August 8 - Learning About History in Ljubljana

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to step back into prehistoric times? We actually experienced it today visiting Postojnka Jama, a cave an hour outside Ljubljana.

We started the day off with a history lesson at The Museum of Contemporary History which had some very interesting displays. The first floor featured the work of Louis Braille. Visitors can try out Braille typewriters and experience a world of darkness by navigating a pitch black room. After walking smack into a wall, I lasted about one minute.

Upstairs was an extensive exhibit about the history of Slovenia beginning with WWI through 1991 when Slovennia became an independent country. One exhibit had about 30 different kinds of shoes holding down informational banners suspended from the ceiling. The shoes represented the common aim to help Slovenia gain independence.

Lunch today was at McDonalds. We had their Shankin' salad which is mozzarella balls and tomatoes. Since McDonalds was in a railroad station, it was decorated in a railroad style and actually had some antiques in it.

We took a bus to Postojnska Jama, one of the biggest caves in Europe. It's touristy, but fun. A small open air train takes you deep inside the cave where everyone breaks into language groups for a tour. The 90 minute tour was amazing. We learned the cave is over 5 million years old and has had visitors since the late 1800s. The caverns were mammoth with enormous stalactites and stalagmites which grow at the rate of 1 mm. every 10-30 years.

Dinner was at Pizzeria Focculus. Their pizzas cooked in a wood burning oven and salads are excellent.

Walking around Ljubljana after dinner, we took the elevator to the 11th floor of a building with an interesting history. In the 1930s it was known as the skyscraper and was the tallest building in central Europe. It is a building with a history, but after recent renovations, the top is very contemporary with walls of glass on their outside observation deck. It was great place for a final view of Ljubljana. Tomorrow we head to Croatia.