Maeve McClusky

Ljubljana: European Green Capital 2016

By Maeve on 19th November

Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana is a city that is home to excellently preserved green spaces, a castle atop a hill, river embankments surrounded by trees and so much more. The Ljubljana Moors Nature Park has several archaeological sites that are included on the UNESCO World Heritage List as well as being known for its extraordinary biodiversity. So, it’s no surprise that after a decade of working hard to achieve the high environmental standards they hold today that Ljubljana has been awarded the title of European Green Capital 2016.

www.slovenia.info
Photographer: Tomo Jesenicnik

Each year, the title of European Green Capital is given to a city that has achieved the highest environmental standards and is committed to further improving their environmental impact in the future. When Ljubljana was close to becoming overcrowded with cars, they began shifting the focus to more sustainable travel. Today, they see a 620% increase in a car free, pedestrian zone with more and more cyclists- making it a great city for visitors!

To celebrate the award, there will be a variety of celebrations throughout the year, adding onto the already 10,000+ cultural events Ljubljana holds yearly!

www.slovenia.info
Photographer: Bobo

The country itself is one of the worlds most biologically diverse countries, with over 24,000 species of animals- something that is even more impressive considering they only make up a mere 0.004% of the earth! Additionally, Slovenia is the third most wooded country in Europe, with almost 60% of it being covered by trees.

So what is there to do in Slovenia’s green capital? Here are six things you can’t miss while visiting.

The Ljubljana Dragon Carnival– A celebration to remember
To celebrate the Shrovetide Carnival, Ljubljana holds a Dragon Carnival- the dragon being the symbol of Ljubljana- and gives you the opportunity to get to know the wealth of Slovenia’s Shrovetide traditions. Taking place the Saturday before Shrove Tuesday, the Carnival parades through the streets of the city centre with its dragon mascot, which is one of the largest in Europe. Here, you will see traditional carnival figures, children dressed in costume and modern carnival characters.

www.slovenia.info
Photographer: D. Wedam

Metelkova Mesto– A unique experience for the arts and night life
Metelkova was originally Austro-Hungarian army barracks in the 19th century. When they were going to tear them down in 1993, they were squatted by a group of around 200 volunteers to stop them from being pulled down- an initiative formed by mainly underground artists. Since then, it has become a growing popular attraction with an incredible nightlife. Featuring concerts, club nights and underground artists and DJs from around the world, Metelkova Mesto is a must see quirky alternative for those who enjoy interesting artsy centres.

The Ljubljana Botanical Gardens – A relaxing day in a historic garden
The Botanical Gardens are Slovenia’s oldest cultural, scientific and educational institution that has operated uninterrupted since it’s opened. As one of the world’s most historically important botanical gardens, it is home to over 4,500 different species and subspecies, with one third of them originating in Slovenia and the rest coming from a variety of European countries.

www.slovenia.info
Photographer: J. Bavcon

Tivoli-Roznik Hill Siska Hill Landscape Park- the largest park in Slovenia
With Roznik Hill located directly behind Tivoli Park, the two make up the Tivoli-Roznik Hill Siska Hill Landscape Park. Tivoli Park is not only Ljubljana’s number one picnic spot but also has a museum, two castles and an artificial pond. Being one of Ljubljana’s favourite nature-walking places, you can take a walk through one of the nature trails from Tivoli Park up to the hill which features ski jumps, a church, a zoo and so much more. You can even head up to Roznik Hill for a first-of-May hilltop rock party.

Ljubljana Food Tour– Discover real Slovenian food
What better way to experience the culture of Slovenia than with a food tour? Get to know the city’s main attractions and landmarks through a food tour of Slovenia and Ljubljana’s traditional meals. Open from April to October, you can find so much of the country’s diverse cuisine choices.

www.slovenia.info
Photographer: Zavod Celeia Celje

Smarna Gora– The best views and a unique walk
Head to the northernmost corner of Ljubljana and check out Smarna Gora, an ‘odd shaped butte of two hills’ which resemble the humps of a camel. Perfect for anyone, no matter their skill, you can choose from steeper hills to get to the top or a gentler path. On one of the peaks, there is a restaurant where you can relax and enjoy a meal after hiking and sit out on the terrace to take in the views of the beautiful green city. The second peak is a little higher with one single bench to sit upon to take in the magnificent views.

A Weekend by the Sea

By Maeve on 5th November

There’s not much that’s more relaxing than a weekend by the sea, and both Portsmouth and Brighton are the perfect seaside towns for a weekend away. Both having an endless supply of beautiful views and things to do, it’s hard to not enjoy them.

On Saturday, I headed to Portsmouth, despite the fact that it was a very windy and gloomy day. Even with the poor weather, the views were still incredible and there was still so much to see and do.

We started with the square tower, where you can look out onto the sea and look down along the rocky beach. From here, it is so easy to walk along the beach down to the Clarence Pier Amusement Park- which was still fully open and the weather wasn’t too bad so we were able to go on rides. At the Pier, you can go on rides, play in the arcade, play mini golf and so much more. While on the Pier, you should also grab some fish & chips, as they’ll be cheap and absolutely delicious.

If you keep going down the path from there, there is so much to see all along the sea, including the Southsea castle, a handful of museums, the Blue Reef Aquarium and the Southsea Rose Garden. Not even the gloomy London weather could ruin the day or make everything seem less beautiful.

On Sunday, it was Brighton’s turn, and it did not disappoint- especially since the weather was sunny and warm all day! Knowing that the Pier would be our main interest, we decided to check out a few other things first. The first thing we saw was the Royal Pavilion, which seems a bit out of place but is gorgeous nonetheless.

After, we headed to the Lanes to check out some of the shops and restaurants there, but weren’t there for long as we saw the sun shining brightly on the sea and couldn’t resist going to the Pier anymore.

One of the most relaxing parts of the weekend was by far sitting at a restaurant that’s right on the beach for lunch. There’s not much that’s better than eating fish & chips (for the second day but it’s a must, really) while looking out onto the beach- especially as the beach wasn’t crowded with people as it wasn’t the summer!

A Day in Cambridge

By Maeve on 20th October

Cambridge was a nice and very welcomed change of pace after a few weeks of being in the busy city of London. With no plan except to walk around and see what we can find and no large crowds of people rushing along, the day was ours to leisurely see what we could do.

After walking for almost an hour from the station and around the city centre, we had walked through one open building and were wondering which colleges we could go in without having to pay for a tour. That’s when we were asked if we would like to go punting, an activity that has been at Cambridge since Edwardian times. Sitting in a flat boat, someone pushes you along the river using a pole.

Punting along the river

You can choose to rent a boat or have someone push you along and give you information on the buildings, bridges and general history of the town. If you want to hear all of the information that the guide has to say, sit in the back, as they don’t have microphones and might not be very loud. But if you’re fine with just admiring everything while occasionally hearing bits and pieces on some things, feel free to sit in the front.With so many other boats on the water, some being other tourists who were punting themselves, having a guide is a good idea. It is not only a good way to see many of the things along the river, it is a lot of fun and different from standard tours.

The Mathematical Bridge

At the end, we once again decided to walk around to see what else we could find before we had to get back to the station. What we found were some paths to walk down (which are absolutely beautiful in autumn) and many more buildings to marvel at.

Overall, Cambridge is the perfect walking town with so much to see. You can take tours of the beautiful historic buildings, go punting, just walk through the whole town or check out one (or more) of the museums.

An Evening at the Globe

By Maeve on 16th October

If you’re in London, have the time and are even slightly interested in Shakespeare and theatre, seeing a play at the Globe Theatre is highly recommended. If you’re not a huge Shakespeare fan, it’s worth going for the experience alone. Built the same way as the original, the performances are designed to be as close to the original performances as possible.

I had never seen a play that wasn’t put on by my high school. And I had only read about three Shakespeare plays. I liked them enough, but I wasn’t the biggest fan. So buying tickets to see Richard II (a play I hadn’t read) might have seemed like a ridiculous idea. Sitting on a wooden bench for two hours to watch a play I had never read, and it’s one written by Shakespeare as well?? However, I enjoyed it so much and am glad I went.

Sure, I didn’t know what was going on probably 85% of the time, but it was an experience I will never forget.The performers not only have to perform without microphones, but they also have to make sure they are still audible when planes fly over the building- and they do an amazing job at it! The seats aren’t the most comfortable as they’re wooden benches (or standing) but it’s worth it. You can choose to stand in the front where the commoners would have stood (tickets are only £5!) or, you can sit in the galleries where the wealthy would sit (these tickets are about £20-£40).

Going to the Globe is a cool trip back to the late 1500s with some slightly more modern aspects (no awful smells and the audience aren’t rowdy!) and absolutely worth the slightly sore back. Also, you get the chance to say that you’ve seen a Shakespeare play at the Globe Theatre! If you do go, make sure to dress warm though as there is no ceiling!

Many people think that Tower Bridge is London Bridge!

Thames River Cruise

By Maeve on 15th October

Many people think that Tower Bridge is the London Bridge!

With so much to see and do in London, sometimes it’s nice to sit back, relax and have someone show you everything. On a beautiful sunny day- a bit hard to come upon here- the Thames River Cruise is the perfect option.

Not only is it relaxing on the water, you’ll learn facts about the bridges (there are surprisingly some cool facts on these) and buildings along the Thames that you might not get if you are on a self-guided tour.

Shakespeare’s famous Globe Theatre

Did you know;
• The Waterloo Bridge was the first and only bridge in London to be completed on time, within budget and self-cleaning? Not only that, but it was built by women while men were fighting in WWII! And the women have only recently been given credit for building it as well.
• The Globe Theatre is the only thatched building in London, as they were banned after the Great Fire. However, the theatre could be rebuilt the exact same way as the original.
• Cleopatra’s Needle has nothing to do with Cleopatra herself. It was built for Pharaoh Thotmes III in 1460 BC and was sent to England in 1877 from the city Cleopatra.
• If you ever pass under Tower Bridge, wave to the people on it and if they wave back, you’ll have five years good luck!
• Soon after the opening, the Millennium Bridge began to wobble, causing some pedestrians to become sick. It is also the bridge seen at the beginning of the sixth Harry Potter!

Cleopatra’s Needle with lions guarding it

With so much to see, going on a river cruise is definitely worth it- even if the river itself isn’t very pretty!

World From Marrs

All posts by Maeve McClusky

Ljubljana: European Green Capital 2016

A Weekend by the Sea

A Day in Cambridge

An Evening at the Globe

Thames River Cruise