I wish we had taken the train to Slovenia. I was going for a bike conference, after all. But I got overwhelmed by how many trains, from so many different systems, we would need. So I chickened out and chose a flight. We’d heard security at Stockholm's airport was taking a long time due to lack of workers. It was so much worse than I ever could have imagined. It took us 30 minutes just to get in the right line to check our bags. I would have traveled with just carry-ons but the ticket said we only got a “handbag.” I was worried the two planes would be so small, we wouldn’t be allowed regular carry ons. That turned out to just be a translation mistake, but I didn't know that until after we were at the airport. I think we ended up in a Business Class check in line and a guy waiting in a longer line got mad at us. When we went over to the even longer security line, a friendly Swede told us about a fast track line for families with children. We would have eventually seen the sign for this quicker line, but we probably wouldn’t have known that it applied to us, so we were grateful for the advice. At the gate, we also got to board early, even though our kids aren’t babies. Swedes prioritize children, so maybe we didn’t actually jump ahead, after all. It was super stressful though. And we’ll definitely arrive earlier, for the flight home.
We went to Slovenia so I could attend Velo-City. While I was in the conference, Teddy and the kids did a great job exploring the city. One of my goals for the summer was to take as many modes of transport as possible. Ljubljana helped by providing the funicular.
We also loved the dragons, and how bike friendly the city was. Teddy and the kids took a boat tour, but somehow ended up on the one offered in Slovenian. They followed that up with an english-speaking walking tour. And Teddy and I took a tour of Union Brewery (with virtual reality, which I really thought they should have disclosed beforehand!) But the tour guide was sweet and the museum part was in person, showing off all the really old equipment.
We ate really well, and cheaply, while in Ljubljana. Check out my Baked Goods gallery, for lots more on the food (look for the posts labeled "Ljubljana: ___"). This city felt like a hidden gem, of Europe. It was easily walkable and bike-able. The prices were very affordable. The food was great. And with just a little more confidence, and time, it is also accessible by train!
Comments