On Mar 14, 3:49 pm, "bob fusillo" wrote:
> Thinking of stopping by one or the other on the way back from
> Budapest/Vienna. Have heard that Ljubljana is still rather bare and
> run-down. Been there ( either one/both) lately? Are they different enough
> to warrant a couple of days in each?
> rjf
> weightlifterbob.blogspot.com
Bob, do both if you can spear the time.
Ljubljana - one day is probably enough. Go to Ljubljana Castle (if
it's a clear day) for walk around the walls and panoramic views (they
also have 3D museum of history of Ljubljana), then take the tourist
train down to the city centre.
A must is a walk down Ljubljanica riverbanks towards the Dragon
Bridge.
Zagreb - 2-3 days should be enough.
Must for a visit: city centre, Zrinjevac, Maksimir Park (with the Zoo
but you can probably skip the Zoo as you must have seen better ;)),
maybe a hike to Sljeme (excellent local food on the top!).
A tour: if you start in Ilica, take the Uspinjaca to Gornji Grad, then
through St. Mark's Square (with it's church and Government and Sabor
buildings) towards the Kamenita vrata (Stone Gate, sort of Madonna
sanctuary) towards Tkalciceva street (very pleasant, lots of cafes),
then towards Kaptol and Cathedral, then turn towards Dolac (farmer's
market) and to the Jelacic Square (this all on foot).
You can continue on foot towards Zrinjevac, then towards the Opera; or
take the tram.
Daily tram tickets are 16 or 18 Kuna (something like that; it's 2.5
Euro).
For Maksimir from the centre you must take the tram. Same goes if you
want to visit Mirogoj (cemetery; beautiful and well worth a visit).
Eating out: Vincek in Ilica street for cakes; "Ivica i Marica" (Hansel
& Gretel) in Tkalciceva street for healthy cakes; Takenoko - Japanese
restaurant in Kaptol Centar (small shopping center at the end of the
Tkalciceva street).
Zagreb is less than 2 hrs of drive from Ljubljana, so you won't be
wasting time driving. If you can, do the Zagorje region (between
Zagreb and the Slovenian border, the area towards the Krapinske
toplice). It's full of spas and small castles like Veliki Tabor and
such (excellent local food in Gresna Gorica).
Samobor (almost a suburbia of Zagreb now) is also nice for a walk and
famous for its "kremsnite" (from German cremschnitte - shop on the
main square); excellent local restaurant there is Samoborska pivnica
(must try strukli and cesnjovka sausage).
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