Photo Recap: Days 4-6, Ljubljana Slovenia (Europe 2008)

From my journal:

"Heading here has been the craziest idea since Ryan first popped the, 'Do you want to pick up a BMW in Germany?' back in June 2006. Go to the place Ryan's great-frandfather emigrated from in the 1930s? Heck yeah!

"And as our train enters Austria, I am sad and am missing Ljubljana already. I know we had certainly checked off the tourist sights - but I found myself wanting to start learning the language and not feeling the intimidation I feel with Deutsch. I already miss some of the Jabortnik things, the last vestigates of a Communist era under Tito, but mostly the vivaciousness of the city center - one for the residents, not just the tourists."

Three favorite things:

1) The beautiful Slovenians, especially the Kuhano Vino sellers
2) Buying Ljubljana/Slovenian patches and a pin for Ryan
3) Ordering a wine and lunch all in Slovenian



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Tschüß!!

Adijo Slovenia

Cockta is a coke equivalent that was made when coke was not imported
in the communist days. Ryan liked it!

We are off to catch our 6 hour train ride to Vienna.

Ciao!

On the road...

Heading out for some sightseeing and shopping at the market stalls
before our afternoon train. Didn't sleep as well as we wanted but are
excited for the day!!

Traditional Slovenian cuisine

> By chance, we are in ljubljana on the celebration of the Christmas
> market opening! We were walking back from shopping and saw a crowd
> surrounding the tree in Preseren Square and eventually men dressed
> as devils with chains and long tongues came across the Tromostovje
> (Triple Bridge) that crosses the Ljubljanuca River; they taunted the
> children who were pressed against traffic barriers.
>
> Then, they handed out strange candies that looked like a long
> tootsie roll pressed into a brown pod shape and smelled like anise.
> Then, a guy dressed like a cross between Santa and a catholic
> cardinal emerged from a cart driven by a devil on a 4-wheeler and
> with angels behind him, they handed out bags with candies,
> tangerines, and a baked bread. We even got one!
>
> Singing, dancing, and so on...after, the riverside promenade opened
> with shops, and stands selling mulled wine...MMM we had a few cups
> of red while strolling with hundreds of locals and tourists,
> enjoying the brisk night and lucky break from the rain.
>
> We even practiced out newly-learned Slovenian phrases:
>
> "Dober dan! Rat bi dva Rdece Kuhano Vino prosim? Hvala, adijo!"
>
> That means, "Hello, I'd like two red mulled wines please. Thanks,
> bye!"
>
> Only the basics...after a few of those and a long walk through the
> medieval town we had a traditional Slovenian meal of soup in a bowl
> (mushroom and onion) and I had Game Goulash (deer, boar, etc)
> pictured on the background, and Ryan had pork with mushrooms.
>
> After more strolling in the rain, listening to American music from
> all decades on the speakers and a live singer, as well as Christmas
> music through a Disney-style soundsystem through the streets, we
> have returned for a good night of sleep.
>
> Tomorrow we need to hopefully get rain-free pictures, souveniers,
> and sightseeing before our 4 pm train to Vienna. We get in a bit
> late, but will be sad to leave this beautiful country. It is a true
> gem in an already star-studded vacation.
>
> Lahko noc.....

Traditional Slovenian cuisine

Jabortnik Bathroom

Don't you love a combo bathroom/shower/toilet? 77 euros a night!
Yeaaaaaah....

Laundry aisle heaven

At Mueller, a department store chain in Ljubljana...Ryan was
thrilled...we pay 9 bucks for Vernell and here it is under 2 euros!

Slovenian wine

Ryan secretly snapped this at lunch today...it's a slovenian wine and
was fantastic!

Wet Slovenia

We missed snow in Milan, the flood in Venice (we arrived two days
after), but we got hit hard with rain this morning.

No whining on this trip! We pressed ahead with our morning walking
tour with Marijan, a native Slovene who speaks impeccable English and
is a walking encyclopedia! 3 hours of amazing facts, history,
architecture, and culture through the cutest hidden town we have seen.
I selfishly almost don't want to talk about it.

But it deserves to be seen!

With big smiles, and wet shoes, wet socks, wet everything, we are
drying things off with a Jabortnik-looking hairdryer before heading
off for coffee and cakes or maybe some Schnitzel.

Ljubljana morning

Day 5 - Ljubljana

First, thank you for the comments and emails! We are happy to have you
along with us. We certainly gave grown in travel skills from our last
trip - things that used to trip us up be cause worry and nervousness
now become an opportunity to see a different part if the city. (for
example, turning right instead of left out if the train station last
night into a bleak area of town, or Scott in the WC on the train when
the conductor comes to check tickets, and they are hidden in his bag...)

This brings us to magical Ljubljana. Being here us special to us both
because ryan's great grandfather cane from here. The streets were full
last night of students and young tourists, drinking hot drinks, beer,
and talking in the freezing night air, compounded by the brisk river
that barrels through the city center.

We couldn't pass it up and walked around until about 1 am. I can't
imagine what day will bring to the sights...the bridges, the castle up
on the hill, the church that serenaded us all night (along with rain)...

We meet Marijan, our guide for the morning, in 40 minutes so we better
get going.

Hvala! (thanks in Slovenian)

Tschüß

Drinks in Presersen Square

Wednesday in ljubljana are happening!

Dinner in Ljubljana

I think someone has found their roots..,.

Insider note...our favorite Croatian blog drinks Union beer... Nas
drovska!!

Ljubljana fun

Hello (Dober dan) from Slovenia!

We said ciao to Silvia after another amazing meal that she Christina
(mama) prepared and jumped on the train. After 3 hours we were in
Villach, Austria and changed trains to one headed to Slovenia.

"Surely no dude'll be left over hungry"

In Slovenia, they eat horseburgers. Really, they do. While that doesn't quite shock me ("Due to exclusively vegetarian feeding horse meat is the least exposed to food manipulation."), I was bowled over by the website for "Hot Horse" a sort-of local burger chain.

It is a great paradox when you look at the actual words within "Kentucky Fried Chicken". No diff between that and "Hot Horse" right? Where you can get a nice Colt Steak Burger. Because, as the website says, "I dash a natural, juicy, properly thick steak of colt meat, which I've roasted quickly, into a fresh roll and fill it up all together with all the supplement your hart wishes for." Sounds great! I'll have that!

Enjoy the website...I look forward to the nacho, cabbage, and ajvar supplements the most!

http://www.hot-horse.si/en/index.html

p.s. We've confirmed our private tour in Ljubljana with one of Rick Steve's tour guides...I'm super excited for that! Speaking of, we're off to get ready for his talk at BookPeople in Austin.

Tschüß!