May today's trip be dedicated both to our children and to the child who is still hiding in each of us. Let's treat ourselves to a hearty breakfast without counting calories and worrying about the level of cholesterol in our blood.
Today is a day when we can be carefree, so let's go for a delicious breakfast at Le petit caffé, where the smell of fresh croissants and other delicacies that they offer for breakfast can be heard right at the door. The cafe opens its doors as early as 7:30 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m., and on weekends it is open from 9 a.m. to midnight. In a pleasant atmosphere with the sounds of French chansons, we escape for a moment to one of the cafés in Montmartre, Paris. But not for long, because our little losers are already pulling us by the sleeve and pushing us forward. We dip our mouths into the foam of white coffee "Le petit caffe" for the last time, say au revoirter to the friendly staff and drive to Mostec, where as many as 691 animals of the Ljubljana Zoo await us. 148 different species of animals from all over the world live on an area of 19.6 hectares, which can be visited every day from 9 am to 6 pm, and in the summer until 7 pm. We will charge 3.5 to 6 euros for the visit, but if we bring our dog with us, 1 euro more. For a more complete experience of the animal world, we can take part in feeding the animals, as the zoo offers us to help fill the stomachs of brown bears, Indian elephants, pink pelicans, lynxes or Indian hedgehogs, accompanied by a keeper, for 4.20 euros, which will show us their gratitude each in their own mischievous way. In addition to getting to know many animal species, the zoo offers us the opportunity to celebrate a birthday, professional guidance, workshops for children, playing on the large children's playground and much more. However, if we or our little ones had a soft heart when we saw all these cute animals and we think that we too would like to take care of one, our decision will make any furry person who is waiting for a new friendly owner in the Shelter for Abandoned Animals in Gmajnica happy and a warm home. The shelter is located on the outskirts of the Ljubljana Marshes, a few kilometers before Brezovica, and is intended for the temporary accommodation of cats and dogs that do not have owners. Those who are still undecided about adoption will also do a good job by walking the puppies on weekends from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. or during the week from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. or from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Lying in the grass
Then, from the walk, hop, back to the capital, where on the way we stop on Brdo at Pizzeria Azur, order our favorite pizza and treat ourselves to a chocolate souffle with vanilla topping for dessert, all for about 10 euros. Although a little lazy after a delicious meal and thinking about an afternoon nap, we drive on almost to the center of the city, where the biggest and most beautiful park in Ljubljana is located, Tivoli Park. There we lie down in the grass and observe the various figures drawn by the clouds. But probably not for long, because our little ones will try to convince us that there is better fun at the children's playground near the pond. At the many games that the playground offers from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., let's remember again how nice it is to be a child, let's go down the slide and "thump" high into the air. Visiting the playground is free, so it won't be a problem to rummage through our pockets for coins worth 0.83 euros for a scoop of ice cream, which is offered in the Čolnarna cafe nearby. Children's workshops are also organized in their premises during weekends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; in April on the topic of ecology. Or we can decide for a different kind of entertainment and take a ride on the Icelandic horse cart that is waiting for us in front of the playground. Driving is not dangerous, so it is suitable for all children from 2 to 99 years old. For those who would like to go horse riding, it is offered just a short distance away, next to the well-known inn Čad pod Rožnikom, in the riding club Rožnik. The price of an individual lesson of riding Icelandic horses is 20 euros, and you can choose to do it on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm or during the week from 3 pm to 7 pm.
High above the clouds
We jump out of the saddle back onto the hard ground and again push ourselves high into the air as we fly over the city in a balloon. The flight at altitudes between 50 and 1000 meters takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes, and we will charge 82.60 euros or 41.30 euros for children up to 12 years old. The meeting point for this exciting experience is in front of the Slovenian Tourist Information Center at 5 p.m. (or at 9 a.m.), from where the balloon team will take us to the take-off point and ensure complete flight safety. We still have the last goal ahead of us: to catch a cartoon on our TV screens and fall asleep sweetly while reading bedtime stories.
Information:
LE PETIT CAFFE – Trg francoske revolucije 2, Ljubljana (01) 251 25 75
LJUBLJANA ZOO – Vecna pot 70, Ljubljana, (01) 244 21 82
SHELTER FOR ABANDONED ANIMALS Gmajnice 30, Ljubljana, (01) 256 02 79
AZUR PIZZERIA – Cesta na Brdo 33, Ljubljana, (01) 423 24 23
RIDING CLUB ROŽNIK – Jože Čad, Cesta na Rožnik 20, Ljubljana, 040 831 922
TIVOLI BOAT YARD – by the pond in Tivoli Park, (01) 251 11 60
SLOVENIAN TOURIST INFORMATION CENTER (STIC) – Krekov trg 10, Ljubljana, (01) 306 45 75
