Prešeren Square, named for the great Slovenian poet France Prešeren, is adorned with beautiful architecture amidst the delicate bridges that traverse the river bend. The square is watched over by Prešeren Monument - a statute of Prešeren with the muse of poetry holding a sprig of laurel above his head for inspiration.
Prešeren square by night...
One of the dragons that flanks Dragon Bridge, a symbol of the city.
My host Masa - she was a friend of a friend and ever so gracious to host me on last minute notice...
View from the hill above Ljubljana
Atop Ljubljana Castle - Hi Aunt Kay ;-)
View of the city from atop Ljubljana Castle
Ljubljana Castle - they actually did a great job with this place. It was never really a living castle but served more as a prison and fort. Since there was little by way of aesthetic development they blended clean modern lines of wood and glass with the simplicity of practical uses and created a lovely respite far above the city.
You can't tell from this picture but the market is huge - spanning hundreds of umbrellas with brightly colored designs - from above it looks like a patchwork of rainbows.
Great bars line the river for a night scene that is both laid back and happening
View of the river
Church of St. James
Ljubljana street...
Love the little tastes of Italian influence - in fact, Ljubljana, as is true of much of Slovenia, was strongly influenced by the Venetians during their golden age...
The Town Square, originally laid out in the 12th century
Prešeren and his muse...
Me and my host Masa
Ivana and Masa
Ivana's best friend Tina and her fiance Matej
Ivana riding the ski lift to the top of "Mount Maribor"
Me and Ivana practicing self-photo techniques on the ski lift up 'Mount Maribor' - Hi Aunt Kay :-)
These are the little track racer cars you drive back down the hill - what fun!!
View of Maribor
The adrenalin course - what a rush! (when it aint a hundred degrees outside)
Ivana lovin' the massage chair at the mall!! I thought we'd never get out of there!
Hanging out at Tina and Matej's looking at vacation pictures and talking about the upcoming wedding. They are Dinkeas- double income no kid sorts who shop at IKEA :-)
Me and Ivana's mom - she was so sweet. Cooked every meal we were there - awesome dumplings, and creamed spinach, great soups, yummy bread/meat rolls, and all kinds of other good stuff!! I would gain 20 pounds in a month there!
On the road at last!
Sunbathers by Lake Bled
Eating melted Cornys at the campsite at Lake Bohinj
Damn rocky earth...
The little restauraunt near the campsite where we ate dinner. Beautiful mountains border the sides of the lake.
Slovenian beer...
Oh these were sooooo good. Blueberry schnapps in chocolate shotglass cups... mmmmmmm!
A good dinner and happy tummies!
Sitting in our little lopsided tent... Good thing there were no real winds!!
View of the 'kitchen' from the 'front door' :)
Beautiful water of Lake Bohinj
Trigger happy at Lake Bled which boasts the only island in Slovenia with its little steepled church watched over by a castle on a ridge beyond the lake and before the alps rising in the distance.