An unusual business trip..

When I received an invitation to make a presentation in Slovenia for a clinical research meeting.. I agreed instantly. This was actually part of my job and I have done this before, so no reason not to go to Slovenia. I have been only to Poland in the eastern part of Europe. Company trips where I give a talk are normally short trips and one comes back home with recollections of airport waiting lounges, hotel lobbies, receptions, meeting rooms.

However, this was a meeting with a difference. I arrived in Lujbiana after a normal flight (really normal as the Asian vegetarian meal request was translated by Adrian Airlines as a cheese and fish sand-wich!!) quite late night, acknowledged the waiting cabbie with a board carrying the company logo, handed over my tiny suitcase and huddled into the back. I handed over my credit card and asked how long to the hotel. About half and hour, he said. It was dark outside and not really crowded. The car rolled smoothly and soon the city lights receded and it was quite dark around. I was beginning to wonder where the hotel was!! The cabbie did not speak much English and my curiosity about my whereabouts was soon overcome by the reluctance to make a difficult conversation in German most likely!! He made an exit from the highway and a few signs of civilisation appeared, then the hotel where he dropped me off.

Best Western the hotel board announced its affiliation. I entered a sleepy looking but clean and bright lobby, checked in and went straight to my room. I had just enough energy to wash and change and was asleep in a few minutes!! The meeting was scheduled to start at 8 am I was up by 6:30 and opened the blinds to peek out of the window... It was still dark and I could make out faintly some buildings next door and then some far away lights... As I emerged from the shower a little later, I was struck by the sheer beauty of my surroundings. It was bright outside. The glassy surface of a lake, gently rippling in the morning breeze, surrounded by gentle rolling hills filled with autumn trees, golden, yellow and orange!! In the centre of the lake rose a steeple of what probably was a kloster sitting smugly in a small island right in the middle. In the backdrop were sheer mountains with their peaks shrouded in wispy clouds and covered with glittering snow and ice... Here and there the early suns rays washed them with a golden glow making them absolutely stunning to look at. I stood transfixed for many minutes. I never even thought of taking a picture. I stood drinking in the sights and sounds drawn to the scene as I stepped into the small balcony outside.

A few minutes like these can completely refresh the mind and soothe the soul. Needless to say, it was a great meeting!!!