Coexisting and living close with other cultures and communities enriches our everyday life. When you are living on the border of two countries, where two border regions have close and intertwined relations you forget that in the past the situation was quite different. You forget that the border was a proper line that divided friends and families.
Walk to hill Kremenjak is walk along the Slovenian and Italian border, the area is covered with numerous paths that connect both countries into a marvellous recreational area.
Sunny winter day was just the right day for a relaxing 30 minutes’ (one way) walk from Nova Vas (Opatje Selo) to the top of Kremenjak hill. Well-maintained macadam road, ideal also for biking, is surrounded by meadows and some pastures.
Since it is on the karst terrain, you will easily notice many stone walls – characteristic element of the Karst landscape. They are constructed from the stones, picked up from the fields and carefully assembled without using any other building materials.
Along the path you will see different remains of the past that will tell the story of the region when the border crossing was not easy at all. Right at the beginning of the path you will pass the remains of the military border outpost.
You cannot miss and an old (but now renovated) brick guard tower of the former Yugoslav army. What was once a tower to control and prevent any illegal border crossing is today a view – tower from where you can see the whole gulf of Trieste. If the visibility is very good you can even spot the city of Venice… just need to climb “an iron ladder” and you are on the top!
The tranquillity and the peace that reigns today in the area is well presented by some of the farm animals, that are enjoying their meals at their own peace.
Very quickly you will reach the top of Kremenjak, which has only 236 meters of altitude but offer a magic view of Trieste gulf, with the city of Monfalcone lying almost below your feet. If you turn around, you will admire the peaks of the Julian Alps covered with snow.
On the top of Kremenjak you will see another reminder from the past, and old military observation point. For me it become “the frame” more some great shoots.
PS: The title is a partial citation from Amelia Earhart
Thanks for reading,
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Best regards, @miljo76