It was the surreal first sight of the Predjama Castle and its mysterious, fairytale experience that stayed with the four of us, long after our Slovenia trip was concluded. It was no wonder then that an air of romance, mystery and intrigue hung heavy over this ‘medieval marvel’ as it is aptly called. Legend says, the Knight Erazem of Predjama protected his castle from the imperial siege and its many secret tunnels served useful in his “plundering expeditions”. From one rock-cut rustic cave-room to another, we passed narrow passageways, climbed long, stone staircases that wound further into the cliff-caves and gazed across the countryside from huge cave windows. Inside the castle, this feeling of historical fantasy continued, as we strolled through a kitchen, a chapel and even a torture chamber. And yet it reflected an aura of solemn dignity and intrigue. A piece of unique architecture, staring down at us through a veil of white mist and drizzle. Tucked into the wall of the cliff, with its ancient grey and cream façade, sloping conical roofs and striped windows, the medieval Castle appeared like a picturesque postcard painting stuck on to the wall. It had begun to drizzle and the mist had settled around us on the green hillside. Inside Postojna Caves | Photos and copyright first view of this 800 plus year-old Predjama Castle was mesmerising and unforgettable. The original, rustic interior of the quaint restaurant and the entrance arch were proof of its history. In 1990, it was recognised as a part of the cultural heritage of Ljubljana. Originally an old coachmen restaurant, it was opened in 1905. We had booked in Stari Tišler, an old beautiful guesthouse with a pretty courtyard, rustic ambience, dining room and restaurant. We were promised that the baggage would reach us the next day and finally, tired and hungry we headed to our hotel. If that wasn’t all, on arrival at the airport, we were told that some of our baggage couldn’t be found and we lost a precious hour trying to locate the bags. Our combined negotiations yielded some results and we got an alternate flight at 12:40 pm but with no food or water. The next one, the airport authorities said, would be at midnight! Our adventure began when four of us school friends - Lochana, Ameeta, Sarita and I - arrived in Paris and realised that our connecting flight to Ljubljana had been cancelled for some reason. An exciting journey of bonding filled with fun, facts and fantasy. And that is exactly what this trip to Slovenia proved to be. One of the best things about travelling with buddies is that not only does it help test the waters of a foreign land, but also test the strength of your friendship. It was also our first stop and introduction to beautiful Slovenia as we embarked on a 15-day friends’ trip through Slovenia and Croatia in 2018. Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia in central Europe and is the biggest town in the country.
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