Last summer, Bob and Rhonda had much praise for the people and countryside of Slovenia. Their recommendation was spot on. Ljubljana had a vibrancy consistent with a nation’s capital. Home to the University of Ljubljana, the streets and cafes were full of students. Shops and cafes line the streets adjacent to the river.
On our way to Graz, Austria, we visited Maribor, home of the Spec’s. Aleksander, Natalija, and Marušam were great hosts. Natalija served croissants that had just come out of the oven. Another treat was the best strawberries I have tasted. They were picked that morning and were exceptionally juicy. They are grown locally and must be eaten within a day or two. Thus, they are not sold in supermarkets.
After the snack we headed for Pohorska vzpenjača, a ski slope, and the location of World Cup Alpine Skiing for the past 30 years.
One of the retired gondolas and on the right is the former base for the the gondolas.
We stopped at Restavracija Villa Rustica for a late lunch. The Spec’s knew the owner. Wonderful service and excellent meals. Ella’s dessert is pictured below. The size of the dessert is not exaggerated by the photo. Ella’s sister and her dad helped finish it.
After the restaurant we followed the Spec’s as they drove through Maribor and pointed out some of the sites. We parked our cars on by the river. Standing on the edge of a very steep bank, the girls threw grass to the geese. Thankfully no one went swimming. Saying goodbye to the Spec’s felt like we had known them a long time. Very nice people, that we hope we will see again sometime in the future.
