Our plan for the day was simple, take it easy, see if we could get a “later checkout (we have already got our room until 1:30pm), explore Tivoli Park and go to The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, grab a bite for lunch and go back to our room to get ready for our flight later today.
We achieved everything, except the later late checkout, so in all, a good result.
Our first stop was Tivoli Park, at 5 square kilometres it is easily the largest park in Ljubljana.
It was first designed in 1813 and had a series of additions and modifications through the years. We walked up past a large pond filled with flowering lilies, ducks and a white swan.
It was very peaceful. We had a look around some rose gardens that needed a bit of love and 2 glass houses that looked a bit forgotten. Then we made our way further into the park to see the 17th century Tivoli Mansion. (On the way we saw an old man feeding a squirrel walnuts. The squirrel looked very content, even with us moving in
The Mansion is guarded by 4 large dog statues at the bottom of twin staircases leading up to the Mansion. 
I couldn’t resist this fountain. 🙂
We then walked back through the park and into town to see the “Pink church”, The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. It sIts on the edge of the square where the Three Bridges cross the river. 
We went in and found we walked in on a mass being held. We sat quietly at the back and watched the service for a while. It became obvious why some churches ban tourists during services. There was a steady stream of tourists into the church, and while most were respectful, there were a few that walked into the middle of the church and started taking photos mid service. At the end of the service we got a quick photo from the back and left.
As we walked back to our hotel we walked through the park when the Ljubljana Festival opening concert was held, there were musicians and singers on-stage rehearsing. I went to the side fence to watch what was going on. After about 5 mins I got a tap on my shoulder and was asked to move, apparently I was photo-bombing a TV interview/press conference. I was almost famous!!
We got back to the hotel, cooled down, packed our bags and relaxed. This travelling is hard work!
We checked out at 1:30pm and waited for our lift in the hotel’s very small foyer (it’s only a 20 room hotel). The wait went fairly quickly. It was interesting watching the weather get worse outside. It got very overcast and the wind picked up.
Our driver arrived on time and we were on our way to the airport at 4:30pm. Not long after we left, the rain began, big heavy drops, and lots of them. It rained for the rest of the time all the way out to the airport. We arrived at 5pm and were checked in, through security and in the lounge by 5:20pm. Not sure if you noticed, but one step was missing in all that, emigration. I guess its an EU thing.
We got a bite to eat and a glass of Slovenian wine each. We couldn’t believe it was the first Slovenian wine we had tried. A Simcic Cab Sav for me and a Vinakoper Malvazija for Deb Lounge wine is always unremarkable so not the best to judge it on. But it gets a pass. I had to try another glass just to be sure 🙈. And then the wait began for our flight to board.
I’m going to post this blog before we board. I’ll up date everything from now to London in tomorrow’s blog.
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