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.
No comments:
Post a Comment