Ljubljana

Ljubljana

Scott and I arrived in Ljubljana around 19:15, we said our goodbyes to Minka and then we were met by Scott’s cousin Zvone and his partner Nusa. They took us for a lovely walk around the city of Ljubljana and show us the major sites to check out the next day. So we walked from the train station ( Zelezniska postaja ) to the center ( Center Mesta ) and down to the old square ( Stara Ljubljana ). Ljubljana is definitely one of the most beautiful European cities that we have seen in our travels. The city is very clean and even though all of the buildings are very different, the cities architecture was well thought out and planned. In the old square there are 3 famous bridges ( Tromostovje ) which were designed by Slovenia’s famous architect Joze Plecnik. Next to Tromostovje there is also a statue of a famous poet ?? with his muse above giving him inspiration. We walked around the market area; across the Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most ); saw the castle ( Ljubljana Grad ) up on the hill; then we went back to Zvone’s place for some polenta with egg, cheese, and sour milk before a good nights rest (Scott skipped the sour milk but we both thought it was great!). The next day we caught the bus back to the city centre to do the touristy thing. We walked up to the Castle ( Grad ) and found a little snake on the path which gave us a lot of excitement taking photos. Lucky it wasn’t poisonous seeing as Scott insisted I hold it while he took photos!

We then met Zvone for a coffee at lunch and he took us again for some site seeing. We walked to some ruins with Roman influences (there are some Roman remains used as the base). There are more Roman ruins which lie under the city, as well as a sarcophagus and a wall which is about 2000 years old. We then went to the Napoleon’s monument and met Zvone’s daughter Ula for a coffee, she then walked us back to the Maxi where we were picked up by Uros another cousin and then taken back to his place to meet more family and have a fabulous dinner. Uros is married to Toncka and they have 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren and another granchild due in September. At their house we had some traditionally food; Kranski Klabassa which is a sausage cooked in wine (which was one of the best I’ve ever had); fresh herb pancakes (Frutalja); pivo (beer) and champagne.

We had a walk around the garden their lovely garden and were shown a really old plant that has been in the family for many generations. Uros and Toncka had to go to the theatre but before they left Uros invited us into his cellar where he gave us a bottle of wine which we’ll open in Hawaii, and also some medicinal alcohol which we’re trying to ship back to Canada. Next we needed to go back to the centre to meet Igor ( Zvone’s son ) and his family. Igor’s daughter Uta was very shy when we first arrived but after an ice-cream and a few smiles she opened up. She was very cute :o). We walked around the square took a few photos then went to the Cutty Sark pub for some pivo and got to know each other. We then got picked up by Zvone and Nusa and taken back to their house for some well deserved sleep, Scott and I were exhausted. The next morning we popped next door to Ula ( Zvone daughter ) to say thanks and goodbye and then we were picked up by another cousin Ivo who was going to drive us to Postaya Jama and Ankaran near the Italy border for more family! More on that next!

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