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Slovenian Wine Festival

21/10/2019

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.

Slovenian Wine Festival's mission is to present Slovene and foreign wines and to spread the wine drinking culture. Festival is a meeting point of winegrowers and winemakers, wine lovers, sommeliers, members of wine fraternities and other wine associations, knights of wine and wine queens.

Slovenian Wine Festival is a must visit for anyone interested in wine. Tasting, exploring endless senses, chatting with producers, searching for awarded wines, taking selfies with queen...

With an extensive wine offer there are also some food exhibitors, like colourful vegetable spreads or delicious goat cheese among others. Last year there was photo booth to capture happy atmosphere of the festival.

National and University Library

5/10/2019

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.

Building has many elements, furnishings, details that Plečnik himself designed. Above the main entrance you can see architects interpretation of national coat of arms that you can see in Slovene flag. Triglav, highest Slovenian mountain and waves of rivers and sea. Above side doors is statue made by sculptor Lojze Dolinar, named Moises, that very much looks like one of the most famous Slovenian painters Rihard Jakopič.

Reading room, which lays among both big windows is popular as a study room for students. Has been and still is. But unless you are signed as a member of a library, the reading room is unreachable. It is open for visitors only during summer.

Very impressive is staircase that Plečnik designed in a local black lime stone, with many traces of white fossils. While going up this dark staircase, towards the light that shines from above, one can easily understand the idea behind, which is: Studying is not easy and the path to knowledge (or should I say light) is difficult.

Most often, during the opening times of the library, you will be able to enter and see the staircase.

On the ground floor in the inner courtyard there is a cafe that serves Plečnik's tea, architects favorite herbal blend that was regularly prepared for him by his housekeeper.

When entering the building one can not miss the beautiful, horse shaped door knob, designed by Jože Plečnik.

The Castle of Ljubljana

9/5/2019

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.

From the top of the castle's tower, which is a bit younger, build in the middle of the 19th century, is a fabulous view all over the town.

You can reach the top of the castle by walking on one of the many paths from all sides of the hill or take the easier way by embarking the funicular. Castle is fun to explore on your own, with a guide or in an escape-room style.

And don't forget to find the escape route from the castle. They say every castle has one.

The gilt Emonian

15/2/2019

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?

Almost as tall as a real person (145 cm) reveals us a bit of Roman fashion of 2nd century. Clothing, shoes and of course hair style. The original so called Emonean (Person from town Emona, which was Ljubljana in Roman times, about 2 millennials ago.) was posing for me at National Museum. You can see it's copy standing tall at Congress Square in the centre of Ljubljana.

They discovered this copper statue in 1836 during the constructions of Kazina building, where it was probably buried by the Romans to protect it from possible (human) scavengers. It's reconstruction at Congress Square shows it as it was set initially: the statue was placed on a tall pillar above urn grave.

Beer shops @ Ljubljana

6/3/2018

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.

The pioneer in beer shops in Ljubljana is Pivoljub, roughly translated as Beerophile, and is still an important dot on a beer-lovers map. They are the biggest shop and, as they like to say, sell beers at affordable price. I would most certainly add knowledgeable sellers, like the one at my last visit, when I witnessed short lecture on which beer should be served in which glass.

Not sure about that? You might visit Pivoljub or, what we heard at the end of the lecture, no matter the glass, the objective is to enjoy your beer.

Že v redu, Primož is what I call the funkiest beer shop at one of the best streets in central Ljubljana, Trubarjeva cesta Street or Trubar Street if you prefer. Mr. Trubar, Primož Trubar is author of first printed book in Slovenian, that was published long ago in year 1550. As you might have guessed until now, the name of the shop refers to namesake of the street.

Apart from an amazing location, this beer shop does have a refrigerator. This means, that when it is not freezing outside, summer should do, you can buy cold beer here and continue exploring streets of Ljubljana or just sit down outside, like by the river or in the park or wherever excites you.

A bit away from the main tourist track lies beer shop Craft Pivo, or Craft Beer in English. Their focus is mainly on foreign craft beer offer and often get an exclusive barrel or two for the next door pub Godec. They host smaller events, like some new Slovenian or foreign craft brewery presentation, education on beer and similar.
Last but not least, there is a BIT coin ATM at the entrance of the shop.

Museum of Illusions @ Ljubljana

26/2/2018

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,

or whose face is in the mirror, trying to count ourselves in the infinity room...

Our heads were spinning, mind was dared, eyes challenged, motion doubted and many more in the Museum of Illusions in Ljubljana.

It is located very centrally at the Congress Square and offers quite some fun time, of course it all depends how much time you want to spend there and if your company is any fun. Mine was.

Tektonik Brewery

7/2/2018

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.

For now still the most centrally positioned brewery is situated in an ex print shop of one of the biggest Slovenian daily newspapers named Delo.

Their most recognizable beers are Iggy (IPA), Dizzy (IPA Amerikana), Hercule (Witbier) and Normal (Pale Ale, the only one that is in 0.5 l bottles). But they are also playing around with some used wooden barrels, from wine and even whiskey.

As brewery itself is not a place for visitors, Tektonic is preparing to open a new tap room in the coming months. But until then you can purchase their beer in food shops, grocery stores and in many bars across Ljubljana

Good move

14/12/2017

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

On my first visit there Jure, game guru, introduced us a few easy games to get warmed up. I had a little wish, probably not the most typical wish there, for board games to be as photogenic as possible. I liked his choice, The most photogenic of them all was Hamster's wheel, that you can see on the upper pictures. It was also nice warm up game.

Before the Wheel we tried Eureka! I loved it, it seems very easy, but it is quite challenging as it requires players to be very quick.

Mikado 2.0, or Cuckoo's nest, both are my favorite names for the game that you can see bellow, none of it is the official name, though. It requires some steady hands, which might be hard as in Dobra poteza (that translates as Good Move) have very nice beer offer, about 60 of them and Slovenian craft beer Pelicon on tap!

They have a treatment for coffee lovers as well as they have the fair trade coffee that is now, luckily, spreading in Ljubljana cafes. Thank you Buna.

For playing games you pay 2 € (per person) and you can play any game that day for as long as you like. And you can choose among 350 games!

Loo-blah-nah aka Lublana

1/12/2017

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.

I learned many things on beer brewing and of course tasted a few of their beers. Their parade horse is English Pale Ale, which is very drinkable, light and fresh. Next are IPA, Amber Ale, Golden Ale and brewers favorite Belgian style.

Like the dragon is omnipresent in Ljubljana, almost the same is with Loo-blah-nah beer as it can be found in many bars, like: Lepa Žoga, Biljardna hiša, Old Scottish pub, Guinness pub, Forum, Prulček, Platana, Kavarna SEM, Sputnik, Dvorni bar, Gas Station, Irish pub...

Looblahnah is not present only in liquid state but also on T-shirts and sweaters. Cheers!

Unknown Plečnik's work

23/11/2017

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.

After 2nd World War Lectarija had its highs and lows and was later restored and now has a new permanent address at the Slovene Ethnographic Museum.

And it still kept it's original purpose as it sells handmade traditional products like Idrija lace, wooden and clay products, hand woven goods and hand painted beehive panels among others. There is also some unique jewelry from traditional materials from Slovene designers.

The shop is open the same as Slovene Ethnographic Museum is and you can enter without paying (museum) entrance ticket. Just let people at the counter know where you are going.

Tjaša

After writing a blog in Slovenian language for 10 years I have finally come to my sense and started writing one in English as well.

I'll share with you beautiful places worth visiting in Slovenia and around it. I'll also talk about general things tourist should know and of course I'll write about food, drinks and accommodation, essentials for any visitor.

I am writing about my personal recommendations that are not influenced by any sponsors. But please, don't expect new post every day. ;)

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