The Castle

How I got to the Ljubljana Castle is in my top 5 stupidest hikes ever. I had downloaded a google map that was supposed to take me to the funicular. I memorized the street to turn on. I found that easily since it's a 5 minute walk. As I walked the windy trail, I started to realize I was going to the castle. I guess the map was taking me to the funicular at the top. In short, I climbed a gigantic mountain.

After touring the castle, I took the funicular down and discovered what I hadn't seen was a sign above the castle this way sign. It said funicular and pointed straight ahead. It was right around the corner.

At the top was a parking lot. I could have taken a taxi or the free electric train which I saw there. The city has free electric cars in the pedestrian area which isn't very big but it's part of their effort to become a green city. They've made tremendous strides in just two years, going from having the worst quality air to one of the best in the EU.

Part of the castle I could see while I drank iced tea

The castle was a fortress when it was built in the 12 century. It was never the home of  a ruler. It was used as a prison and military outpost. Its history is the same as a bunch of European castles: destroyed, rebuilt, repeat.

If you climb the tower in the picture, you get a great view of the city. I saw the stairs and asked myself, "What would Johnny do?" The answer, of course, is never climb a tower under any circumstances.

Dragon sculpture in Dragon Museum

There are dragons everywhere in this city. What I didn't know is that St. George is their patron saint. As the guide said yesterday, their culture is a mixture of all the others that controlled them for 1000 years.

This is supposedly a replica of the oldest flute in the world, made by a Neanderthal 45000 years ago. They also have the oldest wheel with an axle in the world. Who knew Slovenia was the cradle of civilization.