i It is so funny that at this point in my journey, i still actually believe that i am going to follow through with whatinitially plan to do. as my time alone winds down (i am meeting steve on monday for almost a week and then tom for about 10 days), i think i have felt a sense of urgency to plan things out, think ahead a bit more aboutwhat i want to be doing, and be more proactive about my time. so far, this has been disasterous for me. i have been much more stressed out the last few days as i think about what i should be doing, what i want to be doing, how i dont' have time to do it all, and how i haven't done a lot of the things i thought i would do. i actually get a bit grumpy just thinking about it.
yesterday i planned to see all of ljubljana and get a feel for the city. while i did actually enjoy my bike ride around the parks and the view from the castle, i still don't have great feel for what ljubljana is like as a city.
it was fun to rent a bike, but i was actually pretty hilarious on it. there are bikers everywhere here - on the streets, on the sidewalks, etc. they have bike lanes everywhere - also sometimes up on the sidewalk and sometimes on teh street. i started out with a very clear idea in my head of where i wanted to initially go and how to get there. I could have just followed the streets taht i initially mapped out, but the bike paths are red, and it is almost like i was mesmerized by them and, once on them, i couldn't seem to deviate off of them. i would find one and just follow wherever it would lead. then suddenly it would abruptly end. i would then re-orientate myself by mapping out a new path to my destination and start biking again (for most of the day my plan was to make it to the tivoli park area, which is not far at all from where i am staying). BUT when i came to a new bike path, i wouldn't even think about it but would get on the path and let it lead me.
I think that if it had been any other point in my trip, this finding my way/losing my way journey would have been fun and amusing. however, i just ended up being frustrated with myself that it took til 5:30 in the afternoon to find the one thing that i wanted to see yesterday.
last night, after a fun but annoying day, i decided that part of the reason for my grumpiness was probably general tiredness. so i decided early on to go to bed early. i texted my slovenian friends, told them i was staying in, and even ate dinner at the hostel so i would have no reason to leave. i had a nice meal and was all set to settle in for the evening. BUT as soon as i got up into my dorm i started talking to lauren from canada and simon from manchester. Before i knew it, we were back down in the hostel bar having a beer. Then the Slovenian brandy came out. It was nice to sit and chat with both of them for a long time. i dont' think i made it back up to the dorm til about 2 a.m.
Which means...that today, when i had every intention of getting up early and getting out of the city to go hike around some of the lakes, i ended up sleeping in and being lazy again (it turns out that it is hard to get out of the habit of going to bed late and getting up late, once you have started doing it). it is now 12:30 and i am just thinking about starting out my day. not near the lakes. but, i am trying to forget that i had any intentions about today. i am trying to think back to myself 10 days ago and really enjoy where i am right now in the moment, instead of worrying about what i should be seeing, thinking or doing.
i am excited that i have a few more days in slovenia/croatia (depending on where i end up spending them). and i am excited that i can do what i feel like doing with my time. so off for more cafes and wandering around in circles.
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4 comments:
I think sometimes there's a disconnect betw intentions and choices... And do you sometimes feel like intending NOT to do something is more motivating? For example, today I intend to NOT eat all the worst foods possible. I dunno... for me I guess sometimes yes, sometimes no.
I am struck by the parallels between your negotiations of the bike paths and teh way some of us negotiate our life paths. I haven't thought about it long enough to decide if your life paths are specifically parallel, i.e., make one choice, follow it to the dead end, re-map, repeat. but I will think about it on the way home and let you know. But by then you will already have read this, maybe, and decided for yourself if it is relevant, which is brilliant. Personally, my life path is more like a game of Frogger...and by 'more' I mean 'exactly'.
Your posts are truly entertaining!
Sounds like you at least got some great exercise wandering around on those bike trails! Wish you had a video on the front of that bike so I could see what you are seeing! I con't know if it could possibly be as exciting as one of your Dad's bike adventures! Well I have had such a busy week that meandering around aimlessly actually sounds wonderful! You better be careful and stay safe because we love and miss you Katie. Love and hugs, Jill
I think you get the riding your bike around in circles from your dad. I have done that before in Chattanooga. Glad you are having fun. Go to bed girl.
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