John: to Ljubljana, what a contrast to Maribor! As we walk from the railway and enter into a stunning non-vehicular piazza surrounded by stunning buildings with four ancient bridges crossing a stunning canal with a castle hovering over the whole vista, I immediately fall in love with Slovenia's capital city,another University city. At night, with lighting the Europeans excel. Beautiful long ancient cobble-stoned streets branch out to more left and right and sma...

Maribor- winner of the European Culture Capital Award 2012, first brought to my attention in a domestic Jetstar in- flight magazine. What can I say? Look, I am trying to focus on positives, ok: Our accommodation was surprisingly lovely, an apartment in a Hostel complex that was ultra-modern, had all the gadgets including a fully appointed kitchen. We even had a huge terrace for outdoor dining. Outside, though, different story. Whether a designed work of art or...