The day had started with a bit of a hiccup….
Woolly says – I don’t like hiccups they make my whole body bounce!
…….. funny to watch though! Having queued at the main bus station for our tickets the lady behind the counter told us that we had to buy them on the bus, not a problem we thought and as we followed the mammoth through the fume laden bus garage we happily joined the line to pay.
Woolly says – Having reached the front the driver informed us that we had to book online, now I know Jo can be a liability with dates and times of travel but she spends hours checking bus routes on line and no where had it said that we had to book beforehand. I looked at the driver who peered down at me, ‘can we book now if we go online’ I suggested, ‘no’ he responded ’50 minutes before bus go’ hmmmmm I looked at Jo and she smiled sweetly at the driver explaining that we hadn’t had internet for over a week so couldn’t have booked ….and she tells me not lie! The driver frowned and picked up his phone, ten minutes later and we were on board.
I know you shouldn’t tell fibs but sometimes just sometimes you have to do what has to be done!
Woolly says – As we settled down into our seats I considered the new country that we were going to be entering in around two hours. Slovenia is bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. The current territory of Slovenia was part of many different state formations, including the Roman Empire and the Holy Roman Empire, followed by the Habsburg Monarchy. It was a founding member of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia. In June 1991 after the introduction of multi-party representative democracy, Slovenia split from Yugoslavia and became an independent country. I knew we were only going to be there for 48 hours but hopefully that would give us an idea of what it had to hold.
As the miles passed and we were just getting to the point of attempting to stop Woolly annoying the other passengers by throwing his empty pistachio shells to stave off his boredom we crossed a lovely bridge into the capital city of Ljubljana.
Woolly says – The European Commission awarded Ljubljana the coveted Green Capital of Europe title for 2016. Not that we would have time to look at the greenery, as I jumped from the bus I set the pace with the girls trotting behind me, first stop the beautifully domed Cathedral. Originally, Ljubljana Cathedral was a Gothic church, in the early 18th century it was replaced by the Baroque building that I found myself standing in front of now. The door itself was worth the trip, adorned with the heads of bishops it has to take the title for the most impressive entrance so far on our trip. Inside was lovely with it’s ornate altar and gold encrusted pulpit and a ceiling covered in wonderful frescos painted by Matevž Langus in 1843. Having soaked up the beauty and taken the required pictures we strolled back into the sunshine and through the teeming market. Stalls of all kinds covered the squares, from honey to biscuits and knitwear to wooden toys, people sat happily chatting at all the small bars and the atmosphere was wonderful. Knowing that we had a limited time we paused at the lovely buildings and goggled at the pink wonder of the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation before hurrying on.
So much to see and I could feel my small companions disappointment that we wouldn’t be able to check out so much of the city. Having crossed over one of the lovely bridges which was covered in padlocks and brass curio’s we had to make a decision, continue to tour the main area or go to the castle.
Woolly says – I looked upwards to the chateaux like buildings perched up above, well I’m a sucker for a castle so the choice was made. I did however hope that we weren’t walking up there in the heat!
Luckily we wouldn’t have to as in 2006 the city had built a funicular railway that would take us to the top.
Woolly says – as we gazed up the incline it reminded us of the much smaller train in Aberystwyth that we have enjoyed a few times. Climbing into the cabin we rose majestically above the city and the grand view of the buildings below us. Consulting the map of the castle I was eager to get started, in 1335 the Habsburgs demolished the former fortress which had stood on the hill and in the second half of the 15th century started building the current castle. Its main purpose was to defend against Turkish invasions( those pesky Turks again), in the 17th and 18th century the castle had the function of a military hospital and an arsenal. Having also served as the city jail it promised to have lots to interest me. Entering the first area I eagerly stared around only to find myself in a very modern looking art gallery, leaving the modern for others I headed into the next space to find another art gallery, I glared at Jo and demanded to know where the castlely parts were!
We did seem to be missing the historical flavour so having seen a sign for a virtual castle I thought that it might help with my small friends information.
Woolly says – twelve minutes later and I knew that I wasn’t going to be seeing anything that I had wanted to, the whole place had been rebuilt inside during the 1980’s and was now noted for it’s wedding functions! Feeling downhearted I stood outside the chapel which looked rather nice and my heart lifted as inside the beautiful fresco’s glowed on the walls, at last something of history. Three exhibition spaces later I plonked myself on a seat in the courtyard and refused to move until Jo could find something better to look at, I sat wondering why there was a green dragon wandering round as I sipped my cold lemonade and we considered the map.
There were only two areas left to look at and I was keeping my fingers crossed that these might be the highlights of a disappointing time.
Woolly says – The Museum of Puppetry opened in 2015 in honour of Slovenia’s great puppet artists and its distinguished puppetry tradition which dates back over a century, proved to be wonderful. Lots of different puppets to look at and even more interactive displays to play with, having tried my paw with the string ones and then having Jo unknot me I happily entertained Jo and Zoe to a shadow puppet show which put my acting talents to use. Trotting back down the stairway we agreed that we really needed to dust off Jo’s collection that she used to use in the classroom when we finally settled in a home again…I could make a fortune with my skills! I entered the last space which housed a Bee Museum with a small amount of trepidation and fear that being stung might be on the cards, but to my utter amazement we seemed to have finally found the historical part of the castle. Leaving Zoe to wander round the displays Jo and I sat in a companionable silence gazing happily at the great hall we had found ourselves in.
A huge arched hall which looked battered and worn seemed to seep history and for the first time we were able to imagine how the castle would have really been in it’s youth.
Woolly says – it was the highlight of the whole place, but knowing that we had a bus to catch I hurried the women back to the train and the descent back into the wonderful city…maybe we made the wrong decision I ventured to the girls, who nodded, maybe we need to come back again, they nodded once more, I’ll add it onto the plans for the future I said.