Something to Declare

September 30, 2024. Last post – from Ljubljana.

Before I begin today’s activities, please note that I have expressed admiration for Slovenia’s politics, economy and natural beauty. I have refrained from acknowledging that Slovenia is the birthplace of Melania Trump.  This omission is entirely deliberate. So there.

This morning was one of relative leisure. Elsa said that we would gather at 10:15 am for a walk to the open-air market. The market is mostly for the sale of local produce, fruits (like incredibly purple plums and enormous mushrooms); it’s also where there are vending machines for milk, for eggs and OTC medicines.

We also visited the nearby Baroque-style Cathedral of St. Nicholas, built between 1701 and 1708. St. Nicholas is notable for its famous bronze Slovene Door, added in 1996 to celebrate the 1,250th year of Christianity in Slovenia, and a visit by Pope John Paul II. It is decorated with reliefs that portray the conflict with the Ottoman Turks, including a depiction of an Ottoman Janissary (a member of the Sultan’s guard) kidnapping a Christian child. (Remember, from a previous post, that the Albanian hero Skanderbeg had been kidnapped by the Turks as a young child, and had served as a general in the Ottoman army, before returning to Albania to fight the Turks).

Certain of the reliefs had obviously been rubbed innumerable times (above, upper and lower right), in accordance with a legend that so doing would result in the granting of a wish.

Out next stop was a boat ride on the Ljubljanica (LOOB-lee-ah-NIT-sa) River (the name is a diminutive of Ljubljana):

Our guide pointed out the various sights, including the history of the many bridges (the Cobblers Bridge, the Lovers’ Bridge, the Dragon Bridge, e.g.) He apologized for being unable to show us anything that predated the year 1511, when an earthquake had leveled Ljubljana.

After the boat cruise, the day was ours to enjoy any way we wished. First was a visit to the Židovska Steza and Židovska Ulica (the former Jews’ Pathway and Jews’ Street).

Then lunch at the Gostilna (restaurant) Sokol, where we had mushroom soup and venison goulash, respectively, in bread bowls (fun to be able to eat the dinnerware!), and local orange wine.

After lunch, Stef and I proceeded to the funicular to the top of the Ljubljana’s castle where, on the way up, there were some views of the nearby Julian Alps.

Later, our tour group (see photo below, from Lake Bled) got together for farewell champagne, followed by a walk past the Opera House and farewell dinner at the Restovracija Operna Klet.

Tomorrow we’re to be wakened at 4:00 am (!) for our early-morning flight from Ljubljana to Frankfurt, and then back home. Thanks for coming along on this truly excellent OAT journey. Next up: India in December.