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| nuthatch | profile | all galleries >> Alpine driving loop >> Ljubljana, Slovenia | tree view | thumbnails | slideshow |
 heading east out of the Italian Val di Gardena, the Dolomites keep watch |
 and bicyclists continue to train for next week's one-day/seven-passes race |
 still no end to the remarkable roads... |
 ...or vistas: here, the Lago di Pieve di Cadore |
 Lorenzago di Cadore is set against a backdrop of Friulan Dolomites |
 we stop to enjoy the town |
 gotta love Italy! |
 continuing on through the Giulian Alps, and out of Italy |
 this is the first road sign we see upon entering Slovenia... |
 ...but the scenery is still very nice |
 in the capital city Ljubljana, we stroll to Prešeren square, center of the downtown |
 the poet looks over the square... |
 ...toward his inamorata Julja |
 crossing the river toward the old town and castle hill |
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 heading toward the town hall |
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 the streets get narrower as we head toward Stari trg, the old town square |
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 on the Cobbler's Bridge... |
 ...a blues band is playing |
 the air is calming as night approaches |
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 in the Židovska ulica, the old Jewish quarter |
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 the national university building |
 a view toward the Cobbler's Bridge as night falls |
 time to head back to the hotel |
 the next day, brighter sun makes the building colors more vivid |
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 very progressive recycling! |
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 at the Triple Bridge designed by Joze Plecnik |
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 Tom capturing the bridges |
 another bridge beckons |
 this one is adorned with love locks... |
 ...and a sculptural riff on Masaccio by Jakov Brdar |
 now the Dragon Bridge is in view |
 the dragon has become the city's emblem |
 back to the central market at Vodnikov trg |
 we are tempted by a winding path up to the castle... |
 ...but opt for the funicular to ease our way... |
 ...and get this view of the city |
 here's another angle on the Dragon Bridge |
 inside the castle |
 a few interior spaces are preserved; here, as an art gallery |
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 inside the Slovenian history museum |
 horseshoes from the 15th~17th century |
 a cheery plague painting |
 vases carved from WWI artillery shells |
 an identity flag pin from a resettled citizen just after WWII |
 pre-Euro currency with images of Plecnik and Prešeren |
 we decide to walk down from the castle... |
 ...taking in views along the south side |
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 the alley narrows... |
 ...but a helpful sign points to the old town |
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 at the town hall |
 hmmm... we should come back in 14 years to test the predictions |
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 a statue of Ivan Hribar, beloved mayor from the turn of the 20th century |
 we have no idea what this says |
 passing the national library on the way to the city museum |
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 now we are following the alleys to the southern neighborhood of Krakovo... |
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 ...where urban farms grow produce for the city's restaurants |
 we're in Plecnik country now, heading for his house museum |
 he's commemorated on the church with a plaque |
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 back in town, the river seems very calm now |
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 dragon imagery everywhere |
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 the next day, we start at the Serbian orthodox church... |
 ...dedicated to saints Cyril and Methodius |
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 then on to the National Museum's collection of Roman stone art... |
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 ...including some massive tombs |
 the opera house |
 the American embassy |
 at the modern art museum... oh, no, has there been a theft? |
 or... is it art? |
 crossing the highway, we're in Ljubljana's Tivoli garden... |
 ...where a photo exhibit of Jazz musicians by Ziga Koritnik is on display |
 taking a leafy walk... |
 ...up to the museum of graphic arts |
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 back in the city, we pass the ministry of finance... |
 ...and turn down some smaller streets again |
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 here's an homage to the region's unique salamander |
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 Ljubljana bids us farewell, as we set our sights on Austria |
 panorama: Prešeren square: the Ljubljana triplets |
 panorama: Cobbler's Bridge |
 panorama: from the castle rampart |
 panorama: hiking down from the castle |