Most na Soci and Franja Partisan Hospital

Fast forward to WWII.  Slovenia was partitioned between Germany and Italy.  In response, resistance groups in Slovenia, and all around Yugoslavia, took up arms against the Nazis.   Clandestine hospitals were a particularity of the Slovenian resistance movement.  They were built in barely accessible forests, deep gorges and underground caves.  One of these, perhaps the most famous, was the Franja Partisan Hospital, built in the barely accessible Pasice gorge north of Cerkno, Slovenia.  G and I headed there this morning.

We had to catch the 8:00 bus to Cerkno.  We had heard there was no public transportation going from there to the site but couldn't believe some enterprising young Slovenian hadn't started a shuttle service.  Nope, we had to walk.  Some said 4 kilometers, one said 7.  We made it, with the help of a young woman who showed us a shortcut (quite steep, but picturesque).

The 14 wooden cabins in the complex, including an operating room,  recovery rooms, etc etc, are located deep up a spectacular gorge hemmed in by overhanging boulders.  To keep it secret the wounded were blindfolded before being carried to the site.  It's a fascinating story of much bravery and self sacrifice.

We spent so much time there we didn't know if we'd make it back to town in time to catch the bus!  We hurried down the steep path (with only one short detour down the wrong trail) and were charging down the road to town when a nice fellow stopped and gave us a ride!  We were so surprised.  He couldn't speak much English but he said "4 kilometers enough"

A very very special day.

Top photo:  G climbing the safe, comfortable trail to the hospital.  During the war, there were no marked trails, no steps, no handrails to help the bearers carry 500 wounded soldiers up to the hospital.

Bottom photo:  Franja Partisan Hospital, named for a woman, Franja Bojc-Bidovec, its chief physician.