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Living History
ake the town of Radovljica, founded in the 13th century
on a plateau high above the Sava River. The old town
Tcenter looks pretty much the same as it did in its hey-
day in the 16th century with administrative buildings on one
side of the square and crafts and trade buildings on the other.
In the early days of the town fortifications including 16 towers,
walls and a moat encircled the town. Still visible, that moat is
the only one preserved in the country.
Old town’s buildings, including the Radovljica Mansion that
dominates the square, are among the best-preserved exam-
ples of sixteenth century Slovene town architecture. Today
the mansion is home to a fascinating beekeeping museum
and another dedicated to the country’s most famous com-
poser, Anton Tomaž Linhart (1756–1795).
Bee keeping in Slovenia spans several centuries and still
thrives today. We were fascinated by the story of how the
Carniolan honey bee, famous for its production and non-
aggressive behaviour, became a worldwide favourite, includ-
ing in our hometown of San Diego. Another highlight was
the museum’s impressive collection of rare antique beehive
panels, painted wooden planks that decorated bee boxes as
far back as the 1700s. Authentic beehive panels are impor-
tant Slovene folk art and very hard to find, though we did spot
some knock-offs in a couple Ljubljana tourist shops.
Left: An upscale jeweler in the Gold Souk.
Middle: Tourist shops abound in Dubai.
Here’s a popular shop for cruisers selling
spices, candies and t-shirts .
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