Ljubljana

How do you pronounce Ljubljana?  It took me a while to get my tongue around that one.  Lyublyanna, more or less.

With fewer than 300,000 people living there, it's the largest Slovenian town.  Its position has meant it has been a crossroads or meeting point for Slavic, German and Roman cultures.

The picture shows the old centre of the town, including the castle which dates from the 12th century.  The first castle started to fall into disrepair and was converted in to a prison and then into a home for poor families.  In 1960 a major renovation was started, taking 35 years to finish.  Now the castle is open to the public and used for cultural events.

Books, books, and more books

From Slovenia came this "XXL Bücherturm".  Fun, but I worry about the books that have blown away.  I do hope someone is looking after them.

From the Czech Republic comes this card showing the library or Philosophical Hall of the monastery of Vyssi Brod containing 70,000 volumes.  There is a wonderful fresco on the ceiling showing a scene from the Old testament: Solomon sitting in judgement.

Finally, another from the Czech Republic, showing books on the shelves of the National Library.

Anyone who has been reading this blog for any length of time will know I love books.  I don't just look at them, I do read them.  My current themes are Roman history, Celtic art, and central France, with a few thrillers thrown in for light relief.  I make good use of our local library but I can't resist having my own copies of history books in particular.  Otherwise I'm renewing them constantly.

So today my eyes lit up when I received a message to say I'd won an Amazon voucher for £30, and all I'd had to do was to comment on Alison's post about her history book addiction.  Appliances Online waved a magic wand and did the rest.  They've even whispered in my ear that anyone who comments on this post could have a chance of winning a voucher too. 

So start commenting.....

When I grow up...

...I'm going to be a surgeon.  Not an easy career for anyone and certainly not one that's easy to fit in with a family but I'm delighted to see this card encouraging girls to think of it as a possibility.  One step on from doctors and nurses.

This was a card from Slovenia advertising an exhibition in Ljubljana showing all the different educational programs available from high school to higher education programs, further education and training, language courses, lifelong learning.

Trenta Valley, Slovenia

Beautiful countryside and traditional houses in the Julian Alps, Slovenia.  The postmark shows it was sent from Vipava, a small town in western Slovenia.

Predjamski Grad

It looks as though it could have belonged to a robber baron - and it did!  the castle is built directly on the cliff face, probably in the 12th century.  A natural cave behind it allowed the baron, a Robin Hood type, to continue with his activities, and to obtain supplies when the castle was under siege.

The card was sent to me last month through Postcrossing, from Postojna in southwestern Slovenia, just 11 kilometres from the castle. 

Škofja Loka mountains, Slovenia

Postmarked Križe, dated 18 March 2009.

The Škofja Loka mountains lie behind the town of Škofja Loka, in the foreground of the card.  It is 1,000 years old and situated at the point where the Poljanska Sora and Selška Sora rivers meet.  It is considered to be one of the most beautifully preserved medieval towns in Slovenia.

My first ever card from Slovenia!