What to expect from Ljubljana – a small town, one of the smallest European capitals, a city with a rich but unknown to me last, half Italian, half-Austrian, on the other half – Yugoslavian.

The interior of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Ljubljana, the residents believe their city was founded on the spot where, according to the ancient Greek myth, Jason made his feat. Returning to the Argonauts from Colchis after finding the Golden Fleece, Jason went to the lake, in which lived a terrible monster. Jason won a monster, which eventually became a dragon and is now the symbol of Ljubljana. Today, this legend is immortalized with the emblem of the city, and the four dragons decorate the bridge of dragons – according to critics, perhaps the most beautiful bridge in the style of the Viennese Secession.

Symbol of the city – a dragon, adorned the bridge of dragons. The architect of the bridge – a student of Otto Wagner Twice in its history, Ljubljana was devastated by earthquakes: in 1511 and 1895. After the first earthquake, the city had to rebuild from scratch, so the city was rebuilt in Renaissance style. Since then kept some at home, most were rebuilt in the 17-18 centuries. Baroque.

High on a hill above the town is Ljubljana Castle Here you can climb the walls and make a photo of a friend against the city rooftops, and if you climb to the top of the tower, you can make your first 360-degree panorama.

Many streets are very reminiscent of Lviv. Yes, and Lviv (Lemberg), and Ljubljana (Laibach) were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

In Ljubljana preserved many old mansions, like, here it is building the U.S. embassy …

Or this house of the century in the main square:

…or about a quarter of a typical Ljubljana:

Slovenians I liked. This is a friendly and smiling people. In an attempt to buy a ticket on the train to Trieste, we have encountered at the station with the old cashier who did not speak either English or German. I had to get out, they knew: I plugged in the course of Russian and Ukrainian, but a friend – English, and we understood each other. The entire staff of railway ticket offices have tried to explain to us how to get to Trieste, all smiling and frantically recalled the English words.

Old Quay Ljubljanica. Speaking of Slovenia, we can not tell you about the Slovenian language. It really is very similar to Russian and Ukrainian, there are many words that are understandable to us. I could read without any problems, but say it was more difficult. Almost all people who met me, spoke in English or German, so find your way or buy the stamps did not cause any problems.

Many moved to Ljubljana on bicycles. Tourists can take their rent in one of the auto rental agencies. In the Slovenian language is a set of words such as and we have, but they represent something else. For example, the “shame” means “attention” and “praise” – “thank you”. “Dobrdan” – is “Good afternoon”, “ask” – “please” and “goodbye” – “nasvidene.

On the left is seen the main cathedral of Ljubljana – Church of St. Nicholas, right – the restaurant Slovenian cuisine “Falcon” I arrived in Ljubljana on the day of a very important Catholic holiday – the day of Corpus Christi. Apparently, the Slovenians – a very religious people, because the church that day were scored, the faithful prayed standing up, breathing in the back of each other.

Ljubljana at night. On the hill could be seen Ljubljana Castle. Slovenia joined the eurozone in 2007, so a trip to Slovenia from Europe does not require neither a passport nor a currency exchange. Walking around the city and then traveling across the country, I saw a lot of differences from the highest European standards of living. Prices in Slovenia is much lower than in Italy or Germany, and even our living quality repairs more like a Polish or Hungarian hostel, rather than western Europe. Due to the fact that, in Ljubljana, not very many tourists, prices in cafes and restaurants – democratic, especially by European standards. Strongly evident by the fact that most of the cars in Slovenia – a new, as, indeed, trains and buses.

Ljubljana is located in a valley between mountain massifs: the Austrian Alps (Karavanke) in the north and Slovenian (Julian) Alps in the south. Through the city flows the river Ljubljanica so called. “River of seven names.” Previously, the entire city was located on one side of the river, closer to the castle, but in the 18 th century due to the frequent flooding of the back of the castle hill was dug channel, and now the old city is located on the island.

Ljubljana is located in a valley between mountain massifs: the Austrian Alps (Karavanke) in the north and Slovenian (Julian) Alps in the south. Through the city flows the river Ljubljanica so called. “River of seven names.” Previously, the entire city was located on one side of the river, closer to the castle, but in the 18 th century due to the frequent flooding of the back of the castle hill was dug channel, and now the old city is located on the island.

Street scene local cuisine, as such, is limited to delicious steaks and poppy seed cake. Call me a typical Slovenian dish will be difficult: after visiting several “popular” restaurants, we still have not found anything uniquely local.

Cathedral of St. Nicholas, on the right – the house of Archbishop, where his last visit to Ljubljana to stop Pope John Paul II, and two centuries before he lived Napoleon.

Organ in the cathedral