Ljubliana - Day 1
Whee, today, I travelled with London Museums A-Z (LoMAZ) again! This one is a trip to Ljubljana - which they've taken to abbreviating to LJ in the associated WhatsApp group. I booked an Expedia package - flying out with British Airways from Heathrow, direct to Ljubljana, and I checked in yesterday - many in the group actually flew elsewhere and took the train, which worked out cheaper. And a lot went out already, to travel around the area - and wow, was I jealous, looking at the pictures and videos that were already posted. I'm in an AirBnB, which is a first for me - it's in the pedestrianised part of the old town, in Tromostovje Apartments. And would you believe, it was only last week that I got around to replying to their message, requesting my arrival time so they could be there to meet me, a request they made when I booked this, months ago! Sadly, the airport shuttle was booked out by the time I got to it, so I took an Uber - they suggest to take any taxis to the nearby Grand Hotel Union, given that the apartments are in a pedestrianised area. When I mentioned to them that I was getting an Uber, they asked that I contact them when I was in the car.
It's lovely, travelling in the middle of the day - do you know, for all the travel I've booked for this year, this is the only trip I didn't have to get up early in the morning for! The morning bus was interesting, comprising, as it did, a hilarious conversation between two little sisters, about boogers and spiders in your eye, and someone's water bottle clanging to the floor. Jeez, they are weighty. I even got a seat on the Elizabeth Line.. had 90 minutes to spare in the airport. Had to note the seating.. JW, when we were travelling to Scotland, slept in T5, which wasn't half as comfortable as this looked. Anyway, wouldn't you know it, it was as the gate was announced that I remembered I hadn't brought a hat.. Accessorize came to the rescue, with what you could call a non-denominational hat:
Our flight was slightly delayed. Not an issue. And hey, as usual with BA, we got free water and snacks.. it was when I saw there were two different snacks (chocolate Hobnobs and sour cream-flavoured corn snacks), and someone in front of me took one of each.. well, I did too! The flight was otherwise uneventful, and yay, I was on the aisle. Had a fun time determining whether exiting by front, or back, would be quicker..
Wow, this was the first time my Irish (EU) passport has really been useful! The minute I saw an EU channel, I followed it, and was out in under 30 seconds.. I swear, had I had to wait in the "other passengers" channel, it'd have taken the most of an hour.. well, ran to the loo, called an Uber.. fended off all the other taxis' calls of "do I want a taxi".. and off we went.
He dropped me as close as he could.. I'm in a pedestrianised area:
This little area advertises rain (yes, there's a mini fountain that supplies it)..
Well, I think the person meeting me for the flat was there for a couple of minutes before I arrived.. but hey, we met each other. And the flat is lovely!
My God, they wanted me to have a loft bed.. I took one look at the ladder and said no! Please make me up the sofa bed. And that's what happened. I mean, look at that ladder..
The mission for this evening was to meet at Raw Pasta - I arrived way before anyone else, but the booking had already been made, and in due course we managed to seat eight!
..which came with an obligatory glass of water.. which I didn't touch:
The portions were substantial, so I didn't finish mine - but it was good. Loved that I could pay in Euros.. and get rid of some of my cash.. I couldn't really fit in another bottle before they left - so I headed back via an offie.. where they were good enough to uncork it for me..
We're on a walking tour tomorrow, for our sins.. hey-ho, should be ok, we turned in so early tonight.
Well, Lake Bled is an obvious excursion, and we're taking a tour with Get Your Guide on Saturday. I'm flying back on Sunday, with Easyjet - again, booked a large cabin bag, and checked in, last week! (They let you check in very early.) Others are carrying on to Venice, but goodness knows, I've done that to death. I'll be back to London early enough, might head to the cinema on Sunday evening.. and what's coming up is Coyote Vs. ACME, a partly animated comedy based on the roadrunner cartoons, in which Coyote sues ACME, whose products always blow up in his face. It's getting great reviews - nearest showing to me is in the Genesis.
On Monday, heading to Laughter to the Rafters, a comedy show in aid of The Passage homeless charity, and starring Dara O' Briain, Ed Byrne, and Sara Pascoe, among others. That's at the Hackney Empire. I've booked a table at the Pizza Express across the road for beforehand - I've had trouble before, with them being full, and eating options around there aren't great.
Then it's six days of Meetup in a row... starting with three days of mythology. On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for Bloodsport - After Helen of Troy, at the Theatre Royal Stratford East.. all about Helen of Troy, and what it means to return to your home, after abandoning it and starting a war. She's played by Michelle Dockery, and it's set in modern-day Essex.
On Wednesday - whee, I'm hosting storytelling with LoMAZ again! The Crick Crack Club - in the form of Lucy Lill - is performing Doom Scrolls - The Never-Ending Prophecies of the Sibyls in Folklore Hoxton. Female prophets, the theme. I'm eating in the Blues Kitchen Shoreditch beforehand.
And next Thursday, I'm at Watkins Bookshop (yes, they have their own Meetup group) for the launch of a book called Pantheon, about the Roman Pantheon and the society that birthed it. Eating in Bella Italia Cranbourn Street afterwards, yay!
I'll probably be eating there again on the 25th, when I'm with The Hideout for Her Private Hell - a stylized, futuristic psychological thriller set in Tokyo, and starring Sophie Thatcher. Details TBC.
On the 26th, I'm back at last with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies for a walk entitled Heavenly Heights of Hampstead.
And - as so often on these walks - that evening I'm off to a film (second day in a row). This time, it's with Movie Roadhouse London for Bad Apples in the BFI - a comedy with Saoirse Ronan as a teacher who locks a problematic student in her basement.
And on the 27th, back yet again with LoMAZ to see The Coming of Age exhibition at the Wellcome Collection.
Finally, on the 28th, I'm back with TAC to see Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre. Spoiler, this assumes it's the Mafia..
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