Ljife in Ljubljana

Saturday 29 September.  What a beautiful, relaxed city Ljubljana is!  After a quick overnighter in a hotel with the smallest shower cubicle in the world we moved around the corner to our apartment early this morning (it wasn’t available last night).  It’s not the palace we had in Krakow, but it’s very spacious, with all the mod cons one would need.  We were on the go by mid-morning, first across the Dragon Bridge (over the Ljubljana River) to the markets, which seem to go on forever – fresh fruit and vegetables, flowers, arts and crafts, meat, fish, dairy and bakery shops right next door. We stocked up for the next couple of days.  Then off for a walk around the Old Town – over the Triple Bridge to the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, with its beautiful frescoed ceilings and a glass-fronted coffin with the spooky remains of St Deodatus inside. Then a quick look inside the Ljubljana University, a beautiful old building overlooking Kongresni Trg (square). We’ve included a photo of the university as it will make Cait soooooo jealous.  Then across the Cobblers Bridge, where cobblers worked and lived on the bridge to attract passing trade and avoid paying taxes, Nowadays people throw their old shoes up onto a wire which spans the street.  Next was a visit to the very ornate Cathedral of St Nicholas, then a short walk to the Balkan Gate which in times past had walls running up to Castle Hill. Next a look inside the Town Hall and its Gothic courtyard with three storeys of balconies, above which theatrical performances once took place.  In the Old Square a prison once stood until the 18^th century and executions took place nearby. The three town squares are just so pretty and quaint. Although packed with people it seemed that life had stood still. No-one was in a hurry. No cars are allowed.  People either amble slowly around, taking in their surroundings, or sit around little cafes lining the river bank, sipping coffee or wine and watching life pass by. “When in Slovenia,do as the locals do”, so we sat and sipped our hot chocolate and ate our layered, creamy, apple strudely pastry thingy and thought how sweet life was. So that was a lovely first day in Slovenia, topped off with notification that as of today (UNE graduation ceremony) John is now officially a Master of Arts, with a major in History. So if John is a Master does that make Elizabeth a Mistress?

Tomorrow: The castle.