The Castle

We live literally right below the castle in Ljubljana.  Castle hill is about ten yards (or meters, whichever suits you) behind our apartment and rises nearly vertical.  There is actually an old stone staircase that climbs up from the courtyard outside our apartment part of the way up the hill.  We have been told it used to go all the way up the hill but wasn't maintained.  Standing on our back patio and looking straight up, you can actually see the top of the castle tower with the Ljubljana flag flying overhead.  There is probably an analogy to medieval peasants that is appropriate here, but we think it's pretty cool anyhow.

When Grandma and Grandpa Ebben were here in early February, we made a trip up to the castle on the funicular, or glorified elevator (look it up, I had no idea what a funicular was either).  The view from the castle walls is fantastic, as you look directly below at Old Town, with the Cathedral and market, and out to the snow-capped mountains on the horizon.

The kiddos refer to it as Cinderella's castle.  Since it is visible from just about everywhere in the city, it's commonplace to hear shouts from our crew of "Look, it's Cinderella's castle!  There's a big clock!  And a big flag!"  Celia tends to drop her L's, so we cringe when anyone is within earshot...