Thursday 2nd March 2000

Karen & Dave: "Karen and Dave's day started with a mad packing frenzy, trying to jam enough warm clothes for the two of them into a single rucksack! Karen had jammed her phone line for the last couple of days with  some serious Internet surfing, from which they had learned many important things, notably that it was going to be cold and also the Slovenian word for "Beer". They were now almost ready to go, apart from the vitally important masquerade costumes.

Suitable clothes were carefully selected, then systematically trashed using knives, scissors, marker pens, fluorescent paint and safety pins. Karen was in her element, particularly as she was shredding a holey T-shirt of Dave's that she had been trying to get rid of for years. He got his own back by defacing her work blouse with the immortal word "Bollocks". Once the costumes were complete and packed with multiple accessories, such as extra paint, chains and wigs, their only concern was "was punk still in fashion in Slovenia"? Would it even be noticed that they were in costume?

A swift beer at the station whilst waiting for the train to Gatwick, and another before the flight made for an uneventful trip. Once at Ljubljana aerodrome a rapid passport check and baggage collection lead them to customs. Dave tried to walk through with his innocent look (or his "pretending to be a sober, mass murderer with crack" type of look: the two are remarkably similar). Unsurprisingly a lady customs official took them aside, which caused panic as they remembered all the chains, paint and obscenities written on the clothes in their clothes bag, and also the fins, pushers, caps, masks and snorkels in the other bag. Try explaining that lot! Luckily for them they had their trusty "we're English, we don't speak any other language" barrier on their side, and with an "I can't be bothered with all this at this time of night" look from the customs officer, they were sent on their way.

A short taxi journey to Kranj, led K&D right to the locked BACK door of the Studentski Dom. Fortunately, a passing student let them in, and they were shown to their room. The dorms seemed somewhat deserted, apart from Igor the doorman who wanted to practice his English. One of the subjects discussed was whether there was a bar on the premises, but considering that - as they found out the next day - the residence  was for 12-16 year olds, it was hardly surprising he said "No". They wandered into Kranj town but were beaten back, partly by the cold and partly by being gutted when they remembered they had forgotten their beer money. A quiet sleep-filled night ensued."

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