I know about 50% of my vast reading public have been to Ljubljana, however the other three have not. Therefore I feel it is important to explain what a trip from Zagreb to Ljubljana entails. It is a two and a quarter hour train jouney from Zagreb to Slovenia’s capital. You need a passport, a detail that was noted at dinner the night before, and during the walk to the station. Nat forgot her passport.

When we arrived at the Croatian/Slovenian border she was told to get off the train.She did so of course, but instead of waiting on the platform as expected she headed for the heated ticket office to buy a ticket back to Zagreb and gain reprieve from the minus something conditions and ‘warmth’ and personal charm of several Croatian and Slovenian Atilla the Hun look-a-likes.  A full search of the train ensued with police looking for a stowaway. “Where is your daughter?” they demanded, and Lady CS and I suspected that we may have been the next to be unceremoniously removed from the train.

I do know that many police forces have done significant work in the introduction of Restorative Practices as part of their policing work. I suspect the Croatian Border police are yet to do that course. The train, and therefore our journey to Slovenia was only allowed to procede after the fugitive was located. We continued to Ljubljana without knowing what had subsequently happened to our daughter. Needless to say, we were more than pleased that an unshackled Natalie was in the unit in Zagreb, upon our return. The joys of international travel, Farqhuar.

The city of Ljubljana was almost totally desroyed by an earthquake in 1895 and totally rebuilt by the architect Joze Plecnik -a devotee of the Achingly Beautiful City Centre school. No building is above three stories, there are wide promenades for more than a kilometer along both sides of the river and the entie old town is pedestrian only.  The bridges were all constructed with local stone and were deliberately made to be unsuitable for most vehicles. The castle on the hill above the city completes the scene We had a great meal at a restaurant that we knew, bur really were content to just wander, even if could only imagine having Natalie with us.

 F C-S

The entire group  (including Imagine Nat next to Phil) at Cafe Cokl

Phil with Imagine Nat waiting for a taxi