Our summer holidays comprise of road trips which could easily be called adventurous, in a way that we only decide where to go next once we have reached a certain destination. We had initially made a rough itinerary of what our trip was going to be about. So, this summer of 2017, we landed in Milan, Italy. After a few days of exploring, we decided our next stop would be Slovenia. It got me anxious and excited at the same time. Exploring the not-so-discovered tourist destinations was always enthralling for me.

I immediately absorbed myself into stalking the city’s profile on social media to check what I was ready to discover as a tourist. Only by doing that, I couldn’t wait to be in a city that remains one of Europe’s best kept secrets.

The drive from Verona to Ljubljana was alluring. As soon as we entered Slovenia, I could sense a certain cosy calmness in the air. I could feel what I was getting into. A place where the world would move on a slower speed. There would be time to stop and think, admire the beauty around.

We booked an AirBnB apartment in the heart of Ljubljana, which was right beside the river. The apartment was extremely impressive from an architectural point of view. We immediately headed out after settling in.

 

We walked along the curving Ljubljanica River which was lined with outdoor cafes. I immediately started taking in the serenity of this low-key city. It was dark, we walked past the old, impeccably clean town streets covered with street art, narrow alleys, walkable pathways everywhere, and plenty of young ones biking around. There was life, laughter and the hustle bustle of people enjoying the delicacies of the local restaurants and eateries.

 

Before having to choose between the buzzing restaurants, we took a stroll on the famed Dragon Bridge. The carved jade dragons seemed to glare at us through their menacing, stone eyes, wary of every passer-by.

 

 

Amused by the dragons, we headed towards the appealing love lock bridge. The glass flooring enabled one to see the water below. The love locks made the whole air captivating. Colourful locks, locked onto the bridge’s railing, telling every lover’s unique story. The emerald green river flowing beneath it, the water sparkling under the spotlights, the chilly breeze and the noticeable locals/tourists going about their day made it all seem very magical.

 

 

 

The dinner was one to remember. The entire riverside was filled with delicious local and international cuisines. We tried a typical East European cuisine sitting by the lively riverside, which was the heart and soul of the city.

 

 

 

 

The next morning, we ventured out, with the sky full of thick dark clouds, occasionally letting the sun peek through. We headed towards the Ljubljana Castle which was a few minutes’ walk to the cable car that transported us up to the hill overlooking the city. This place definitely affords great views of the city. We walked through the castle thrilled by its ancient charm. The Castle had a modern café which seemed quite interesting.

 

While wandering on our way back, we witnessed plenty of street art. We passed by a flea market where locals were selling their stuff for everyday use. Tempted by the irresistible aroma of street food, we stopped there for some seafood, and sat overlooking the river, enjoying our lunch while the pigeons gave us with company.

 

Then we decided to take a tour around the city centre in an electric car. These cars were zipping around absolutely free, for tourist and locals alike. But we couldn’t find a vacant one at that time. Instead our love for gelato tempted us to try a road side vendor making fresh and unusual ice-cream rolls. We stood there, along with many others, delightfully gazing at how these were made with speed and precision.

Since we were inspired to see the riverside walk, we decided to take the river cruise. It was charming to see the activity alongside the river and the bridges, the red roof houses, the sparking blue green water, the river lined with cafes, bars and eateries and arty the atmosphere.

From what we could perceive, there was an Italian influence to the Slovenian culinary as well. And we being ever so fond of Italian food, opted for a restaurant called Fany Mary, for dinner. It was without any doubt marvellous. Adding to the charm was the vibrant and friendly ambience.

The next day was the day we had to bid farewell to this fairy-tale city. I knew it was only for the time being, as its warmth, simplicity, small-town friendliness, enchanting riverside and elegance had to bring me back here again someday. Ljubljana truly leaves the impact of a ‘beloved’, which is the actual meaning of its name.

We had a long drive ahead of us. All the way to Hungary. But we were lucky enough to witness the hardly ever explored Slovenian country side. The views were ones I had never seen before. I was completely wonderstruck by the quaint small towns that we passed by. They say Slovenia is more than 50 percent forest. While driving through, we lost our way several times which took us through breath-taking mountains, lush greenery, cultivations, churches, small castles, terra-cotta roofed houses and medieval villages.

Slovenia, for me, has a magical vibe. The small scale of this place adds to the charm. It’s a country I would always want to tell people about. Slovenia often stays at the bottom of the must-see-destinations for most travellers but I was quite happy to have explored this outworldly place.

 

 

 

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