Just a short drive from Piran is an area where they have been harvesting salt from the sea for hundreds of years. Called simply Soline, which literally means ‘salt fields’, they are now no longer used as much as they once were, which leaves them with a bit of a haunted, deserted air. To be clear, they do still harvest salt at Soline using the same techniques that were used in the 14th century. And the salt harvested from Soline is highly prized by many of Europe’s top chefs, including Alain Ducasse. The salt harvested is put into simple small canvas bags and sold at the Piranske Soline shops in Piran and Old Town Ljubljana. Of course I had to have some for my collection, so we will be coming home with some of that prized salt ourselves.
The three Majas were kind enough to drive out from Ljubljana to visit us, so we made the trip to Soline together. Everyone brought their cameras (except me *sob* (see post on Barcelona vermin)). We had a great time exploring and taking photos. The sun cooperated and gave us some beautiful light and a stunning sunset. I can’t wait to get some of these photos home and frame them!
Walking out to the salt fieldsBirds at SolineSomehow this makes me think of the Seven Dwarves. The hills in the background belong to Croatia.Abandoned stone house along the salt pansThe sunset gave us amazing lightThis one's going up on the wall when we get home!Beautiful golden hour light on a deserted stone cottageAncient canalThe Three Majas, aka The Pink LadiesSoline portraitAnd the sun goes downBeautiful sunsetGood night, sun
On our honeymoon, Larry and I went on a day trip to the coast – all 20 kilometers of it. Slovenija unfortunately does not have much coastline owing to the fact that Italy and Croatia took most of it for themselves. Don’t even get Slovenes started on Croatia – they’re not happy about Croatia stealing all the coastline, in addition to the fact that they’re in a battle right now over access to the open sea. At any rate, the modest coastline that Slovenija does hold along the Adriatic is picturesque and charming and . . . a little bit Italian. The town we will be spending two weeks in is Piran – first settled by the Venetians several hundred years ago and as such, the city looks more like Italy to me than it does Slovenija. Even today, you can see Trieste, the nearest major Italian port city, in the distance from the rooftops of Piran. The residents even speak with an Italian accent here – and I can tell that though I don’t speak the language!
Tartini Square at the center of PiranTartini Square is named for the famous violinist, Giuseppe Tartini, who was born in PiranTartini Square is also the place where all the mothers bring their young children to play in the eveningsCindyLou Who riding her pink scooter at Tartini Square
On our day trip a few years ago, we spent a few hours in Piran and vowed to come back – so here we are. We’ve got a tiny apartment for the next two weeks in the middle of this tiny little ancient town. The streets are so narrow you can’t imagine anyone driving a car down them – until you see someone doing it. Yet another reason the European auto market is full of much smaller cars.
Narrow Piran streetsPiran streetsOld friends going to the square
One secret about Slovenija is that it has amazing calamari. Larry always told me this and I had a hard time believing him until we visited and I tried for myself. Seriously – it’s amazing. It bears no resemblance whatsoever to the rubbery, over-coated stuff you get in the states. And being a seacoast town, Larry and I immediately headed to one of the waterfront restaurants where we had some for lunch. I can’t get enough of this stuff!!!
Calamari!
Though it is late September, the air on the coast is still warm and the water temperature is still 73 degrees. There are still plenty of people swimming!
Walking along the ancient city walls which follow the coastlineThe harbor at sunsetLooking down on the peninsula from the medieval town fortifications
