Ljubljana. Slovenia Days 178 – 179 October 6th and 7th
Reluctantly we took our last wander through Piran. Leaving our apartment we crossed the square and trailed along the waterfront. We found the Goopti Mini – our ride to Ljubljana. Without knowing what to expect we were very happy.
The Goopti Mini driver was incredibly polite and helpful. This was put to the test when a particularly rude, and less than considerate couple joined us. They began by sitting in the window of the airport coffee shop slowly finishing up while we all waited in the bus outside. This continued and finally they demanded to be taken to the door of their hotel and not left with the rest of us at the drop off point.
Still – we had arrived in Ljubljana – walking from the rail station towards the city centre illicited the now famous statement “I am not feeling the love for Ljubljana” – this soon changed and we fell in love with the little city.
As we headed to our hostel we stopped for a meat fest, washed down with beer. Finally staggering up the multi flights of stairs to our hostel room overlooking the river and street below.
7th
Began the day with our old favourite the “Free” Walking Tour. On the way we passed a flea market along the river. A remarkable array of goods for sale – maybe it seemed more exotic because it was not local to us. War memorabilia, Soviet emblems and military items.
The tour as always- informative and lots of tips for later. Our guide Maria working hard to delightfully inform and entertain. Filling us in on history and odd facts along the way –
The Ljubljana flag – white for peace and green for nature.
Bakers bridge where in earlier times when not up to scratch a Baker’s punishment was to be lowered off the bridge. There was also a Shoemakers bridge and a Butchers bridge
A fascinating sight for us was a Milk machine near the Market. One could bring along a bottle and fill up with milk from the dispenser.
Many buildings in the city were destroyed in a massive earthquake of 1895. The rebuilding was mostly in Austrian succession style.
The first person / nation to recognise Slovenian independence was the Pope.
Jože Plečnik designed many of the city structures including the Triple Bridge. Credited with much of the design of modern Ljubljana.
The centre city has been made a pedestrian only zone to compensate for this, free taxis are provided in city centre.
We stopped at the Cathedral of St Nicholas – where bronze sculptured doors were more recently created for the 1250th anniversary of Christianity in Slovenia.
Library of the university a building also designed by Joze Plecnik. The design, light, space is all conducive to bringing ‘light to dark’ – knowledge and learning.
At tours end we went to one of Maria’s recommended lunch spots – Sokol restaurant – where staff were kind of friendly, the food was kind of OK and we met Kiwi Grant and had long conversations over lunch and beer.
Spent the afternoon and evening exploring the town. The city centre looking even more delightful as the night lights came on.
We found the Milk machine again and inspected operations but opted for beer at a nearby bar rather than milk.
As we wandered back towards the hostel and passing a Japanese and Sushi restaurant it seemed the thing to do. And so we had great food and entertained by the chatty young man waiting on our table.
