On our last full day in Ljubljana, our OAT group would cruise a short distance along the Ljubljanica River. Nice for everyone that we wouldn't need an early start (and even sleep in) because the weather had changed and it was chilly, gray, wet and windy. Perhaps not the best scenario for a boat ride, but what the heck, we'd do it anyway. In the lobby we saw all manner of layered dress and jackets. I think we've been really lucky weather-wise on this four-and-a-half week trip of ours; not much rain or inclement weather. Not even too much blazing heat.
Ann and I admired the mirrored entry at our Urban Hotel in Ljubljana, where one picture took on infinite proportions. She and I and the chandelier seemed to go on forever!
I've included this photo because I thought this building looked weird. We saw a number of 'em like this in Croatia and Slovenia. Dunno. Kind of reminded me of warts.
Our wooden chariot on the water! We walked to the dock (it wasn't far) to hop aboard our 10am cruise. The boat "Ljubljanica" is made of larch wood and is a product of local know-how, and quite a work of art. It can carry up to 48 people and the cruise takes about an hour. Today it would have been even better if the seating area was glassed in!
Morning clouds didn't reflect on the water very well.
The captain said this was a beaver. Jimmy and I looked at each other, each thinking "nutria." When we got back to the hotel, I looked it up, and here it's called a Eurasian beaver. North American beavers do not stand on floating vegetation. They'll whack the water with their flat tails if alarmed by a boat or a dog or people, and instantly disappear underwater. This thing looks exactly like the invasive nutria.
It didn't take long to leave the cityscape,
and cruise into a more rural, lushly green landscape.
You'd think from the looks on peoples' faces that the cruise was either awful or boring. No, we were simply cold. The crew passed out blankets to throw over cold legs or shoulders and that helped.
Upon turning around, we headed back into Ljubljana, motoring past our dock, and continued on, passing beneath one bridge after another. Above you see our approach to the Triple Bridge and the (pink? orange? salmon?) Franciscan Church of the Annunciation.
At top, both pics are of the Dragon Bridge, bottom right is the Cobbler's Bridge and Butcher's Bridge is bottom left. Each distinctive in its own way.
In the afternoon, Jimmy and I, Bernice and Ibby rode the funicular to the summit of Castle Hill to check out the castle complex. How many funiculars have we been on since our trip began on Aug 19th? Too many to count! FYI, Originally a medieval fortress, the castle was probably constructed in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 12th century. It acquired its present outline with an almost complete overhaul in the 15th century, whereas the majority of the buildings date to the 16th and 17th centuries.
Gray skies. Flags nearly straight out. At the castle entrance, we appreciated being indoors. This is quite a conglomeration of buildings. We walked up and down, inside and out, looked at exhibits, stopped in a chapel, and a visited a puppetry museum, read signboards, peered at an old prison, and climbed to the top of the Panoramic Tower. And overall admired the construction, some of which we could see dated back hundreds and hundreds of years.
Wonderful views of the city from up here.
A very pretty double spiral staircase leads to the top, recalling the time when it was part of a fortress in which logistics required soldiers not to cross on the stairs. Ibby is looking up at me looking down.
St. George's Chapel was built in 1489 in the Gothic style and rebuilt in Baroque style in 1727. Gothic windows were left from the earlier period. Coats-of-arms of provincial governors are part of the ceiling fresco, which makes the chapel highly regarded among European sacred buildings, as it's rare for churches to be decorated with secular content. The ceiling is really high, too. I felt the hushed energy of an earlier time while standing in the chapel. We don't have anything like these ancient castles or ruins in the USA because our country is a relative newcomer in the overall scheme of advanced civilizations. Probably this is why we find these places so intriguing.
Fast forward to 6pm/ish, when the group met for a final recap and to share experiences. Sitting at tables, with wine or coffee, what did each of us like best about the trip and what meant the most? How about the least? 14 of us shared unique opinions, yet we were united in our viewpoint that this Adriatic trip met or exceeded our expectations. In short, it was a hit. Mario said we were the best!
Our Farewell Dinner was basically a step across the street to Šestica, a rather famous eatery in business since 1776, and which they claim to be the oldest restaurant in town. Both large groups and individuals can be seated. They served our group of 14 (plus Mario) easily and promptly. I'd tell you what I ate, but I don't know! The entertainment was especially good, with traditional dancing by couples in traditional dress. And be assured that some audience participation was involved, and that's always hilarious; i.e., the hat exchange!
Around the table from left, front: Jimmy (out of view), Melissa, Courtney, Renee, Suzanne, Bernice and Ibby. Everyone seemed to like the tasty charcuterie of preserved meats, cheese, pickles, served on well-used wooden platters.
L-R at this table: Mario, Neel, Ronnie, Sue, Jack, Don and Ann.
Very enjoyable!
And so we ambled back to our hotel and our evening ended ... well, almost. We had to pack our bags! Tomorrow we fly home: Wake up at 4am, bags in the hallway by 4:30am, and in the airport shuttle at 5am. Officially our Overseas Adventure Travel "Crossroads of the Adriatic" trip is over. We'll fly from Ljubljana to Munich, Munich to O'Hare in Chicago, Chicago to Sacramento.
We were concerned that we only had a two-hour layover in Chicago, what with customs, reclaiming luggage and changing terminals. Luckily we installed "Mobile Passport" before leaving the US, and that saved us oodles of time, so much that we had a half hour to spare before boarding our flight to Sacramento.
We left Ljubljana on Thursday, 9/19 at 7:15am and arrived in Sacramento at 6:43pm, all in the same day, all in complete daylight. Indeed, glaring sunlight on the south side of the plane; no shades were up. I didn't sleep. My body knew it was daytime, awake-time. Jimmy can sleep standing up, so he had no problem. I worked the magazine's crossword puzzle and finished my book. I got up, stretched. Sat down. I watched that stupid screen below, because I can't "watch" a movie on the screen ... mainly I can't hear the words well enough. Anyhoot, we made it home safely and were met at the airport by Matt and sweet Everly Rose, whose smile when she saw us made the loooong day's travel so worth it. I barely slept for the next two nights and got a lot accomplished by day. Sunday I crashed, slept most of the day, AND the entire night without getting up. Jet lag 101.
Four-and-a-half weeks - first hiking in the incomparable Swiss Alps, followed by our Adriatic adventure, including Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Slovenia. Weeks of fun and camaraderie, walking into the heart of villages and towns, exploring, hiking up and down mountains covered in flowers ... and cows, seeing the turquoise water of Plitvice Lakes, Dubrovnik's walled Old Town, and more, much more. Loved it. All of it. But for now ... welcome home!
