Slovenia gets the prize for being my country 69 - It's a place I've wanted to visit for a while but the flight schedules never seemed to work. EasyJet changed all that with a nice Friday lunchtime flight from a stansted, returning late afternoon on a Sunday. A mere 1 days holiday and a chilled weekend in the capital Ljubljana awaited.
From the start it was a delight - snow topped mountains surround the airport. Our taxi dropped us at the start of the cobbled pedestrian zone of the old city - and an electric golf buggy picked us up and transported two giggling women to our accommodation
Our hotel , Vander Urbani was meant to be a treat - unfortunately they obviously didn't get the memo....... So our room with a riverside view was instead a dark, poky twin room with a view of a brick wall, no wifi, scuffed paintwork and the general feeling of being the shittest room in a 1 mile radius. Hey ho. It meant we spent more time outside where joys like wine for 1.50 Euro awaited.....
The river is lined with many lovely little bars, all with blankets and heaters to keep you cosy. Easy on the eye waiters happily bringing out wonderful glasses of wine for less than the cost of a can of coke at home. In fact a theme of the weekend ending up being Slovenian wine tasting - I didn't taste one I didn't like.....
We didn't really do a great deal the whole weekend - but that's why we liked it so much. It's big enough that you have options, but small enough that you don't feel overwhelmed by choice. We spent Sunday walking up the castle at the top of the hill, we visited the lovely Park Tivoli. On Saturday we explored the local market, wandered around e cobbled streets. All interspersed with wine stops.
If you feel like a chilled out weekend destination with fresh air and full of happy relaxed people - get yourself on the Friday flight from Stansted. It's done us the world of good. I can't wait to get back and see more of Slovenia....
We stayed: Vander Urbani - good breakfast, nice staff, just don't get room 11....
We drank: Slovenia Haus was a favourite, Bar TOZD full of local hipsters, Bar Romeo was the perfect people watching spot. Pretty much though just find a spot by the river and enjoy....
We ate: At the hotel for one night we had a feast of local lamb( complaining about the rubbish room has its benefits...) and in a lovely local restaurant whose name escapes me.
We snacked: ice cream parlour Nico by the main bridge is incredible, sausages from local city institution Klobsarna highly recommended.
