It’s been an exhausting 24 hours, but we’re having a blast in Slovenia! After a long journey, we were transported back in time to the cobblestone streets of Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Our hostel was steps away from the historic pedestrian district, and we spent our first evening watching performers in courtyards, venturing down narrow side streets, and walking along the canal. 

This morning, we set out for breakfast as street vendors were putting out their wares. The farmer’s market was in full swing, and we passed stall after stall of fresh fruits and vegetables. We found a restaurant that provides vocational training for disadvantaged populations. We ate our fill of farm fresh eggs, homemade bread, locally cured meats and cheeses, and, of course, Nutella. 

After breakfast, we spent the remainder of the morning exploring Ljubljana Castle, which sits atop a hill that overlooks the city. The castle has a storied history in the city, and has served as a prison, military base, and fire lookout after noblemen and heads of state stopped using the castle. 

View from the top of Ljubljana Castle

Students spent the afternoon wandering through Ljubljana before we set out for our first night of camping. We are looking forward to hitting the trail tomorrow morning. We will certainly have lots more stories and photos to share when we return!