Blogs from Slovenia, Europe - page 73

Comemoração de aniversario na Eslovenia, cidade de Nova Gorica, também chamada a “Las Vegas da Europa”, fundada em 1947. Fomos muito bem tratados no melhor hotel-cassino da cidade, La Perla, com velinhas no jantar e direito a “Parabéns a voce”, cantado em esloveno por um coro de garçons. Gentis, educados, precisos e competentes, apesar da proximidade de menos de um quilometro com a "Ogrolandia". Ganhamos na roleta, perdemos no Black Jack, ganhamos no Black Jack, perdemos nas slot machines... show de revista “alla” Carmem Miranda à meia-noite... tudo num clima muito leve e alegre. Nos divertimos muito apesar do buraco nos bolsos!!! Recuperados com umas horas de sono, sauna e massagem, partimos para Trieste (regiao Friuli-Veneza Giulia), local de tantas passagens historias, do controle bizantino, do dominio Austriaco, da invasao turca, da zona franca, do porto ... read more

We had planned to leave Zagreb at lunchtime to meet the Scandanavians that evening, but our lack of Croatian meant we couldn't read the small print on the train timetable, so we had to wait 7 hours for the next train. We arrived in Ljubljana feeling very sick and tired as the train was a smoking train- grrr. We walked twenty minutes to our hostel, which was right on the river next to the dragon bridge (legend says Ljubljana was founded when Jason and the Argonauts slew the terrifying Ljubljana dragon), and with an amazing view of the castle. The following day we crossed the Dragon bridge to the fruit and veg market where we stocked up on gorgeous fresh produce and nice greasy Burek (deep fried sausage rolls that we first tasted in Sarajevo). We ... read more

Hey all, I’ve met up with the old traveling partner Cambo. So were continuing on from the South East Asia tour. This time it looks like we will be staying mostly in hostels this time and not the hotels of South East Asia. I have recovered from the illness that hit Daz and I hard, it was a nasty 5 odd days of recovery, but I’m back now! I hate being sick overseas. But it’s one of the things that just have to be dealt with when on tour I suppose. I arrived on a train that seemed strangely familiar to a planes cabin. (see pics) Ljubljana is a great little town, reminding me a little of Salzburg. The first few days were a little rough with just recovering from the flu and all. But over ... read more

Translation of the title for my non-slovene speaking readers: We went 32kms by bike on the path! Yesterday, being a little too cloudy for another hitch-hiking adventure, me and my roommate Honorine decided it was time to bike the path that goes all the way around the city of Ljubljana. The path, 32kms long, was the surrounding line during World War 2, and as far as I have understood where a barb-wire fence lay for 3 years turning the entire city into somewhat of a concentration camp. The entire path has been made into a living memorial space, with trees planted the entire length along both sides and pillars of rememberance with dates and place names. (For a bit more information you can read a CaseStudy) Definitly, this was one of the best things I've done ... read more

Dragon Chasing We seem to be chasing dragons on our trip through Europe! The founder of Ljubljana was the Greek prince Jason who came to the area with the Argonauts. Jason, who had stolen the Golden Fleece, encountered a terrible dragon in the area, which he fought and slew. THe Ljubljana dragon now has a permanent abode on top of the castle tower on the coat-of-arms! After WW2 Ljubljana became the capital of Slovenia, one of the six republics of the socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Dragon Bridge This famous bridge which spans the Ljubljanica River has four dragons which guard the entry into the city. It is probably the most photographed area in Ljubljana! We certainly took lots of photos; the first day in the sun and the second day in the snow! The bridge ... read more