My Images of SEE – 10:17, Saturday 27th August

I ventured out then to go for tea. I walked along a straight road with houses to one side and railway to the other, towards Tivoli Park. I then turned right, under the road and rail lines to the city street going in the direction to the river. Again, architecturally there was obvious Austro-Hungarian establishment here. The shade of the buildings was a welcome rest from the burning sun.

As I walked along, cutting across was a main street, so I crossed that, then the road fell slowly to a small quaint square. Opposite the river there were two rows of houses going away from me, then a wall of trees. A few hundred feet up a steep hill they climbed, where crowned upon it was the castle. Flag fluttering and all.

The river was only small and had cute bridges uniting the two sides. I stopped here for a beer and to take in the views whilst reading. After this, and witnessing a brolly fall from an opposite café down to the riverside, I walked along the side of the river. It was littered with cafes, bars and small traders selling crafts and jewellery  I bought a leather wristband for myself. One thing to notice are the wasps. Bloody everywhere. So I was dancing around, when either sitting for walking, to avoid them.

A live band was setting up near one restaurant, so I plonked myself down (away from flowers and thus wasps) and ordered pasta and a beer. They were mostly sound checking whilst I was there but sung a song as I departed. I then walked up hill to the main road, then under another passage to avoid the main road, then came back to the hostel.

I grabbed some snacks, read, and facetimed mum before drifting off to sleep. I only woke up a couple of times, not being used to a single bed I kneed the wall twice.  I awoke slowly and showered and changed ready to leave.

My Images of SEE – 19:32, Saturday 27th August

So I started out on my long walk into town, towards the Tivoli Park. Along the way I rested on a bench to take in the glorious view. I decided that I should get the castle out of the way first; initially because I wanted to walk up, and secondly because I wanted to see the views. So I went towards the main square like yesterday and crossed the bridge. The town hall was nearby so I popped over to picture it. A rather grand affair, in keeping with its baroque surroundings. I walked past a series of cafes to my right that led out to a market on my left.

To my right was where the path led up to the castle, but it was undergoing repairs. So I walked on to go to the next route. However, I happened upon the hillside lift. I went over, and it would cost €5 to see the tower, virtual tour etc, or €7 with all that and the lift. Because of the tiring heat, I opted for the second option. So up I went and the views just enveloped out before me. It was awesome.

We departed out vessel and I went up to the courtyard. Completely surrounded by walls and a clock tower, it has undergone significant renovation and updating. But first I went for a coffee (and ice cream). I read and absorbed my surroundings. I then went up a small tower to a wall. The views looked north over the city, towards the train station and beyond. A sea of terracotta was before me. They only stopped because of semi distant green hills. But in the far distance, barely visible in day’s haze, were the peaks of the Julian Alps; snowcapped too. An inspirational sight.

I fled down to the courtyard, then up to the clock tower. Adjacent to it was a small chapel that I visited briefly. Very ornate and well decorated. I then went up three flights of stairs, then up a set of spiral stairs. It opened out on to a three meter by three meter roof, with turrets as rails. The 360 degree view was magnificent. I could see where I stayed. Behind, to the south west the spine of the hill that the castle was set on stretched back a good kilometer. All around there was settlement, surrounded by hills, by mountains.

I then came back down and sat in the 3D virtual tour of Ljubljana. It was OK, but more to show off the technology I think. On site there was also a small ‘Slovenia History’ museum. It briefly went through the nation’s history, but was more a reading tour than an exhibit. I then took the lift back down to river level.

I walked through the market, over another bridge and stopped at a café for a pizza and beer. Hounded by wasps still, I then walked up to the Parliament Building and the Republic Square. Unfortunately both a relic of Tito’s era, and the square was a mere car park. As I walked by though, it looked like a car drove into the Parliament Building! Next to this was the museum. It had a small exhibition on stamps over the last 20 years, a way of marking 20 years of independence. I then looked around the vast amounts of Roman gravestones, and at the other exhibits. All very informative and in a grand building.

I left, then walked south down the main Slovenska Road to a Roman wall identified on my maps. A convoy of cars passed with Slovenian flags and rosettes on their wing mirrors, beeping their horns. I think someone got married. I then took pictures and returned to the river, walking up lovely riverside buildings, and some with roof terraces similar to Amsterdam slightly. I then stopped at a wine bar for an hour, reading and battling with a wasp (although indoors to avoid such incidents). It then rained a little but cleared up before I left.

I walked up to the main square, and from there to the Tivoli Park. I heard loud bass music, and an unusually large crowd of youths. So I wondered over. I asked a steward what was going on. He said an electronic festival for €1. I decided to return. So I got to the hotel and made further enquiries with the girl on reception. She confirmed what the steward said. I then went to the 24hr shop to buy beer and food. However, the west sky was orangy-red. I feared a thunderstorm. So I bought beer and food, then as I returned it began. So I decided to stay in and entertain myself armed with beer and food.