Lungo Mare, Hvar, Croatia

Lungo Mare. Winners of Fine Bite 2008. We had a fine bite, too. One cannot not recommend it. As many other places here. Hvar. One of the top islands in Croatia. Where policemen are easy and Germans sometimes lose boats.


Bernard Grum - Academic Initiative representative at IBM Slovenia office. Grew up in Ljubljana, now dwells in Pšata. Not related to Slavko Grum. FOV graduate. FOV Research Assistant. Likes the sound of sawing machine - spent 4km of thread for all the curtains in his house. Give such statement, not many men can. Argentinian tango dancer. Two kids. Recently read Coelho's Alchemist and recommends Richard Bach's Seagull. Given excess resources he would try many professions, get knowledge and skills and optimize them to best possible level. Going deep, broad and far. I second that.


Female boss Sana. Beside Lungo Mare they also manage Kroatien.es - Hvar tourist services site.


Evening was lively, wine was aplenty. Nobody hurt, all good luck.

Cafe Riva, Trogir, Croatia

Cafe Riva. Riva = riverfront. One of many, many bars and restaurants on the Trogir riverfront. Great view. Great weather. Off season. Mediocre services. Cold beer. Good times ahead.


(Tomaž) Tomaz Paternoster - recently hired WebSphere Software Services colleague at IBM Slovenia office. Paternoster = "our father". From Breg pri Litiji. Just about to graduate at FRI. Was part of FRI/CREA USA Tour 2008. Worked for Marand. Mountain biker. Preparing for his first 21km Ljubljanski Maraton. Sci-Fi fan. Reading Thimoty Zahn's Star Wars and also recommends The Silmarillion. Plays guitar, taught by Eva Černe's father. Listens to Symphonic Metal music.


Gregor Primc - Cognos software sales colleague at IBM Slovenia office. Grew up in Ljubljana, now lives in Zbilje. FE graduate. EF MBA postgraduate. Worked for SAP and Perspektiva as broker. Mountaineering, tennis. Ran 21km Ljubljanski Maraton in 2007. Has all Kiyosaki books and recently finished David Bach's Start Late, Finish Rich.


Trogir = a small Dubrovnik. Beautiful. Dalmatia. Croatia. We like.


Peko - Slovenian shoemaker. Suggested change in business model: shoes to real estate. Store on waterfront in Trogir.

Shifting gears

New job. Same company. New brand. WebSphere. BPM. SOA. New team. New partners. New challanges. A lot to learn. A lot to do. Same 24 hours per day. Shifting priorities. Shifting gears. Blog goes in express mode. Shorter sentences. Tag-like. Same messages. Same idea. Buckle up.

Pogača, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Pogača - no website, no marketing, no image, no frills - but very good pleskavica, kajmak and prebranac (according to Jani - as it was not on stock). Recommended, but for food only - take away anyone?


Jani Anzin (Anžin) - project manager in Investment preparation and technology development department at Mercator, a major retailer in Slovenia and among the majors in Western Balkans and biggest Slovenian corporation. He grew up in Spodnje Jarše, president of his class at ŠCRM in Kamnik (good times) and EF graduate with Mercator scholarship. Did some DJ-ing when younger, also belongs to ancient society of Collegium tourist guides and is a proud member of Kotalkarji group (check them out on Facebook). 12 years successful "career" at RST scouts, enthusiastic beach volley player and excellent shaker of mojitos and pina coladas that might one day run his own beach side leisure&party place - much like Star Beach in Hersonissos.


Approximately 37 years old very recently hired waitress most probably did not undergo stringent introductory new hires training that big corporations to the like of IBM and Mercator have in store for their corporate slaves wannabees. But then again, Pogača is no corporate fortress, despite the fact that some very typical behavioral patterns were pretty obvious - miss waitress was refering to the kitchen staff as "them" ... talking about cross departmental collaboration and horizontal thinking traits :)

For centuries hidden African-Latin-Asian fine art of Roller Skating without Roller Skates has finally reemerged under the Alps and is starting to spread all over the globe.

Jani's Pina Colada not-any-more-secret recipe:

3cl Havana white rum

3cl Coconut Syrup

2cl liquid cream

1dcl pine-apple juice

ice cubes

My where-to-get-free-photos recipe:
1 iStockphoto
1 sloppy reading of terms and conditions
1 apologize later

Ponvica, Brezovica, Slovenia

Ponvica - there's something about this place that makes you wanna go astray and far to get there. It's well worth it.


(Tomaž) Tomaz Jakse (Jakše) a.k.a. Fonzi - proud member of Slovenian Police Cyber Crime department. Ljubljana native lives close to Šmarna Gora and counts himself among Šmarnogoraši - people who are fighting regular-up-and-down-Šmarna-Gora addiction. I know many of them :) Graduated at Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security - belonging to University of Maribor, but actually headquartered in Ljubljana. Belongs to the ancient society of Collegium tourist guides (like myself), drives BMW 650CS bike, which already earned him a bad knee injury and thus costing him a more active involvement with Taekwon-do at Hyong club. A very active traveller that took his 16 year old VW Golf to Marocco and will one day go to Honk Kong - maybe without his Golf. Offloading daily job worries, he would devote himself - among others - to photography, which he is currently practicing with Canon EOS 400D and publishing some of them on his JFT blog. No like winter, in southern places, devote he would.


Likable terrace, friendly staff. Ponvica (small frying pan) is surely recommended.


Fonzi's white VW grandpa pushing into 19 years of age. Anybody wanna take him to Kazantip?

Govinda's, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Govinda's - a new vegetarian restaurant with strong Indian influence. First from that chain in Slovenia and presumably first in the self-service style. Do have a try. A very interesting experience. Placed next to their core consumer group - Slovenian Krishna Society.


(Matjaž) Matjaz Hoyer - co-founder and manager of Zeus - the accounting service house. Recently moved back to Komenda, EF graduate - where he was also very active in student politics and member of student parliament at ŠOU, worked in sales at Noviforum - the company that developed Najdi.si. Currently neglecting his golfing career, but therefore enjoys time with his two year old daughter that much more. When Zeus will be sold for many millions of Euros, he will devote his time to helping kids in poverty around the world - unlike myself he believes that our world is not actually on a good way to solve the poverty problem. I hope he will change his mind and that time will show it to be right.


Simple, clean, different. Spicy, fresh and tasty.


Govinda is the name of young Krishna, herding cows and protecting them. Before he turned into a fierce fighter helping Arjuna. Yes, enormous simplification is at work here :)

La Storia, Ljubljana, Slovenia

La Storia - friendly staff, pleasant environment, much recommended. Come and experience this story.


Miha Novak - CFO and acting manager for Bosnia at Akton - international supplier of telecommunication services. Native Ljubljana citizen, EF graduate, worked for Cankarjev Dom (very good times), Collegium (very good times) and Siemens (getting serious). Started international travelling at the age of 16 and crowned it with a long around-the-world trip in 2001. Recently read The Kite Runner and while he will one day go to Kabul, he frequently goes to Šmarna Gora - many do. One needs to constantly grow and try to achieve maximum although it never is there when you reach the peek - you only get to see the next peek in the distance.


All La Storia restaurants all look pretty much the same. And they have a good reason for that. People like it that way.

The Future, Anywhere, World

Just a couple of people I would very much like to have a BlogLunch or two with. Craig and Larry. J Craig Venter, first sequencer of human genome and Larry Page, co-founder of Google. Photo off the Edge.

Lounge Kakao, Brezovica, Slovenia

Kakao Lounge - a weird mix of hip'n'cool lounge and open air pig roast, cool bar interior and cheap fast food appendix. The big smoking dog on the wall lures you in, but also sets expectations way too high. One needs to make up his mind.


Marko Filipcic (Filipčič) - one of the fathers of BusinessConnect at Marg - where he is also sports director. Grew up in Šoštanj, now lives in Žeje near Naklo. FRI graduate, EF postgraduate wannabe, worked for Zaslon which was acquired by Hermes Softlab. Keen footballer, lately mostly occupied by his 15 months old son Jonatan and currently finds time to read only project management books - to maybe free up some more time. Schoolfriends used to call him Kita and if he would win big time on lottery he would wait for his son to turn 7 and then think seriously about what to do. Maybe wait some more years for future brothers and sisters of Jonatan to turn 7, too? :)


Jure salad - bearing bosses name, yet does not deserve to do just that.


Neighbouring the Lounge is new and very cool business house, built by Unija, the accounting company, hosting also Marg.

Gostilna Lovec, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Gostilna Lovec - a while ago somewhat pimped up place that again slid back to mass-producing student lunch stronghold. Not bad at all, but different than what it used to be. Recommended if in a hurry - and lower budget.


M.R. - pursuing diplomatic career, currently working for Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ljubljana. Grew up in Jesenice, partly German origin, living in Ljubljana with Law degree from PF. Worked for PIC (helping NGOs), served dimplomatic tours of duty (postings) in Bosnia, Hungary and USA, surfing, skiing, traveling around (road-trip fan) and concert going - big time (favourite Pixies). Latest book was Marko Zorko's Knjiga Mrtvih and extra time and money would buy him his own Formula 1 team ... and if that fails he will buy and run a straw-roof-beach-bar somewhere in the Caribbean. Of this type. Diplomacy prefers incognito :)


How do you know a restaurant is primarily for students? You have glasses of water already waiting for their instant gratitude. When the going gets tough, the students get ... tougher. We've all been there. Respect.


September 16-22 is European mobility week. We so don't like cars this week in Ljubljana, that public transport is free of charge. Hop on!

Kratochwill E.Leclerc, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Kratochwill - one of three in Ljubljana, this one as part of E.Leclerc, giant French retailer. Big, massive - demands faster returns, quick processing and not much time for one-on-one service. Same goes for Kratochwill and it's service here - not the best of treats one hopes for. Although they did manage to quickly upsell me to double the wine order. Maximizing the return on seat :)


(Džangir) Dzangir Kolar - project manager at Normacom, born in Kotor Varoš in Bosnia, living in Ljubljana, EF (post)graduate, worked for Maop, Datalab and Marg (update needed:). Džangir (Djangir) is a name common in Central Asia, given to him as tribute to an Azerbaijani friend that his grandparents were in business with. Keen international traveler, among other experienced Trans-Siberian and Trans-Mongolian and recently beauties of Guatemala. Extra time and money would allow him to see even more world, hang out with friends and organize social events - while staying connected to IT in one way or another. I've heard that before.


Later that same day, somewhere in Ljubljana (Barjanska 66). It seems that the likely runner ups (Pahor, Golobič) in the coming elections are already in a homey coalition :)

Pizzeria da Mattia, Trzin, Slovenia

Pizzeria da Mattia - very popular pizza and pasta Mediterranean place in Trzin, the suburb of Ljubljana. Featured also on the Dobre Gostilne site. Recommended.


Dario Vlahovic (Vlahovič) - system administrator at Tuš Telekom and Vzdrzevanje.com consultant, currently on a deserved "newborn fatherhood" vacation. Croatian-Montenegro origin mix, grew up in Tržič, living in Preddvor and finishing Informatics at ŠCV. Used to work for AskPro (recently merged with UnistarLC), enjoys biking and hiking and above all spending time with 1 year old daughter and her a week and some old sister. Reading (second time around) Perfume by Süskind and has The Hobbit in pipeline. With extra spare time and money he would pimp up older cars - mostly through electronics. The Dario Ride.


Sauvignonasse a.k.a. Sauvignon vert: Unlike Sauvignon gris, which is a clonal mutation of Sauvignon blanc also found in Chile, Sauvignon vert has no known connection with Sauvignon blanc.

Medana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Gostilna Medana - a very, very welcome addition to Ljubljana culinary scene. Newly opened restaurant, likable, chic interior, roses on the tables. And if you happen to be served by this guy, you're in for a superb treat. Name Medana comes from a village in western part of Slovenia, reknown for its very good wine. Of course, served also in this restaurant. Thumbs way up!


(Boštjan) Bostjan Kofol - Sales force member of Big Bang company in Merkur Group. Rok's brother, with Kofol family steming from a small village Lom above Kal nad Kanalom. EF graduate, worked among others also for P&G and Manpower, the employment services leader. Used to play basketball, still does football and on a P&G business trip to Movie Pub in Zagreb, he met his true life passion: karaoke. He started karaoke.si as his side passion business which is growing and leading him into expansion. Getting more and more excited about history books, recently read Putin's Russia for which Politkovskaya had to die. Regulary enjoys time with is friends in Žmavc and plans to take painting and dancing classes. One day he will have a big ranch, help save lost, abandoned and stray animals and do lots of free-diving spearfishing, but he offen holds his breath already today while playing Texas Hold'em with Poles and the gang.


Food is not only very good, but also beatiful. Eye pleasing servings.


Trnovska vrata in Ljubljana. Quickly sold out recent property development - close to highway ring and center. As good as it gets.

Tomato, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Tomato - a pleasant fast(er) food restaurant in the center, run by company, mostly known for their vending machine sandwiches. They also operate Čolnarna, a nice place at the small lake in Tivoli park in Ljubljana. Their sandwiches and restaurants are all recommended.

Hunter Chen, cultural affairs atache at US Embassy in Slovenia - helping get various people with various reasons go easily in and out of US and Slovenia. Born and raised in Los Angeles in a family of Taiwanese descent. Prior to earning his Law degree from USC, he tried the field of nuclear engineering, but did not persue that path as their test reactor in Oregon leaked. Safe move. Worked for legal departments at Universal Studios and LA Lakers, moved to US State Department, currently under Rice rule, where he served at consulate in Guangzhou in China and just recently moved to work US Embassy in Ljubljana, with his wife, custom made gaming PC and Nissan Murano following him :) Avid PC gamer (current favourite Company of Heroes) and enjoyes tweaking his PC - and for the record: shopping with his wife. Sci-fi reader, recommends Harry Turteldove's alternate history stories. Given free hands and blank check (preferably backed up by government) he would kick start commercially viable no-gasoline car production or develop a fully self sustainable green island. Whoa!

Pigeons and doves constitute the family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerine birds - there you go :)

Puttanesca, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Puttanesca - after a while a very nice, fresh and positive surprise from a not so long ago opened Italian place. Located in Modra Hiša, quite big and spacey, yet very elegant and stylish. Thumbs up! Good food, wine and service is implicit.


Peter Festanj (Feštanj) - Account Manager at HP in Slovenia, driving a black VW Passat. Grew up in Zagorje, now lives in Kranj and his Feštanj family are the only ones in Slovenia and sometime in the past centuries, they decided it's better to be alive than Jews and they switched to Catholics. FOV graduate, EF postgraduate, long ago used to transle subtitles for TV shows and did some programming, worked for IUS Software and SRC.SI, before joining HP troops. Consistenly working on lowering his golf HCP 44 at driving range in Brdo, where he is occasionally seeing president Türk on Cult bike - one of them was also given to Bush W. Currently reading The Master and Margarita, doing a lot of travelling and with his friend Tomaž Oštir supporting beekeeping initiative in Cambodia - with help of SustainableCambodia.org May the honey flow freely and wildly.


See through kitchen, dynamic staff, lots of vacancy during business lunch time - Hint: no reservation needed.


With my seafood risotto, I let waiter serve me wine of his choice. Jakončič Karolina Rebula. Decent choice.