Beer is great. And potica (po teets uh) is a must (a form of nut roll).

In LJ you will encounter English speakers everywhere you go. In smaller cities English will not be a problem either.

Take lots of photos.

D and ME Loc: Stevensville MT

Father: Thanks for your reply. We are well acquainted with the Jesuits. The Salish-Kootenai tribe made several trips to St. Louis Missouri to beg the Jesuits to come to western Montana so they could learn about our faith. Father Ravalli came from Italy and Father DeSmet came from St. Louis in 1841. Stevensville MT became the first white settlement and the birthplace of the state of Montana. Father Ravalli was a "jack of all trades". St. Mary's Mission Historic Site (http://www.saintmarysmission.org) has Father Ravalli's Cabin with his hand made furniture. He was also a painter and a pharmacist. He had a pharmacy in the back of his cabin from which he dispensed medication to the Indians. Check their website for the history and more information. We also have Jesuit parish (St. Francis) in Missoula. Hopefully some day soon we will make a trip to Slovenia and try and find our cousins. As for the poticia..... My maternal grandmother was an immigrant to Minnesota. My mother had a love affair with poticia. It was our staple for any and all occasions. When my brother and I left home, we could always expect a poticia in the mail for birthdays and Christmas and Easter. I have only made it once but have her original recipe.
Thanks for getting to meet you. Mary Hurley (me@dandme.com).

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

If you do get to LJ the Jesuit church (is not a parish) sv. Jože is two blocks from the entrance to the road that leads to the castle (Ljubljanica Grad). It is not a bad walk but one can also drive up. sv. Jože has an English-language Mass every Sunday at 10 AM in the small chapel attached to the massively large church that is finally being rehabbed. The commies used it as a movie production studio. It was finally returned about 25 years ago. The church is only about seven minutes walk to the center of the city and to the pink Franciscan Church at Prešernov Trg (Square). Got back to Boston last night. Already missing LJ.

D and ME Loc: Stevensville MT

Father Jack: Thanks for the reply. Hopefully we will get to LJ in the not to distant future. Don and Mary Hurley

frjack Loc: Boston, MA

A return is in the planner. I'm presenting at a symposium in Loyola, Spain next June. And then: Ljubljana to visit, have klobasa, do some photography, and simply enjoy being there.