So I find that I write the best when I write in the present moment. I have to abandon, but for the moment my day by day account, because I'm seriously behind and I can't guarantee my internet access until I get to Prague.
So at the present moment, it is 3 AM in Ljubljana, Slovenia. I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. I think someone is thinking of me. That's a Filipino thing. I think it's my Mom because when I called I was only able to talk to my Dad because she was at work. My calling card only only works in Callback mode in Slovenia. It sort of works like a pager. You dial an access number, you call the number and leave a number to call you back on. But somehow it doesn't work and I know it's because I'm not using it correctly. That happens a lot here. I stare at the phone for a few minutes to try to figure it out. We get used to how it works one way and we realize there's some subtleties to how things work for others. It's not just phones. So this travel thing is good for brain exercise because it puts familiar things in a different context and suddenly you have to think about something that you once thought was obvious. Except after a few weeks on the road and constantly faced with the familiar in an unfamiliar context, I think I am starting to sprain my brain. Is that possible?
The events so far leading up to Ljubljana, in brief, are as follows.
I had an amazing time at the Cinque Terre which I have a complete spiel about that I'm saving for a later post. The next day I took the train from La Spezia to Milano Centrale. Stayed in Milan for a few days to visit the Reyes family. Milan as a sights destination was okay but the highlight of Milan was the visit with this family. They made me homemade Italian dinners that were absolutely amazing. I got the recipe for a lasagna bolognese that I hope to recreate when I get back. It was also nice to do ordinary things in a different city like grocery shopping. I stayed an extra day in Milan because our family friend offered to take me to the Questura to see about extending my visa until Nov 10 so I could still make a go for Croatia and Paris to visit Danielle. 
Nov 1 here is a holiday so I had to to it on Nov 2 which was the day I had set aside for Venice. In the end, they again said they could do nothing and by then the train schedules for Venice didn't make sense and Caloy had already taken the day off so I decided to stay the rest of the daz in Milan. We went to Lake Como. I was secretly hoping to run into George Clooney. Wouldn't that have been great! Sadly no Clooney at Como de Lago.
Then I headed to Ljubljana but I had five hours to kill at the Venice stop so I stored my pack at the train station and boarded a vaporetto to tour the Grand Canal all the way to St. Mark's Square. So Venice was not completely lost. Although, five hours for Venice is truly not enough. I felt ok though. I could have just stayed in Venice for the night too but I didn't want to travel three consecutive days. To be honest, being on the road is really quite tiring. I'm starting to miss my bed. I was a bit worried that I was taking the later train to Ljubljana and still had no accomodations. 
The tourist office was closed by the time I got to there and I wasn't sure how safe it was to walk around the city at night. But so happy to report that I successfuly maneuvered my way to a fine hostel very close to the train station and the old part of town which is the attraction to see in Ljubljana. My first hostel. I had called some hotels earlier and they were way way expensive and I just had a feeling that I should be able to find something cheaper once I got here. Hostel living is a strange experience. I may have missed the window to truly find it appealing but for the price it's hard to dismiss it as an option.In Ljubljana, I walked around the old part of town, partook of sweet rolls and breads and fresh fruit from the farmer's market and hiked to the castle that towered over the town.
There. Caught up. Not as brief as I thought. More pictures next time. Will attempt to go back to sleep.
To my family, don't worry, I have confirmed accommodations for Vienna tonight and tomorrow I head to Prague where I can call to my heart's content.
I hiked the two trails from Monterosso, Vernazza, and Corniglia. The trails to Manarola were closed so I headed back to Vernazza instead to wait for the sunset. Italy's weather has been unusually warm for this late October season. Shopowners are even preparing for the end of the season, closing shop and moving to the bigger city where it's more comfortable, but they are staying put another week or so to see this fine weather out. I took it as a sign, a gift, and headed for the water. I'm one of few. Although it's unusually warm, the water is still pretty cold. My only accomplice is a little girl who is gritting her teeth in a lie when her mom asks her if it is too cold. She also had floaters on her arms (another sign). But it truly was nice. The water is salty and soft and the stones does not feel grimmy but the stones only go so far for it gets deep quick. There is more to Cinque Terre but I want to wait until I have pictures to show you.
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