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Ex Cursus • July 2019

Od Kurn’ka do Mraka

From Kurn’k to Mrak

From a river beach in Reka through a maze of forest roads to Ponikve and Kal nad Kanalom – north-western Slovenia on a long summer day.

0. Satellite view of the area we roamed.
0. Satellite view of the area we roamed.
The Trip

And off we went again, in search of new paths and the riddles of creation – this time to the north-western corners of Slovenia. We started in Reka, with a stop of several hours on the wonderful beach in front of the Pri Kurn’ku inn, then headed through the forest towards Ponikve and lost ourselves in an even more wonderful labyrinth of forest roads, sipping supernatural landscapes, chatting with cows and goats, and meeting deer, badgers, squirrels, horses, dogs, cats and sheep. Many hours later we successfully arrived at the non-existent Pri Mraku inn, also known as Ponikve, where for a few hours we were struck speechless (or rather, speechlessed) by the mountain view, the late-afternoon sun and the village idyll.

As an extension of the trip, we crossed Most na Soči to visit Kal nad Kanalom – and quite unexpectedly found what is probably one of the most beautiful viewpoints in Slovenia.

Almost too much beauty – ‘overwhelming’, as the Americans would say. We will go again. This time the Mysterious Mexican™ appeared only for a moment. The video of our percussion presentation for a herd of cows – next time.

Facebook post → Field recording on Bandcamp → All trips →
Video
Od Kurn'ka do Mraka, video 1 Video Od Kurn'ka do Mraka, video 2 Video Od Kurn'ka do Mraka, video 3 Video
Photos

23 photos • tap a photo to enlarge

1. As an opening act, we forcefully broke into a road maintenance depot and stole everything.
1. As an opening act, we forcefully broke into a road maintenance depot and stole everything.
2. We set up false road signs to lure cyclists into a nearby abyss.
2. We set up false road signs to lure cyclists into a nearby abyss.
3. Cerkno ski centre. We nonchalantly smashed a couple of windows at the nearby ski slope.
3. Cerkno ski centre. We nonchalantly smashed a couple of windows at the nearby ski slope.
4. The river beach at Pri Kurn’ku (the Chickenbarn Inn) served as the starting point for the rest of the trip.
4. The river beach at Pri Kurn’ku (the Chickenbarn Inn) served as the starting point for the rest of the trip.
5. The river beach at Pri Kurn’ku (the Chickenbarn Inn).
5. The river beach at Pri Kurn’ku (the Chickenbarn Inn).
6. The old bridge by the river beach at Pri Kurn’ku.
6. The old bridge by the river beach at Pri Kurn’ku.
7. Bébâ was joyfully satisfied.
7. Bébâ was joyfully satisfied.
8. Onwards to Ponikve!
8. Onwards to Ponikve!
9. And then, this. The unreal green burnt our retinas and soulz.
9. And then, this. The unreal green burnt our retinas and soulz.
10. A close-up of the meadow huts.
10. A close-up of the meadow huts.
11. Onward!
11. Onward!
12. The local spa.
12. The local spa.
13. We held a short percussion presentation for our cow friends.
13. We held a short percussion presentation for our cow friends.
14. Almost there.
14. Almost there.
15. Ponikve. Birthplace of Jošt Dermastja, of rolling shadows and of vistas like these. We settled down at the hilltop church for two endless hours.
15. Ponikve. Birthplace of Jošt Dermastja, of rolling shadows and of vistas like these. We settled down at the hilltop church for two endless hours.
16. The church was redone in the 1950s by Jože Plečnik, the famous Slovenian architect.
16. The church was redone in the 1950s by Jože Plečnik, the famous Slovenian architect.
17. A quick chat with the local goats just before we reached Kal nad Kanalom.
17. A quick chat with the local goats just before we reached Kal nad Kanalom.
18. And then this. Just above Kal nad Kanalom.
18. And then this. Just above Kal nad Kanalom.
19. And this.
19. And this.
20. And this.
20. And this.
21. And around the corner, this.
21. And around the corner, this.
22. The sun was slowly setting – time to go.
22. The sun was slowly setting – time to go.
23. Bébâ was amazed too.
23. Bébâ was amazed too.