June 13, 2015

Ljubljana, Slovenia

Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theater.
Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theater.
Flute made by Neanderthals from the bone of a cave bear (approximately 60,000 years old).
Flute made by Neanderthals from the bone of a cave bear (approximately 60,000 years old).
Sample of some of the oldest gold objects ever found (Bronze Age, 2300-800 BC - found near Lake Bled).
Sample of some of the oldest gold objects ever found (Bronze Age, 2300-800 BC – found near Lake Bled).
Goods found in a grave dated to the 7th-century BC.
Goods found in a grave dated to the 7th-century BC.
A bronze double-crested helmet from the 6th-century BC.
A bronze double-crested helmet from the 6th-century BC.
Material remains of a Roman military conflict - heads of artillery projectiles, arrowheads, caltrops, butts of spears, and slingshot stones (2nd-century BC).
Material remains of a Roman military conflict – heads of artillery projectiles, arrowheads, caltrops, butts of spears, and slingshot stones (2nd-century BC).
Marble head of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD).
Marble head of Emperor Hadrian (117-138 AD).
2nd-century AD gilded bronze statue from Emona (present-day Ljubljana).
2nd-century AD gilded bronze statue from Emona (present-day Ljubljana).
Fragment from the tombstone of a knight (1554 AD).
Fragment from the tombstone of a knight (1554 AD).
The "White Gold" exhibition in the National Museum, displaying porcelain objects from the museum's collection.
The “White Gold” exhibition in the National Museum, displaying porcelain objects from the museum’s collection.
The National Art Gallery in Ljubljana.
The National Art Gallery in Ljubljana.
The entrance to the Slovenian Parliament building.
The entrance to the Slovenian Parliament building.
Ljubljana Castle seen from Congress Square.
Ljubljana Castle seen from Congress Square.
The facade of the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity.
The facade of the Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity.
Traditional music and dancing on a stage at Congress Square.
Traditional music and dancing on a stage at Congress Square.
Street with Ljubljana Castle in view.
Street with Ljubljana Castle in view.
Church of St. John the Baptist.
Church of St. John the Baptist.
Street in the Krakova neighborhood in Ljubljana.
Street in the Krakova neighborhood in Ljubljana.
Pyramid that was added to the southern portion of Emona's city walls in 1938 AD during the restoration of the wall.
Pyramid that was added to the southern portion of Emona’s city walls in 1938 AD during the restoration of the wall.
Another view of the pyramid that was built by architect Jože Plečnik.
Another view of the pyramid that was built by architect Jože Plečnik.
Empty and disbanded bottles on the wall.
Empty and disbanded bottles on the wall.
Building arch over Karlovska street.
Building arch over Karlovska street.
Gornji Street.
Gornji Street.
Fountain in the square where Gornji and Stari streets meet.
Fountain in the square where Gornji and Stari streets meet.
Stari Street.
Stari Street.
Another view of Stari Street.
Another view of Stari Street.
The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica River.
The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica River.
View at the Triple Bridge.
View at the Triple Bridge.
Bubbles at Prešeren Square.
Bubbles at Prešeren Square.

I woke up around 07:00 to go to the bathroom and then I had trouble falling asleep again. I was exhausted from last night’s pub crawl and now I had only gotten about two hours of sleep. I stayed in bed and tried to fall asleep, but could not. Eventually, around noontime, I got out of bed and considered getting ready to see the city, but then decided against it. My body was still too tired. So I went back to bed and slept for another hour or so, finally waking up at 14:00. I then showered, dressed, and got ready to see some of Ljubljana. I walked out of the hostel and headed west to the National Art Gallery, passing by the Opera and Ballet Theater on the way. When I reached the Art Gallery, it looked like it was closed for renovations due to work being done on the first floor of the building next to the Opera Theater. So, I walked south to the National Museum, which happens to be in the same building as the Natural History Museum, though both museums require separate entrance tickets. Once at the National Museum, I bought my entrance ticket and walked up to the second floor to look at the exhibits, which covered Paleolithic times through the Roman Era and on to the Early Christian Period. These exhibits had some nice artifacts on display; however, there were many questionable ones as well – too many artifacts looked like replicas (too pristine and showing little signs of age or wear and tear) and none of the accompanying placards stated whether they were in fact replicas or not. There were, however, also some legitimately important artifacts, such as a Neanderthal flute made of bone, Roman weapons spent in battle, and some gold objects. I walked around the museum, viewing each item, and learning as much about Slovenian history as I could in my exhausted state. I must also state – for the record – that unlike all other museums I have been to in the Balkans and Eastern Europe, the Slovenian museums have mostly young, attractive women siting in each room, monitoring the priceless artifacts, as opposed to old babushkas. I don’t know what is going on in Slovenia, but this country seems to have a very large young to old ratio and it seems like nothing but mostly young, beautiful women are to be found working everywhere in this city (I may end up living in this country because fuck yeah! – Slovenian women are amazing). After touring the National Museum, I walked to the National Art Gallery (after being told by the woman at the ticket counter at the National Museum that it should be open today), found the correct entrance, bought my ticket, and proceeded to walk around the different galleries. Inside, I saw many sculptures and paintings from the Middle Ages to today; unfortunately, no photographs were allowed inside. After touring the art gallery, I exited the building and walked to the Square of the Republic, which is the largest square of Ljubljana and the site where independence was declared on June 26, 1991 AD. After walking around the square and looking at the different monuments, I walked to the northern end where the National Assembly (also known as the Parliament) building stands (this is where Slovenia’s legislature convenes) and viewed its main portal, which is decorated with nude sculptures, by Karel Putrih and Zdenko Kalin, that depict peaceful scenes from everyday life, focusing on industry and family; the National Assembly was originally opened on February 19, 1959 AD as the Palace of the People’s Assembly, back when the country was known as the Socialist Republic of Slovenia. After viewing the National Assembly, I walked to Congress Square and watched a couple performances of folk music and dancing up on the summer stage (built to showcase traditional music/dancing as well as other concert performances throughout the summer – all for free). Next, I walked southward to the Krakovo neighborhood, which had a few narrow roads, small modest homes, and vegetable gardens. After that short visit, I walked to the Roman Wall, which runs most of the length of Mirje Street and represents the southern wall of the old Roman colonial town of Emona (built in the first-century AD); the wall was restored in 1938 AD by Slovenia’s famed architect, Jože Plečnik, and a pyramid and “lapidarium” were added to the wall as well (the Romans certainly never built such nonsense on their original wall). I walked along most of the wall and entered the park on the other side via the entrance through the pyramid. After visiting this site, I walked east, back to the center of Ljubljana. I crossed the Ljuljanica River and walked down Karlovška Street, up to where a building spans across the street. I then walked north along the pedestrian pathway (Stari Street), crossed the Triple Bridge, walked through Prešeren Square, and made my way back to the hostel, stopping off for food at the McDonalds nearby (I had a double cheeseburger with bacon, French fries, and a soda). I then relaxed inside the hostel and took it easy (still recovering from yesterday’s debauchery). Eventually I faded in to sleep.

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