Highlights E Europe Day 5
Highlights E Europe
Day 5 – Monday, May 3, 2010 – Tour Ljubljana, Slovenia to Zagreb, Croatia (2 nights)
It was raining hard when we woke up this morning; we call it Brazil rain, coming down in sheets! The temperature was 58º and the humidity was 86%.
Once again we realized Eva’s wisdom in doubling up our optionals yesterday instead of taking us to the ski area today. The porter came after our bags at 10:00 and then we departed at 11:15.
Everyone was on the bus on time; this is a very punctual group. Kalman had a very short drive to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia and then on to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Eva explained the rotation again. We began in the back of the bus and will work our way forward.
When we reached Ljubljana, it was pouring rain. There was major construction on the main street into the city center so we walked around to find a place to have lunch.
Eva gave us 90 minutes to eat and I remembered a great street side Kebab stand where we had our lunch under their awning. We walked around a bit dodging other umbrellas and the rain drops.
Our local guide Katja met us at the main square under the statue of Preseren, a famous Slovenian poet. Miraculously, the rain stopped and we were able to truly enjoy our exploration of the city.
Katja gave us a brief history of the city and then we began our walk. We started over the Triple Bridges and noticed that since we have been here all of the streets have been cobbled and there is no traffic allowed in the center, only pedestrians and bicycles.
One of our first stops was at a local curio shop where we saw the replicas of the traditional paintings on the panels of the wooden bee hives. Bee keepers of old painted cartoon like stories on the boxes. One of Solvenia’s traditional gift products is natural honey.
We made our way through the local market, where vendors were selling vegetables, fruits, and bedding plants. At the end of the street we came to the Dragon Bridge which has brought fame and notoriety to the city.
Our 90 minute walk ended at 3:40 back at the city center without a drop of rain! We were serenaded by a large Dutch Choir called Grootkoor who had been performing inside the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation.
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Ljubljana is a beautiful city and they are doing much to help it be even more attractive to tourists by restoring its original splendor after the oppression of its darker days.
Kalman picked us up just a little after 4:00 and we drove out of the city in rain again. We are starting to believe in Eva’s connections to her Polish Pope who seems to be looking out for us!
Very close to the border we had a comfort stop or “Smiley Stop” as Eva calls them. Even though this group is large, they are punctual and we were back on the bus and on the road at 6:00.
Croatia is not yet a member of the European Union so there was a formal border crossing. We had to have our passports ready and available for inspection.
A Slovenian Border Guard came on to the coach and stamped each of our passports as we left the EU. Then we drove a little further and a Croatian Official came on the bus and stamped our passports one more time to enter the country.
By 7:00 we were at the hotel and our bags were brought to our rooms very quickly. Dinner was served at 7:30 so we turned right around to go back to the dining room.
While Gennie typed the journal and I looked at the photos of our day, we could hear the music of a Spring Prom which was also being held in the ballroom of the Westin.
Hotel: The Westin Zagreb (Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)
Comments
Grootkoor Choir (2:03)
Our Group Walking in the Rain
Preseren Statue - Poet
Wooden Bee Hives Panels
Dragon Bridge
Franciscan Church of the Annunciatio...
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