Of all the places that we visited and the things that we did in Slovenia, it is the evenings spent in the Ljubljana old town and city centre that I love and remember the most. With a mix of architectural styles, the city immediately takes one back to the olden days. Ljubljana city centre is a small but charming ensemble of quaint buildings, cosy restaurants and cafes, and cute little bridges - all surrounding the Ljubljanica River.
Cities are also like people in some ways. Every city is unique. Each city has its own characteristic features. The many bridges that equally adorn the city and the river are Ljubljana’s pride and beauty. They make the city unique. There is a group of three bridges together called the Triple bridge with staircases leading to the poplar lined banks and the fish market. Another one is the Butcher’s Bridge although I prefer to call it the Love-lock Bridge. One can see couples flocking in to seal their love using padlocks on the bridge’s steel wires.
However, my favourite is the Dragon Bridge. The dragon is the symbol of the city. It is present on the bridge, castle-top and in the coat of arms. Being a part of Slovenia’s legends, the dragon is said to symbolize courage, greatness, and power. There are four magnificent copper dragon statues built on pedestals on the four corners of the bridge. They look splendid and fearsome at the same time. They remind me of dragons from Sarah Prineas’s books where magic is born out of a dragon. The magic born out of the dragon then pulls people towards it forming cities in its wake. The presence of dragons in this lovely city does make that seem possible; especially under the crimson spilled evening sky.
Another major attraction is the abundance of eateries. The city centre teems with them. As a result, a variety of appetizing aromas waft through the alleys beckoning people inside. One can also find many souvenir shops. There are people everywhere - performers in the squares, tourists of all nationalities and ethnicities gallivanting about taking in the charms of the city, hawkers, people relaxing in the outdoor restaurants and so on. While some people choose to sit and relax on the banks of the Ljubljanica, there are many who prefer to go on boat rides on its waters enjoying the scenic cityscape. Floating musicians and orchestras on boats are also a regular sight in the city. The hues of the setting sun mingled with culinary fragrances and music notes make the city centre an ideal place to spend one’s evenings.