Local traditions and culture in Ljubljana

2 more images

Just behind the Cathedral of St. Nicholas is a large open market square which seems to be open all weekdays. It is a mass of colorful produce, clothing, etc and sort of hidden behind some buildings at the north end is a beautiful flower market.

Just between the market and the river is a colonnaded area beside the river which has a series of shops - bakers, fish mongers, cheese shops, meat shops, etc. As the breakfast at our hotel was so woeful we decided to skip out on it one morning and stopped here for some nice pastries and good coffee (much better than the hotel's).

Be careful of your friends in Slovenia, especially Ljubljana, as they will try and buy everything for you. If they offer to carry your items in a shop, don't let them, for they will take them to the counter and buy them for you when you aren't looking. The only way I could find to counter their surprising generosity, was to buy them things when they weren't expecting it either. Of course, not all Slovenians are the same, and the Ljubljana people I met swore the mountain people to the north were the most terrible skinflints, but everyone I met said the same thing, especially about the people of Ljubjlana.

If you are staying with locals or out partying on the town with them, make sure you tell them when you are tired. All of the Slovenians I met were so generous with their time, that they would never think to go to bed before you do. As an Englishman I try and stay awake until my host feels tired, but Slovenians seem to work the other way around. I found myself nearly staying up all night on a couple of occasions, as we both politely waited for the other to show signs of wanting to sleep!

1 more image

Not once but twice on our visit we ran into an interesting collection of superheroes walking down the street, no one but us paying them much attention. They weren't handing anything out, they weren't talking to people, just walking the streets of Ljubljana as if it were perfectly normal to be wearing a costume midday nowhere near Halloween.

I can only identify one of the four we saw, Batman, and I have to wonder what kind of cartoons kids in Slovenia are watching. A giant happy bear with a cape? What kind of super powers does he have? And then there's the one with the beak on his head and what looks like a puzzle piece on his chest. Is he Birdman? Puzzleman? And the 4th one's costume looked like he was shopping at the discount costume store because I can't even hazard a guess....

The Ljubljanians take their cafe culture almost as serious as Parisians, Viennese, and the Italians, but with none of the hoity-toityness. Every cafe that went to was low key and immensely enjoyable. The coffee was great, not good. And, I should know, I tried coffee every place I went. And lots of it. Yes, I am addicted.

I think Slovenia is a bit like Croatia... People just enjoy sitting with their friends, talking over coffee & enjoying the Sun. The Preseren square is always busy & crowded with people doing their daily things. But there's always time to relax... So, you try it too! :)

If possible, visit Slovene Drama no metter of language barrier am sure you'll enjoy in the spectacle. Btw, if the performance is of a good quality we can understand it even if we don't speak the language.
SNG is situated in Erjavceva ulica, very close to Ursuline Church.

Ljubljana is great place for pizzas. They are cheap, big and tasteful, laden with thick layers of cheese and other stuff on them. Always ask about size of pizza, even if price is low. Big pizza is almost everywhere too large for one person, no matter how hungry he or she is. Pizzas go up to 40 cm in diameter!!! So the smart strategy is to share one pizza between 2 or 3 persons and take an extra salad because it may be too heavy for stomach. Ask waiter to bring you one pizza on two plates! Pizzas start at 3 EUR and are up to 7 EUR. Try mushroom pizza at Trta or order vegetarian mexican (hot) or mozzarela from Halo katra by phone.