20 August 2018

It was once again an early start with bags packed and loaded before breakfast @ 6:30. It is nice to be able to relax without the luggage to worry about.

Good News – my phone was not stolen! It was found in a restaurant and the owner contacted a relative on WhatsApp who contacted Lolz. It’s just a pity it wasn’t answered when we called the number then we would have got it back immediately. Anyway I am in the process of trying to organize its return. My left items in Prague are being posted to London. So – all’s well that ends well. I am feeling really lucky today.

The race to see which city will get top vote from me continues. And believe me the competition is strong. Each city visited so far has been awesome and each has spoken to me in a different way. I wasn’t expecting much from Slovenia’s 🇸🇮 capital, Ljubljana. First of all it is so tiny that I hadn’t paid it much attention in the past, it’s almost impossible to pronounce and Filip didn’t give it much good press! However, our walking guide did and I, as a conservation nut, liked what she said. The chicken shaped city is Green! Cars and buses may not drive into the city center and the small taxis you see are electric so you won’t be breathing any toxic fumes. They also encourage bee keeping in Slovenia. And as you know, the planet will die if the 🐝 becomes extinct. The city is clean and has some interesting stories connected to it, it has a really trendy vibe and also has excellent coffee and chocolate – what’s not to like.

A castle overlooks the city and the Slavs joke that from the top of the castle you can see the whole of Slovenia. We didn’t take the funicular to see if it was true.

It is a city of markets, beautiful churches, buildings and bridges.

We went into St Nicholas church which was stunning. The elaborate door looks old but was build 25 years ago to celebrate Pope John Paul II.

At the bottom of the door is the face of a man with a pointy nose -rub the nose and you will have good luck 😉 So I did although the good luck about my phone came before I did that. Perhaps lighting candles for my mother, father and aunt last night was what did it😊

In front of the church stands the statue of the poet France Preseren. It faces the window where his adored Julija Primic used to live. There is a sculpture of a muse above him sitting on a rock and holding a laurel branch in her hand. The poet is dressed in the outfit of the period and holds a book symbolising his poems.

We all had free time after the guided walk so Lolz and I found a pavement cafe to have lunch. Then it was on to Venice. We had not signed up for thenVenice by Night experience so did some washing and had an early night.