Lazy Ljubljana – now please now

“The word miracle, as pronounced by Christian churches, gives a false impression; it is a monster. It is not one with the blowing clover and the falling rain.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wake up to the sound of rain and go back to sleep.

The sun is up when Shell decides it is time for me to be awake. We open the curtains and listen to the rain come down with the door open to the balcony.

Breakfast at the apartment is included. We order omelets with seasonal vegetables, mushrooms, and bacon. Some bruschetta and I make a few trips to the buffet.

A late lunch today, I need a full stomach to get through.

The sky clears, and we spend the morning reading.

“Man reading should be man intensely alive. The book should be a ball of light in one’s hand.”

Ezra Pound

Cities have a season. Barcelona is a summer city. Zagreb is a Spring city. Budapest is an autumn city.

Ljubljana is a winter city.

We stroll the streets in the blue sunshine. There is nowhere to go, so we just wander.

Galleries and jewelers.

There is a tea shop that has hundreds of tea sets. In the back, there is a selection of Eastern sets. When we are settled in Korea, I will buy a set and make Rachelle a different tea for every day.

I spot a wine merchant and grab two bottles for today. I am tempted by a Barolo from the Cannubi vineyard. Ten years old and a steal at 58 euros.

I buy a couple of local Slovenian wines instead for half the price.

A cool second hand book shop with nothing in English.

After a few hours we head back to our place. The room is not done and we are out of coffee.

We sit out on the balcony and read in the sun. I suggest a wine but Shell thinks it is too early.

It is 1.00 pm and I wake Shell from a nap.

She looks thirsty so I pour her a wine. A local red from the Karst region. A Bordeaux blend, Cabernet, Merlot and some Teran that region is famous for.

“Going to another country doesn’t make any difference. I’ve tried all that. You can’t get away from yourself by moving from one place to another. There’s nothing to that.”

Ernest Hemingway

Shell drinks her wine and puts on her makeup. I keep reading; I only need to throw on a collared shirt to be ready.

We stroll along the Ljubljnauca in the sunshine.

TABA has seats outside and we sit in the sun – order a beer and just let the world pass by.

First course is a ravioli paired with a beer from local brewers, Reservoir Dogs that are fermented in wine barrels. A delicious combination of beer and wine that matches well with the ravioli.

The second course is a chicken roulade served with a pickled morrel. Tasty but too small for a main. Paired with a local ‘natural’ wine that is interesting. I don’t mind the funkiness but Shell declares brett and gives me hers.

Another ‘natural’ wine failure.

The last course is bread pudding with goat’s colostrum ice cream. I start to explain what colostrum is and Shell quickly shuts down the conversation. The pudding is serves with Malvasia made into a Sherry using the solera technique. It is outstanding.

The bottle has no label, and the sommelier just winks and says it is made by a friend when I ask.