 Ljubljana, like other cities and municipalities in Slovenia, has their own coat-of-arms which you can see in different forms around the town. It consists of a green dragon above the castle, but it hasn't been always the same.
On the pictures bellow you can see older versions, where the castle is just a tower and the dragon looks like...hard to tell. But since no one ever saw dragon anyway, we can call it dragon.
Of course there is one in the middle of Ljubljana flag and you can see it on some buildings, especially if the construction was paid by the municipality.
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 This years edition of amazing Slovenian Wine Festival is near. On 14 and 15 November at Cankarjev dom centre the 22nd will be held. Last year was record-breaking, both by number of visitors and participating wine producers. There were over 240 exhibitors and more than 2000 visitors.  One of architect Jože Plečnik's finest masterpieces is undoubtedly his realization of what is today called National and University Library, which they started building in 1937. From outside the building looks a lot different than any of its neighbors, attracting views with its mostly orange bricks and almost natural rocks facade. On two opposite facades two big windows are places, with ionic column in the middle. Most of the smaller windows are bay windows that for many interpreters of Plečnik's heritage mean books.  Above the city, quite typical for a Medieval European city, stands the castle. Ljubljana castle. It was built in 15th century by the Habsburgs, later renovated and in 19th century turned into a prison. Today it hosts a few permanent exhibitions, like Slovenian History and fun Museum of Puppetry, and often changing temporary exhibitions. There are two restaurants, a cafe, wine bar, souvenir shop and during the summer many events are organized in the courtyard.  Have you heard that the only preserved monument for a civilian, i.e. regular person, like you or me, with a statue on a tall column in the entire territory of the Roman Empire, that means from Spain to UK to Syria to Egypt was excavated in Ljubljana?
 Let me tell you about my three favorite beer shops. There are more specialized beer shops in the city, but the one mentioned here are the one I enjoy visiting.
 Are you cold out there, wandering on the streets of Ljubljana? Go inside and warm up. We decided to visit Museum of Illusions where we most certainly did warm up...floating under the ceiling, wandering who is bigger,
 Very serious beer. At least so are the guys from Brewery Tektonik claiming. And when we visited them the other day we got sure about how serious they really are. They are.
 I love board games. Analog board games that requires good old analog company. If you like them as well, you should check out Slovenia's first #BoardGameCafe.
Dobra poteza, board game cafe, is just behind the main train station in Ljubljana and offers hours of fun  The capital beer, as they like to call themselves, shares it's name and a symbol with a city Ljubljana. Loo-blah-nah is a phonetic transcription of Ljubljana in a slang of Ljubljana residents, for English speakers. And of course, dragon is the symbol.
I visited them on the outskirts of Ljubljana, in Črnuče area, while main brewer Domen was making magic.  It might seem that this will be a post about museum shop. But don't be fooled, what I am sharing with you it is almost unknown Plečnik's work, The ultimate architect of Ljubljana. And you can see it absolutely free.
Since he was a big fan of tradition, it is not difficult to understand that he responded to the request in 1939 to draw the plans for the interior of the shop that was going to sell traditional arts. Its original position was at Kongresni trg Square.  Let's face it, cemetery has it's own feel, not necessarily pleasant to everyone. But nevertheless, it truly can be a great revelation of understanding the country better. And not to forget a beautiful, peaceful walk through outdoor gallery.
Ljubljana's cemetery, called Žale, is a remarkable piece of work, not only there is a breathtaking Garden of All Saints designed by Jože Plečnik also the rest of the cemetery is special to see.  Social Ljubljana Tour, named romantically - as a lot of things in sLOVEnia- Ljubljana with love, invites you to pay a visit to independent social companies that are part of a local ‘Think Social. Buy Local.’ movement.
While getting to know many stories of today's life in Slovenia and its capital you walk through the beautiful medieval part of Ljubljana and get to eat some food. Food with background, of course.  Every sunny Sunday in this summer there is an extraordinary workshop for children in the center of Ljubljana. And when I say "in the centre" it means it can't be more central...at Prešern Square there is a cafe that hosts this workshop.
 A group most known for its graffiti tour of Ljubljana launched a new tour this May and I just had to check it out. I like seeing and hearing what fellow guides have to say, especially on one of my favorite subject, alternative view of Ljubljana.
 Straight from the shoulder, the most green neighborhood of Ljubljana is Murgle. Murgle is very well known among the locals, mainly because hot shots like former presidents lives there (Milan Kučan) but also because of its green urban plan.
 There are a few events in Ljubljana that bring together young and old and if you happen to be in Ljubljana tomorrow, consider yourself lucky.
 Sunny day attracts young crowd to gather and sit on the grass of the Star Park (park Zvezda) which is part of a Congress Square (Kongresni trg). They chill, talk, read... on the grounds that was reconstructed in 1821 for the Congress of the Holy Alliance and then again by Jože Plečnik, just before the second world war.
 Cake Ljubljana is not an old thing but designed thoughtfully a few years ago. The idea was to make a cake that will, like Ljubljana as the capital city does, present all of Slovenia. The cake is delicious combination of all Slovenian culinary regions.
 Cobblers’ Bridge, known also as a Shoemaker Bridge got its name from the many past shoemakers’ workshops on the bridge. Back at those days it looked similar than today’s famous Ponte Vecchio, Old Bridge in Florence, Italy. |
TjašaAfter writing a blog in Slovenian language for 10 years I have finally come to my sense and started writing one in English as well. Categories
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