But I advise you to take your time. Don't just look for the necessary information. There is so much more to see. Sit down here and there, have a drink, take some pictures, write or draw something in your travel diary, or talk to some interesting people. You might also want to visit one of the many cultural events or performances that take place at the different multi stages. Maybe you can combine your treasure hunt with listening to a concert or watching a movie. Check the provided websites (see below) to see what is going on in Ljubljana’s alternative culture scene.
In case you decide to do the entire tour in one day, I recommend you to visit the stages in the given order because the final is hidden closer to stage 7 (Tovarna Rog).
The final is hidden at: N 46 03.ABC and E 014 30.DEF
Stage 1: N 46 03.020 and E 014 29.754 (Erjavčeva cesta/street)
Start your alternative city tour here. Not far from stage 1 (right at the beginning of Erjavčeva street) the Academy of Fine Arts and Design is located. The careers of many famous Slovene artists have started here. But back to the cache and your task: You are standing in front of one of the biggest outdoor graffiti galleries in Ljubljana city center. Go to the posted coordinates of stage 1. Across the street you will see an old yelloh house. Count the number of permanently (!!!!) closed windows (= X).
A = X minus 4
Stage 2: N 46 02.499 and E 014 30.137 (KUD France Prešeren, address: Karunova ulica 14)
KUD France Prešeren is an independent, non-profit cultural art society. KUD stands for Kulturno Umetniško Društvo which translates into Cultural and Art Society. Its mission is to provide an open social space and support high-quality and somehow different events from various artistic fields (theatre, literature, exhibitions…). Unfortunately, KUD is facing serious financial problems due to the systematic cutting of public financial support.
Enter the little street Karunova ulica. To your right you will see the building in which the former headquarter of KUD (with a bar, a stage, and a gallery) WAS located. The street leads to a primary school (slo: osnovna šola) and a kindergarden (slo: vrtec). Count the number of lightpoles on the left side of the little street (before it reaches the parking between school and kindergarden).
Number of lightpoles = B
Stage 3: N 46 02.595 and E 014 30.266 (Sax Pub, Eipprova 7)
Not far from KUD you will find Sax Pub, a legendary local venue for small concerts. Usually there is live music on Thursdays. The outside terrace is a great spot to watch and mix with Ljubljana’s hip young crowd. Walk around the right side of the house and check out its graffiti-clad facade. In one section you will see a lion sleeping next to a gramophone. Count the number of letters in the two words directly over the lion’s body (first word starts with D and second with S).
Total number of letters = C
Stage 4: N 46 02.992 and E 014 30.404 (Bar and culture centre Pritličje, Mestni trg 2)
Pritličje, located right next to the town hall, is an interesting mixture of a café, a bar, a cultural centre, a gallery, a comic book shop (the only shop of this type in the city centre), and a live music venue. "All in all, an urban cultural centre that is also politically aware and active in setting up lectures and round tables on a wide range of issues, from global politics and economic policies to questions concerning the various arts scenes." (Quote taken from: http://www.culture.si/en/Pritličje). The big room in the back can be reserved for all kinds of cultural, political, or social events. Once I used it for a geocaching event (https://coord.info/GC6VV4A). Almost every day there is something going on here. The events schedule is packed with creativity. Check it out for yourself. Or just grab a drink and a comic book, or observe what is going on from one of the cute window seatings.
D = D-House, designed in 1X th century
D = X plus 2
Stage 5: N 46 03.405 and E 014 30.594 (Kinodvor, Kolodvorska 13)
Till the beginning of the 1990s this movie theatre was named Kino Sloga and screened erotic and pornographic films. You can still see some reminders of this “erotic” period in the movie theatre hall (e.g. some explicit frescoes in the loges or boxes). Since 2008 it is called Kinodvor, City Cinema. >>Kinodvor is a public institution whose main aim is to screen a diverse selection of quality films. As well as being a city cinema with a regular film programme, Kinodvor is also a venue for special events.<< (Quote taken from their website). There is no exercise for you to do here. But maybe you want to stop here and check out the really good film programme. Or just sit down in the bar area and enjoy a drink. They also have a very good shop where they sell DVDs and all kinds of books related to movie topics.
From Kinodvor it is not far to Metelkova mesto, your next station.
Stage 6: N 46 03.383 and E 014 31.011 (Metelkova mesto, Metelkova ulica)
Well, there is so much one could say about this very special cultural venue. Metelkova mesto is a place like no other in Slovenia. It is alternative in the purest sense of the word and a lot more than just a selection of concert and theatre halls, rehearsal rooms for local bands, art galleries, and bars. For some people Metelkova has become a way of life. The Metelkova complex combines alternative culture, independent art, political engagement and, and, and... It has a very relaxed, entertaining and inspiring atmosphere. No wonder that it attracts all kinds of artistic, open-minded, and well, sometimes a bit weird (depending on your personal interpretation of weirdness) people from near and far. Check it out for yourself! In the evening there is always something going on. And during the day you can admire the outside art galleries with lots of interesting graffiti, sculptures and installations.
Unfortunately, the area around Metelkova is also the meeting place of Ljubljana's drug and narcotics scene. Be prepared to see some very desperate people and watch your step. In some more remote sections of the Metelkova complex used needles and broken glass may lay on the ground.
To receive the next-to-last coordinate number (= E) you have to find a few painted "bird" (or whatever) houses near the given waypoint coords. They are located close to a (now a bit broken) sculpture. The lower part of the sculpture consists of a human body part. On top of it you will see the head of an animal. Around the corner you will find the wooden houses fixed to the wall, above your head.
E = number of houses minus 1
Stage 7: N 46 03.128 and E 014 30.920 (Tovarna Rog, Trubarjeva 72)
REST IN PEACE, TOVARNA ROG! Built on the former premises of the Rog bicycle factory, Tovarna Rog used to be a cultural and social center, concert venue, and skate park. It was also used as an open and creative space by all kinds of independent artists, cultural producers, and bohemiens. In many ways the concept of former Tovarna Rog was very similar to that of Metelkova mesto.
Unfortunately, the cultural centre was brutally evicted by the police and then destroyed to make way for the fancy building you see there now. It also bears the name Rog and is also a cultural centre, but only for established artists who can afford the very expensive rent. It also houses chic and sterile galleries and shops. Another sad milestone on the road to gentrification that the city of Ljubljana is unfortunately travelling.
Walk along what is left of the former outside graffiti gallery (on Trubarjeva street). You will see many different wall paintings (murals), some of them painted by a member of the famous 1107 graffiti crew from Šiška quarter. 1107 graffiti artists (1107 is the post number of the Ljubljana – Šiška district) have been very active in the local graffiti and street art scene for the last few years. They have sprayed some of the walls at Metelkova, Rog and you can find 1107 stylized tags all around the city centre. Somewhere on the wall of the outside graffiti gallery you will see a wooden sign. The first word on that sign is GHETTO. And the second word is?
Culture (F = 9)
Sculpture (F = 2)
Vulture (F = 5)
Congratulations that you made it this far! Don’t worry. You are almost there.
Good luck with finding the final!
I hope you enjoyed this somewhat different city tour around Ljubljana. And do not forget: Geocaching is not only about finding a plastic box with a logbook inside. Relax and go slow, open your eyes, and take in the environment as well. There is so much to explore at all the different stages of this multi, and in between them as well.
Related webpages:
http://www.kud.si/index.php/Glavna_stran
http://www.kinodvor.org/
http://www.metelkovamesto.org/
http://tovarna.org/