June 24 - Ljubjana

The Cobblers Bridge with shoes in the foreground.

There were lots more people competing for the scrambled eggs this morning. Also, the one-at-a-time niche where we get juice and coffee was backed up. This made for a leisurely breakfast. That was fine with us because we sat with a couple from Austrailia and had a pleasant discussion about travel. He was a native Slavenian and she was a native German. They both spoke English with an Austrailian accent.

Ann chose the town tour today. We started around 10:00 as it was starting to get hot. Our first stop was at Serbian Orthodox Church. We were in time for the Sunday service. This very ornate building was filled with worshipers as well as incense. It was a singing service where the priest would sing a phrase and the choir would answer. The choir was professional as very good. The harmony was beautiful.

I got too warm and left shortly before Ann did. I noticed a group of men chatting outside. I figured that they had already gone into the church to make their required visit and then came outside to gossip.

Leaving the church, we walked back toward the center of the old town and then out to the Slovenian Ethnographic Museum. Much to our delight, it was free Sunday - no charge to get in. Besides the permanent exhibit of Slovenian life, there was a floor Showing the life of Orinoco Indians of Venezuela. I always wanted to come to Slovenia and see how some South American Indians lived. We were two of maybe six people in the museum - not much of a crowd for a free day. We also went to an exhibit in another building of witches, sorceresses, healers, etc. The museum guard had to unlock the door for us and a local woman. There were about a dozen paintings to observe.

We had a sandwich and a fruit drink before we entered the museum. You know that I will not forget to write about our meals. When we were finished with the museum we walked back to town stopping to have ice cream at Cacao, a very good ice cream shop. We stopped there yesterday and ordered ice cream from the outside counter. This time we went inside and had a better selection. Ann had chocolate with rasberry. I had blueberry and mango. Yum.

On the way back to he hotel, we went by the Franciscan Church which is the pink church on the main square. A folk dancing troupe was entertaining a new bride and groom. Of couse I had to take some photos and a video. Then we went into the church. It was very ornate and very Catholic.

Back at the hotel we took a rest. At 5:00 we had our first meeting with our Rick Steve's travel group. This was our orientation to the tour where our guides explain all of the formalities and we I ntroduce ourselves. When that was over, we went to a group dinner at the River House Cafe. They served a pasta dish with mushrooms, pork with dumplings, carrots and brussel sprouts, and an apple tart with layers of filo dough and poppy seeds. Everything was very good.

So now it's closing in on 10:00. Ann has already faded. I am ready to go to sleep, too.