It's been a long day

I left around 6 on the 24th and now it's the same time but the 25th in another country. The flights were fine, although bumpy but the 5 hour layover at CDG was a killer.  I kept setting the phone alarm but couldn't fall asleep until about an hour before my next flight. I kept waking myself up snoring which I'm sure everyone else appreciated. I woke up in time to walk to the gate.

I was frantic for about a half hour because my driver hadn't arrived but he finally came and drove me to the beginning of a pedestrian street. I had to walk a long way to get to the apartment.  The owner had sent someone else and she gave me the keys and showed me where the laundry room is. Washer AND dryer.

The apartment is old but functional. There's no closet and the only treat they left me is a jar of instant Nescafe.

On the back of the apartment door

My first time getting lost was from turning left coming out of the apartment instead of right. The owners advertise a private courtyard in the back but I didn't know how to get to it so I decided to go downstairs to see. But I discovered it here on the second floor. A yard and some lawn furniture.  I still don't know how they did that but I might never have found it if I knew right from left.

My private garden

When I decided to go walk around and eat dinner, I quickly discovered none of the keys worked. I tried the 3 keys multiple times and got nowhere.
I emailed the owner who tried to help but finally decided to come for personalized instruction. Lola will attest to the fact I know to turn Eastern European keys around 2 to 3 complete revolutions but I couldn't make them move in the lock. It's one thing when you have large keys but these are those really thin ones. Even the owner couldn't manage the laundry room key so we decided to leave that open. The apartment key works with brute strength. I'm sure I won't leave here without snapping one off in the lock.

I walked around a little, staying on the pedestrian street so it would be a straight shot home. I did walk to a parallel street to get a view of the river.

Ljubljana--a river runs through it

I looked at a lot of menus and chose the one that had inexpensive entrees because I wasn't sure I'd be hungry. I had a bowl of lamb goulash for 10 euros and Slovenian Pinot Grigio. Everything was great. Slovenian wine is supposed to be some of the best in the world; this was certainly world class. Most people were eating outside under the heaters so I did, too.  It's cold here but the heaters make eating outside possible.  Great people watching. So far no one looks like Melania.

Best and first lamb goulash I ever had

I paid the bill and told myself I lived next to the Honey store. Close (2-3 blocks), but not next door. After wandering around the street for 10 minutes, I had to use Maps on my phone to return. I don't understand why my landmarks don't work for me but I'm looking forward to new adventures tomorrow.  I passed the chocolate store and am certain I can find that again.