BY D . LYNN SKILLEN

Old City Dubrovnik .

Under a blazing Croatian sun in a cloudless sky , we climbed steadily upward over an uneven path to the refuge of Vidova Gora on Brac Island , the highest peak in the Andriatic Island . It requires an elevation gain of 641 metres over 7 km in 90 minutes . Slamming one foot hard in front of the other , I ignored the vista and fellow hikers ’ chatter . Would I suffer heat exhaustion as I had in Canada ? Silently fuming , I struggled not to blurt out my fear and my anger at the risk factors of scant shade , diminishing water and unsalted snacks . I tried distraction , thinking about the explorations we had enjoyed so far .

Two weeks earlier , twenty-one male and female strangers ranging in age from early 40s to 70s convened in Pearson International Airport to

Seventeenth century Baroque church on an island in Lake Bled . hike in Slovenia and trek along Croatian coastline . After landing at Klagenfurt , Austria , we took a bus to Bled , Slovenia , experiencing over fifty hairpin turns while we were still sleep-deprived .

Dober dan ! ( Good Day !) Staff at Hotel Kompas were welcoming . Our leader led a walkabout to indicate the six kilometre path around Lake Bled , Bled Island with its seventeenth century Baroque church , and Blejski Castle on a cliff . My room overlooked Lake Bled and exuded old-world charm .

Every morning a buffet breakfast began with cold cereals , meats , cheeses and yoghurts . Burners heated jam dumplings , brochette , sunny-side-up eggs with peppercorn eyes , grilled veggies , cocktail frankfurters , bacon and sausages . Platters of toast , whole-wheat buns , twisted sweet rolls , and thin crêpes accompanied fresh and dried fruits .

Early in the adventure , we explored Vintgar Gorge on 1539 metres of wooden walkways that hug its walls . A kaleidoscope of emerald , jade , lime , sea foam and viridian , the gorge soothed spirits . Visitors clogged the boardwalk , but burbling water , unpolluted air , and nature ’ s envelope of greens cushioned their effect . Afterwards , we climbed up to a hike-side restaurant for pizza and Union , the local pivo ( beer ).

Four languages were printed on most menus and notices : Slovene , English , Italian , and German . I learned more Slovene words : da ( yes ),

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