We ended the Vincek March in the sports hall in Mursko Sredisce. Local women dressed in traditional costumes accepted us with bread, salt and a glass of slivovitz. Eating, drinking, music and dance followed.
1/26/2010
Finishing the Trail
First Cut of Vine
The vine gets food (sausages) and drink (wine).
And songs are being sung and wishes for a good grape harvest in the new year are being expressed.
Kapelscak Hill
Kapelscak on the day of the Vincek march. View from the chapel.
To the Kapelscak Hill
Walking on a sunny winter day.
There is the chapel of St. Margareta on top of the hill Kapelscak.
We will pass it.
Traditional wine cellar on the Kapelscak hill.
Medjimurje, Vincek March II
1/25/2010
A Gray Day in Medjimurje
Walking in Medjimurje.
Approaching our goal Mursko Sredisce.
We closed the march in the sports hall in Mursko Sredisce.
Dancing Hikers
Medjimurje in Winter
More than 2000 people were walking together.
The chapel of St. Margareta on the hill Kapelscak.
The trail was well marked.
Medjimurje, Vincek March I
We gathered in the spa resort St. Martin on Mura in the morning.
The trail twists and turns among the numerous vineyards on hills.
This was the 12th march. Hikers from Croatia, Bosnia, Hungary and Slovenia walked in a long row.
People of all walks of life and almost all ages took part in the march.
Descending Smarna Gora
View towards the north. Above the trees are white peaks of the Savinja-Kamnik Alps.
The last part of the trail is very steep. And it was all ice. It was almost impossible to descend without crampons.
Trees covered with snow late in the afternoom
Smarna Gora,669 m
The Chapel of Mother of God at the Turkish Hoof. According to a legend the chapel is situated in the place where an old hermit stopped the Turkish conquerors with a fiery sword. When the mare of Osman Aga, the leader of Turkish troops, hit a rock with its hoof for the last time, the Turkish soldiers turned into rocks , scattered around. On the rock you can still see the prints of the Turkish hoof.
There is a church and an inn on the top of Mt. Smarna Gora. I was too tired and cold to walk around and take photos. I only needed a hot tea.
Returning late in the afternoon.