Day 5: New Years in Maribor

By Kaye— Jacksonville, FL

The day began with a breakfast filled of yummy food from our wonderful Hotel Arena. After we had breakfast we debated the options of going to the spa or into town. We decided to do both. Go into town and then go to the spa.  When we arrived in town we decide to look around in another beautiful city. The Moms decided to go look at some churches and found wonderful handmade natural gifts made here in Slovenia (local wine, salt, baskets and other trinkets). Kady ventured through Maribor alone and found multiple local treasures. However the rest of the girls decide to shop and shop we did. The next adventure in day was trying to catch a bus in a foreign country that had different drop off and pick up spots. So the adventure began with us going to our original bus stop and watching the bus drive by and then going to the wrong bus stop, asking for help from a local and then finding the Moms (God Bless mothers) who directed us in the right direction and just as they did our bus drove away it was so unfortunate. But when we finally arrived at the hotel many of us decided to go to the spa and sit in the many saunas. The spa was wonderful and relaxing and perfect before our game against the Israeli Junior National team.  The team was the best we have played so far and suffered defeat 3-0.  After the game we had dinner and then came the MOUNTAIN. The hike was …. Well the Israeli team did not know what they were getting themselves into. And when we made it to the top we could barely see our tiny hotel at the bottom but the view of the city was spectacular. The lights were magnificent and we all seemed to forget about the pain we endured on the way up. As we brought in the New Year, we watched the fireworks go off in the city below for miles, it was wonderful. The descent incused. We took our places at the edge and mush, mush, mush, we began.  Down we went, bodies flew and limbs tangled. I went down and took out many people, with Meghan being my most frequent target and little Megan’s leg served as a wonderful sled, Laurel and I tangled, my legs straddle Taelor and Lindsey and I crashed. After we arrived at the bottom we, Kendall, Logan, Endea, Meghan, Laurel and I decided we should attempt another run and so we trudged quarter way up the mountain (this time in the snow) again.  When we finally got into the hotel we were ready to party. But we resisted the urge (or had to make curfew) and went to bed. This New Year’s was one for the books, my last New Year’s as a high schooler, the first in Europe and definitely was best celebrated when flying down a mountain.

Editor’s Note:  After a full buffet-style breakfast, everyone scattered around the city, searching for souvenirs and historical landmarks.  While some ventured into the city center, others opted for a day of relaxation, choosing to return to their rooms for naps or spend time in the whirlpools and saunas.  The groups were on their own for lunch, before meeting back at the hotel at 3:00 to head over to the Dras Center for the college team’s match of the day.  Donning old Nease High School uniforms, our college team fell in defeat 3-0 to the Israeli junior national team, and then opted for a fourth set, which they also lost.  After the match, the players headed to their rooms to shower and prepare for their last meal of 2009.  We ate in the company of the Israelis, and the high school team intermingled learning much about their culture and lifestyles.  At 10:30, we were to reconvene with Cory and climb up the face of the Pohorje Mountain to view the city’s amazing firework displays.  As this is the only day of the year that Slovenians are allowed to shoot off fireworks, you could imagine the extravaganza that we were witness to.  The treacherous mountain took about 45 minutes to an hour to climb.  Gracie and TD were able to make the hike up the fastest, while some of our parents took slightly longer to make it up. After celebrating the new year atop this mountain, it was finally time to head down…on our butts.  Most, with the exception of Meghan, were scared but with a final one, two, three go, they were off and there was no stopping.  The long haul that took 45 minutes up the mountain only took about 2 minutes to get down.   We wish everyone a happy new year from Slovenia!!