{"id":745,"date":"2017-09-30T13:12:18","date_gmt":"2017-09-30T17:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/spintheglobe.net\/dir\/?p=745"},"modified":"2018-05-14T19:29:18","modified_gmt":"2018-05-14T23:29:18","slug":"ljubljana-coolest-accessible-city-youve-never-heard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spintheglobe.net\/dir\/2017\/09\/30\/ljubljana-coolest-accessible-city-youve-never-heard\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Ljubljana is the Coolest Accessible City You’ve Never Heard Of"},"content":{"rendered":"

It’s okay if you’ve never heard of Ljubljana. Until about five months ago, I had never heard of it either. I had also never heard of the country of Slovenia, of which Ljubljana is the capital, until I learned of where the American First Lady was born. But after having spent three glorious days there, I’m convinced it’s the most amazing wheelchair accessible city that most people have never heard of.<\/p>\n

\"ljubljanaLjubljana, and Slovenia in general, has a fascinating history. You probably heard of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and Eastern Bloc communist country that was formed after World War I. It was ruled by socialist dictator Josef Tito until his death in 1980, and Yugoslavia broke up \u00a0along the lines of its republics after the end of the Cold War in the 1990s. You’ve probably heard of Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia, as well as the tragic conflict involving Kosovo. \u00a0Well, Slovenia was one of these republics as well, and gained independence in 1991. Because Tito \u00a0broke with Stalin in 1948 and chose a very independent route for socialism in his country, Slovenia’s \u00a0economy and society progressed more quickly and very differently than its neighbors.<\/p>\n

Today, Slovenia remains a small country with a small population, and locals will tell you that everything about the country is small. Perhaps everything is, except for its spirit and good nature, as well as its overwhelming beauty. Slovenia, and definitely Ljubljana, are committed to wheelchair accessibility, so here are some reasons why if you need to put Ljubljana on your bucket list NOW.<\/p>\n

\"ljubljana1. Ljubljana is one of the most wheelchair accessible cities in all of Europe.\u00a0<\/strong>I am actually overwhelmed by how easy it was to get around the city. There are ramps everywhere, and while most of the public buses are accessible, the city is so small you don’t even really need to take them. All public buildings are required to have access, and the museums I visited all had ramps and accessible entrances. In 2015, the city of Ljubljana won the Bronze Access Award, and has also won a Green City award. \u00a0There are four electric taxicabs that run around the city transporting passengers for free, and two out of the four are wheelchair accessible.<\/p>\n

Thanks to my awesome electric scooter, I\u2019m able to safely roll around destinations all over the world \u2013 including Ljubljana. Find out if it\u2019s a good fit for you, too! Pride Mobility Go-Go Ultra X 3-Wheel Travel Scooter<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"ljubljana2 The food is \u00a0Incredible \u2014 and very international.\u00a0<\/strong>If you’re looking for authentic Slovenian cuisine, you can definitely find it. I tried a delicious Carniolan pork sausage called kranjska<\/a> that is actually protected because it can only be produced by 15 Slovene butchers with a special license. \u00a0Slovenia and also love their soups, and mushroom soup is very popular \u2014 especially when combined with a bowl of buckwheat called zganci. However, due to having borders with Austria, Hungary, Italy, and Croatia, Ljubljana is a mecca for restaurants and food dishes from several different countries and cultures. Slovenian wines and desserts are also special treats.<\/p>\n