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»but we prefer to walk as each step gives a different
view of the red roofs of Ljubljana.
What types of shop do you most like to visit?
The cobbled streets of the city centre are full of small
independent shops and boutiques. You can find local
products such as honey, famous lace from Idrija and
products from the Piran Salt Pans, where salt is
produced using centuries-old methods. There are
some things that I always go to smaller shops to buy,
such as roasted coffee, craft beer or wine.
Where do you like to escape to?
We love to go hiking. Our favourite place is a gorge
called Pekel, which ironically means ‘hell’. As you
follow the stream uphill, enjoying the lovely waterfalls
along the way, it feels more like heaven. It’s a lovely
escape in summer, as the trees give plenty of shade, the
stream is cold and there’s rarely a crowd.
What has been your best discovery about your city?
Ljubljana has lots of great museums, but just recently
we discovered the National Museum of Slovenia, which
gives a fascinating insight into the city’s history. It
houses the Neanderthal f lute – the oldest musical
instrument in the world, discovered in Slovenia.
What do you miss most if you’ve been away?
The banks of river Ljubljanica. When I was a student,
I’d go there to study on warm days; today I love to just
sit by the water and relax. Recently, friends convinced
me to try the river cruise, too. You can also do kayaking
or stand-up paddle-boarding. My children enjoy the
many bridges over the river, especially counting the
dragons on the Art Nouveau Dragon Bridge. It’s said
that Jason was the founder of Ljubljana, and he and
his Argonauts killed a dragon here.
What would surprise a newcomer to your city?
Ljubljana might be small, but it has it all. There are
great galleries, such as the National Gallery where you
can find famous Slovenian artists, fountains, bars,
concert halls offering everything from classical music
to pop, a lively alternative scene, old buildings standing
next to tall skyscrapers and the castle. Our castle might
not have a romantic past, as it served as a prison, but
today it’s a place where lots of events happen, from
exhibitions to weddings.
If you could change one thing, what would it be?
It would be nice if it were a bit livelier at night. Even
the city centre quietens down pretty fast.
Where would you like to live if you had to move?
Probably the only place that could replace this city
for me would be a remote part of Scotland – it’s our
family’s favourite summer location.
1 Onsummerevenings
KosezePondis a
peacefulplaceto
decompress.(^2) Clockat thetopof
Ljubljana’stownhall.
(^3) Localsrelaxonthe
city’sembankment.
(^4) Thecastlewasonce
a prisonbutnowhosts
allmannerofevents
fromdanceshowsto
filmsunderthestars.
(^5) ButchersBridgeis a
‘lovelock’bridge.Turn
up,withloverand
padlock,symbolically
lockyourloveand
throwthekeyintothe
river(aslongasyou’re
absolutelysure...)
(^6) Boating, paddling,
or simply watching the
ripples, the river is
where it’s all at
MY CITY