Visit Ljubljana briefly
Road trip from Slovakia to Portoroz in Slovenia was a lot of fun. I am not part of car road trips very often, unless it’s a bus trip, but sharing such a small place with people I truly heart could not be any less than unforgettable fun!
After 4 days in Portoroz and Piran, we had to make our back to Slovakia and on the way to Bratislava stopping in Ljubljana, the charming and so underestimated capital of Slovenia, was a must. I wanted to visit Ljubljana for ages! Many fellow travel bloggers sang prayers about the city so we just could not wave only from the highway at it as we did on the way to the coast a few days ago.
We only had 2 – 3 hours to visit Ljubljana, looked for the closest parking lot and found ourselves at a pretty busy square with young guys all around. It looked like a huge messy party with everyone running around, or just sitting on the grass and benches and taking the last summer beams for themselves.
With Monika, we asked 2 guys about the way:
”Oh, the main square is just here on the left behind the corner. Then the famous little bridges are down to the right.”
”Thanks! How old are you? Your English is great!” my surprise was enormous.
”We are both 18” I got through a very shy smile.
Making our way through the crowd of happy guys 10 years younger than me made me laugh. Above our heads were colourful basketball player models among the trees representing the upcoming Eurobasket 2013 games.
the park crowded with painted young guys
basketball players in the trees representing Eurobasket 2013
Suddenly, we spotted a group of girls with colourful markers heading over to us.
”Aw, I want that!” I pointed and straight away realized I should not think aloud! My friends took my word and walked me to the girlie group. ”Draw on her” they said.
I rolled up the sleeves and Ivo, one of my friends, did the same with my tank top uncovering the belly. I ended up with silver I <3 Slovenija on the left forearm, a blue heart around the belly piercing, a blue smiley face on my left cheek and a bunch of smaller signs of different colours on my right arm.
painted girls
how they painted me
”And what is this thing going on in here? Why all these paintings on the skin?” I was curious.
”Look” she showed me Frr, one of the painted signs ”it means freshman, the first day of the first year at the University” and winked.
It made me remember my first day when straight away I made friends with 3 girls which remained my best friends throughout the whole 5 years of studies. Yeah, great memories!
I gave the pretty young girls my thanks for making me look and feel back in my teens and we started heading to the main square. Male freshmen had also different kind of drawing on them – e.g. the one I took the photo of :D I mean, men!
what guys painted on them :D
The energetic Prešeren square was still overcrowded with all these new students enjoying to maximum probably the happiest day of their upcoming studies. Videos and photos of the colorful buildings and statues taken, and the stomach was reminding us it was time for lunch. Looking at the map, we walked along Čop Street (a shopping street) trying to survive the attack of eggs and flour as skin painting was not the only thing they did to welcome others to their University fresh year.
With Dušky (my personal masseur), both covered with Frr and other signs, and with my big expensive lense in my right hand, we were a massive bait. And each time I heard a window opening or someone running, my heart stopped beating for a second. No, please no, not my camera … I was begging quietly! Some nasty kids were also throwing out eggs from the top floors! I honestly did enjoy this party at the street, but I was more than sure my camera would not think the same.
in front of the Franciscan church of the Annunciation at Preserev square
a bronze Ljubljana scale model
I loved this building
photoshooting the building roof
in one of my usual photographing positions
another pretty historical building with statues on top
trying to avoid eggs
A few girls around us, thankfully none from our group, ended up as if just before baking but our luck stood by us until we got to the restaurant recommended for lunch. Šestica, a traditional restaurant with typical Slovenian meals where half of my friends ordered a chicken salad with potato bread from the area (super tasty!) while the second half with me as the healthy leader walked to the Juicebox bar next to it (located at Slovenska cesta 38). Being on raw food as much as I could to show people the best way to stay fit when traveling, I chose two 400 ml fresh veggie juices with ginger, and added spirulina and acerola for lunch.
fresh juices from Juicebox bar
However, the time was pressing us. We still had some 5 hours on the highway to catch my and Dušky’s train then in Bratislava, so the last thing we could do in Ljubljana was to check out the bridges I kept seeing on every photo from Ljubljana.
On the way there, a small market with a lot of cool traditional stuff appeared in front of us at Pogačarjev trg. I enjoyed the hand-made wooden figures, dice with different words and also the cutest clocks ever! After buying the last souvenirs, we turned to the first bridge, took some photos and quickly walked back to the parking lot.
on the way to the market
wooden figures at Pogacarjev trg market
wooden clocks
funky bicycle marketing
dice with sex phrases
Ljubljana castle
Ljublana famous bridge view
happy at one of Ljubljana bridges
painted smiley faces with Dusky
our painted forearms
One thing I found funny was the national proud – they write Apple as Epl, and pizzeria as picerija :)
Apple Epl in Ljubljana
I believe we only scratched the beauty of the Slovenian capital. I am already looking forward for my next visit wondering how different I’ll find it without the young freshmen throwing eggs on painted passers-by. How’s real Ljubljana? Likely calm? Lively? Luxurious? Let’s see.
we found a heart even on a tree
I 3 Slovenia
*** It took me 5 hours to write this post.
