Dates: 13-16 April 2013.

Mike turned 30 this year so he had a great idea to go away for a few days to celebrate, so Liz and I joined Mike, Monica, George, Laura and Stumpy for a short trip to Ljubljana.

We arrived from Luton into Ljubljana airport, which was the smallest airport I’d ever used, but it was overlooked by snow-capped mountains despite the shorts and t-shirt weather. We got a taxi to our accommodation and headed straight out for a look around and food.

The Franciscan church on the famous Prešernov trg (Prešeren square):

Two of the famous Triple Bridges that cross the Ljubljanica river:

For out first full day, Mike’s birthday, we headed north west out of Ljubljana to Lake Bled. The short bus trip afforded some spectacular views of the mountain ranges that flanked the road:

We took a slow anti-clockwise walk around the whole of the lake, starting with Bled Castle (Blejski grad) :

The Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria on the little islet in the lake:

After a quick pre-walk beer pit-stop we walked up to Bled Castle to get some elevated views of the spectacular mountains and sprawling green lake:

Bled Castle:

The gang:

Views from the castle:

The Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria:

After the heights of the castle we headed down to the shore:

A view back up to the castle with the spectacular mountain backdrop:

We hired a couple of rowing boats and sailed over to the Pilgrimage Church of the Assumption of Maria:

We stopped at the sole cafe for another pit-stop before setting back off for the mainland.

Love those red jeans:

Some dramatic pictures:

Before heading back to Ljubljana we found a cool bar not far from the castle, Gostilna Pri Planincu, which had number plates plastered over the walls and ceiling:

The toilets were fun. “Knock twice for sex” would become the name of our imaginary band:

Cool graffiti in the yard:

After catching the bus back to Ljubljana we got ready for a night of birthday celebrations, but not before one quick photo opportunity:

Monica had actually organised for birthday balloons and a cake in the restaurant that we ate at, and the food was great.

The “big three-oh” speech:

We moved on to another bar for a few more drinks before ending up at a small club where we did the inevitable rounds of shots and hit the dance floor…

For our second day we began with a free walking tour of the city. Liz and I started with “breakfast” (Prekmurska gibanica is a type of Slovenian pastry with poppy seeds, walnuts, apples, raisins and quark) on Prešeren Square:

We met-up with our guide, who was a pretty cool and engaging native, outside the Franciscan Church:

We headed east along the Ljubljanica to the Mesarski Most (Butchers’ Bridge) to see a sculpture of Adam and Eve who looked suitably aghast at having been banished from paradise:

There were padlocked sea creature sculptures on the bridge itself:

The nearby Central Market with its neoclassical architecture:

Further along the river we visited the Zmajski Most (Dragon Bridge):

It was about this time that the guide mentioned that there are machines (so-called Mlekomats) dotted about the city centre that sell fresh unpasteurised milk by the bottle! I had to have some, naturally:

The curious doors of Ljubljana Cathedral, guess where you rub for luck:

The Mestni trg (Town Hall square):

Looking back at Ljubljana Cathedral:

The view from the Šuštarski Most (Cobblers’ Bridge):

An unknown sculpture:

The curious facade of the National and University Library:

Around Trg Republike (Republic Square) and Kongresni Trg (Congress Square):

After the tour had ended we were well situated to head up to Ljubljana Castle via the funicular.

An arty flag of Ljubljana at the peak:

A fantastic view over Congress Square to the west:

And north to the snow-capped mountains, with the quirky triangular R5 residential building on the right:

The roof-top bar of the Nebotičnik building where we would be getting a few drinks later that evening:

The inner section of Ljubljana Castle was quite chilled:

From the castle we headed north towards the main train station in order to take-in Metelkova, an autonomous social and cultural area within the city of Ljubljana.

It is very similar to Christiania in Copenhagen in that the inhabitants are technically squatters and many cultural and social organisations have taken root there.

Some pictures of Metelkova:

I loved this:

The newly-formed “Knock Twice For Sex” and their first album cover:

After a quick shower and change we headed for (expensive) drinks at the aforementioned Nebotičnik roof terrace bar.

The terrace afforded some great dusky pictures. Looking north:

Looking south east upon Ljubljana Castle:

A panoramic:

Fading light:

Yes, we all did…:

Nice creepy bar to end the evening in:

The flight home wasn’t until later in the afternoon so we had time for a wander around the leafier parts of the city and to check-out some brutalist architecture. We began at Republic Square and then wound away up to Tivoli Park.

It’s all about the workers:

The Monument of the Revolution:

The Monument of Edvar Kardelj, with some extras:

The Cerkev Svetega Cirila i Metoda (Church of St. Cyril and Methodius) on the edge of Tivoli Park:

The grandly-named Tivoli Castle:

A quick pit-stop revealed more interesting toilets:

We continued to wander and found this beautifully colourful tree:

Then it was time for some fun with statues:

As we headed back into the centre we were asked a question that taxed us all:

We had no idea how to interpret this:

We reached the river at the Hradeckega Most (Hradeckega Bridge) and were greeted with a very picturesque sight:

Nearby, we stumbled upon “Monument Hollywood”, a temporary installation and political criticism. The heads represented members of the G-8:

We had one last drink beside the Ljubljanica before heading for the accommodation and the airport:

The almost edible Vurnikova hiša:

Ljubljana was a cool, compact, pretty and inexpensive city to explore, and an easy place to get around. With Bled and its lake around an hour away it made for the perfect short trip. Lake Bled was absolutely gorgeous and like something from a fantasy adventure film.