Europe Part 2 - Slovenia



 

The next stop on our European adventure was Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia. We stayed here for three nights in a lovely, small boutique hotel called "Ahotel Hotel". It was very new and the furnishings were very Scandinavian - simple, stark but very comfortable. The staff was fabulous and so helpful. We really enjoyed the city and felt of all the places we visited that we could live in Llubljana.  Although a small country, Slovenia was so beautiful. Clean, nice roads that were well marked, very safe and it was clear that people here take great pride in their country.

City center was just a quick drive from our hotel. We easily found covered public parking and spent the rest of the day on foot. Ljubljana is the epitome of what we thought a European city would be like. Vibrant and bustling city center, beautiful architecture, markets, bridges, cobblestone streets...it has it all. Plus a castle! Who could ever get tired of living near a castle???

Speaking of castles....Ljubljana Castle sits atop a hill guarding its beautiful city.

The sign outside this building said "University of Ljubliana Provincial Mansion 1896-1902.

What a feast for the eyes the local market was. We could not wait to come back and purchase our lunch!

What a treat to be able to walk here each day and get everything you need from the bread shop, the cheese shop, the meat shop....you get the idea. So much more fun than a giant grocery store. No artificial flavor or colorings here!

The dragon is the official symbol of Ljubljana and part of its coat of arms. The dragon symbolizes strength, courage and might. It could be spotted everywhere around town. Chris poses here in front of the "Dragon Bridge."

After walking around town a bit, we took the Funicular Railway up to the Llubljanski Grad - better known as Ljubljana Castle, built in the 15th century. The Funicular was a glass elevator of sorts and really a neat way to get to the top of the hill.

Our first glimpse of the Julian Alps!

It felt like that scene from Willy Wonka when they bust out of the chocolate factory in the glass elevator.

View from the funicular...that is SUCH a "fun" word to say!

Just a cool forged iron dragon as you enter the castle.

 

 

We headed up the clock tower for a better view. Again, the Julian Alps are gorgeous...a different feel than the Rockies of Colorado.

 

 European cities are so beautiful from the air aren't they?

Ljubljana Castle

Archer's window...these really get your imagination flowing.

Chris checks out the local jail.

The spiral staircase to get to the top of the clock tower...yikes!

Another cool shot of an archers window.

While touring the castle, we visited the Nobles Prison Cell. Carved writings and nobleman's coats of arms are visible on the walls of the prison.

The castle is preserved in a very unique way with modern amenities and steel supports built right into the old stone.

A break for lunch. The bread and berries were divine. Chris ate the weird meat. That guy will eat ANYTHING.

 

A curious site - all these old shoes hanging from the wires. I've done some research and no one really knows the origin of this. Here is what I've found...

 

1. signifies a place to buy drugs
2. when someone dies and their soul comes back to earth they can find their shoes
3. marks gang territories
4. started as a prank to get tourists to come to that area

My guess is number 4 is correct and we fell for it hook, line and sinker! Still an interesting curiosity.

Bikes, bikes, bikes everywhere! We had to be more careful of crazy bike riders than cars. For as old as these cities are in Europe they are so much more forward thinking than we are about the environment and saving energy. In all of our hotels you couldn't even turn the lights on unless your room key was inserted into a special outlet. Room key out, lights out.

This crazy group of guys were walking the street with their Trojan Horse, singly very loudly. Our guess is they were promoting some sort of event. We'll never know!

 So many lovely bridges in Ljubljana and perfect place to snap a memory.

 

 The streets meander in every direction and are so clean and tidy.

Waiting patiently for me as I stop to browse in a shop.

A fun little curiosity we discovered.

 Even the manhole covers were lovely and feature the dragon.

We stumbled upon a festival happening in the city center. Again, we aren't exactly sure what it was for...it appeared to have something to do with the environment and green living. Chris made me take a picture of the dancers. Felt like something you'd see back home!

 

We walked for what seemed like a million miles on this trip. But will both admit it was the best way to find all sorts of hidden gems. Like this Roman Wall smack in the middle of town. 

 

More lovely architecture.

 We really loved the concept of a city center. There were people everywhere visiting, drinking coffee, riding their bikes, meeting friends, etc... Really brings the city together rather than the urban sprawl we are used to here in the states.

 After a long day in Ljubljana we prepared for our next day which was a drive to Lake Bled.

 

The picture above is what we were SUPPOSED to see when we got to Lake Bled.

 

 However THIS is what we saw. It was a dismal, cold, rainy day. I have to say I was very disappointed as this was one the things I was most looking forward to.

 Although it was still beautiful in a haunting way, you could not see the Alps it was surrounded by at all. This was our only day here, so we made the best of it. We ventured up to Blejski Grad - better known as Castle Bled. First mention of the castle is recorded to be from May of 1011. Just sit with that for a minute....1011. Obviously, it is the oldest castle in Slovenia. The castle was a nice, warm respite from the cold, pouring rain.

As we meandered through the castle, I spied this cute little room that had a lovely little window with a perfect view of the iconic island church on Lake Bled.

I went to get Chris to show him this sweet little room I found and he so bluntly pointed out that it was a toilet. Notice the date of 1042 above his head...a medieval bathroom with a view!

 

 

The view from below was breathtaking.

Before we left, my mom was Googling the different sites we'd be visiting. She discovered some information on a dessert that Lake Bled is famous for. The dessert is called "Blejska Kremna Rezina" or Bled Cream Cake. We managed to find the place where the dessert had its origins, The Park Hotel.

So after lunch we ordered a piece just for my mom.

It was delicious!!!

 On our way back to the hotel we meandered the countryside a bit. We came upon the lovely little village of Kropa. It is built along the Kroparica Stream and is the iron forging center of Slovenia.

All around the town was beautiful iron work everywhere you looked.

 

Even the exterior lights and window coverings were ornate.

 

As we stopped to snap some pictures we noticed this above us....SNOW!!!!

 

 

 Every little town has at least one beautiful church steeple and the site of them throughout Slovenia will always stick with me.

 

 The next day as we began our trip back to Italy, we happened upon the Predjamski Grad (Predjama Castle) It was so much fun to be driving down the highway and see a sign for a castle. You never knew what you'd find!

Found online:  This picturesque, magnificent, defiant, mysterious and impregnable castle has been perched up in the middle of a vertical 123-metre high cliff for more than 700 years. Its romantic appeal is further emphasized by the idyllic River Lokva, which disappears into the underground world deep down below the castle.

This castle has mentions in writing for the first time in 1202. Again, amazing to see something that old. I love the house that sits right next to it.

Nearby the castle was the church of Mater Dolorosa from the 15th century. It was consecrated in 1449.

Chris was very taken by the little grottos we'd see along the roads everywhere. There would always be candles lit inside them no matter how remote the location seemed.

 

We really enjoyed our time in the beautiful country of Slovenia. Next stop....VENICE!!!!!