Sunday 4 September 2011

Hold tight....it's Storytelling Sunday

It's Storytelling Sunday again over at High in the Sky and my contribution is a story from our holidays.

This year was our fourth visit to Kranjska Gora in Slovenia.  It's a ski resort in the winter and a great base for walking and cycling holidays in the summer.  For those of you not sure where it is, Kranjska Gora lies at the top left of Slovenia (previously part of Yugoslavia) very close to the Austrian and Italian borders.

So my story begins on our first visit when the teen wasn't yet a teen.  On the first day we decided to take a chairlift ride to the very top of a mountain, where at the top a reasonably long enough walk for our first day could be taken.  Rob wasn't too keen to be taking the chairlift but we persuaded him it would be OK and managed to get him on it.  Well the look on his face (sheer fear) told us that we were not going to get him onto the second part of the journey, another chairlift right to the top.

Fast forward four years, Rob is still a little nervous but again we persuade him to try again.  This time we are all smiles as we drift silently up the mountainside taking in the views from our four seater chair.  'I don't know what I was worried about' Rob laughs......then the next part of the journey involves a little walk before we get to the chairlift station.  As we turn the corner we are confronted by single seater lifts.  He is sure to bulk at this, but no Rob is the first on.  I am feeling a little nervous myself but I don't have time to think about it too much as we are ushered on and the flimsy bar is pulled down to keep you in.  The seat is so small I can't even fit my rucksack on my lap and desperately hang onto it with one hand while my other hand grimly clings onto the side of the chairlift.

A sedate start at the beginning using the lower chairlift.

Getting a little higher....

I decide that this part of the journey I really don't like, thoughts are running through my head that include what a long way to fall into the rocky ravine it is, if we stopped how would the emergency services rescue us (no really I'm not kidding, health and safety doesn't of seemed to of arrived in Slovenia yet and a helicopter would of swayed the chair around uncontrollably, ) and how cold it is up here and would I be brave enough to let go and put my jumper on......do you think my thoughts were running away with me?.

The higher chairlift.....call this substantial?

Eek.....stop, I want to get off!

I try to take my mind off disasters by trying to take out my camera and taking some photos (again this is difficult as it involves not holding on) but strangely, looking through a lens doesn't seem so scary....until thoughts of dropping it reminds me of how high up we are.

But the views were worth it.

Resting after my ordeal.
The chairlift station is in sight now and anyone that has been on a chairlift will know how they don't stop but you have to be dragged off by the chairlift operator and run out of the way of the next chair coming in.  I breathe a sigh of relief.  After checking with Rob and Nige I find I am the only one not enjoying the trip.  Luckily the walk afterwards boasts unbelievable views from it's summit of Slovenia and it's neighbouring countries of Italy and Austria and I feel glad that we made the journey.......until the return trip.

18 comments:

  1. Scary but well worth it, so glad you managed to take some photos too.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The views are absolutely stunning! But I think there would have been at least one of us here who felt the same way. My DH doesn't like heights at all. I think he might have said he was happy to stay at the bottom!

    Thanks for this terrifying tale today Alana. I do love your title too - very fitting today beasue we have a collection of scary stories this time round :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh my goodness! I agree with you that the views were worth it, those photos are stunning! BUT - I seriously would have been wetting myself on that chairlift. I've been skiing before but I can't remember being on a single lift like that, and having to hold my rucksack rather than putting it on my lap would completely freak me out, lol! All I can say is - well done! :D

    ReplyDelete
  4. Fantastic photos, they made my stomach flip as I'm terrified of heights.
    C
    xx

    ReplyDelete
  5. I believe the one-seater would have scared me, too. I've never seen one that small.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I think you should feel very proud of yourself for getting through it and also taking some marvellous photos while you were at it.

    I can't imagine being on the single chairlift and I'd have been worried about getting off and been holding on very tightly. My experience of chair lifts involved getting on an off with a pair of skis dangling from my feet and I was concentrating on staying upright.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great story! Gorgeous views - not sure we'd have got everyone here on those single chairs, even if we like to look down from up high normally.

    ReplyDelete
  8. those photos gave me the willies too....i would never in a month of sundays have got on that chair lift...even with such fantastic views!lol! great story!

    ReplyDelete
  9. What gorgeous views! I've just been saying how I love scary rollercoasters, however, you would not have got me on that chair lift! I think you were incredibly brave! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  10. The views do look worth the trip, even if it was scary. Good job on the photos despite your fears.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Those views are certainly spctacular! I'm a bit scared of heights though ...

    ReplyDelete
  12. I got weak in the knees just looking at those pictures; chair lifts are my least favorite part of skiing! Very evocative writing.
    Rinda

    ReplyDelete
  13. oh er that looks like a scarey knee wobbling chairlift experience. i wouldnt have made it i dont think so big pat on the back for that big achievement. the views are spectacular and taking photos while holding on for dear life...............that's real bravery
    Jo xxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like my thought processes on chair lifts - somehow the blanket of snow in winter looks like a softer landing than the bare rocks! Love the views at the top - looks like a beautiful place to visit.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh my gosh! That looks seriously scary!! Well done you for being brave, I think that would be beyond me lol. Looks like you had a great time!

    Becky - http://www.thegirlwhoblogs.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Oh my your pictures are just beautiful. Another brave lady! this is becoming Sian's collection of scary stories. I need more tea before I move on!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Huge pat on the back for you you're a brave woman. I will say well worth it for those views :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. That does look a little scary - and I can tell you there would be no way to get me up there if I had to travel across water!! Those are some very nice pictures though.

    ReplyDelete