Notice: Will Hike Mountains For Sweets and a View

Someone should write a survival guide that tells you not to eat five Little Debbie–esque Swiss Cake Rolls (Slovenian style) before embarking upon your first hike up a huge mountain in, say, ten years. Not withstanding that no one should eat five Little Debbies in the first place, it would be sound advice.

The sun shone brightly in the sky when Marta and I awoke from our five-hour nap that we called a night’s sleep. We jumped in the car, afraid to be late to meet Marta’s music friends for our hike up Šmarno goro. We stopped by a convenience store to grab a bottle of water and a pack of Slovenian Debbies for our breakfast fuel up the mountain.

Marta said, “It’s a thirty-minute hike.” Ha, yeah! For a nation full of avid hiking enthusiasts, my new American friend Joe and I found out. Thirty minutes my foot. But was it ever worth it!! Red in the face and a little more than glistening, I made it to the top…both tops that is! The view was lovely – the Alps capped with snow majestically guarding the lush green valleys, dotted with little houses.

There were probably a hundred people at the top during the time that we relaxed there, garnering rays. There were chairs to soak up the sun, restaurants with decadent smelling food (most famous for the Slovenian beignet), and a monastery complete with singing monks celebrating Palm Sunday.

A glorious hearty morning, filled with smiles, laughter, new friends, and exercise! What a way to celebrate God’s gift to humanity! Happy Palm Sunday!