Ljubljana, Slovenia
TR AVEL I A GREENER WORLD
Surprisingly Green Sometimes, you find bright spots in unexpected places
by NANCY HELLMRICH
Right. So we all know that the people of Denmark are happy and eco-conscious and perfect. They ride bicycles, forage for natural foods, turn waste into electricity, and tread lightly wherever they go. Since the Danes, and all the usual Scandinavian suspects, are capturing the eco-press these days, we thought we’d shine a little light on some lesser-known members of the green team. Ljubljana, Slovenia | Pretty, green Ljubljana won the European Green Capital title in 2016 and they haven’t looked back since. The centre of the city, nearly 30 acres, is traffic-free. There are 542 square meters of green space per inhabitant. Like Copenhagen, bicycles rule. A green supply chain project keeps food sources local. The city’s tourism is “de-seasonalized,” meaning their calendar of events is year-round. They’ve won heaps of awards for their green scheme (Slovenia Green) and sustainable tourism efforts. And, in the “who knew” category of fun facts, they have a long history of beekeeping.
Gartencafé
Vienna, Austria | Powered largely by renewable energy, Vienna boasts green spaces that cover almost half of the city including 2,000 parks with flower beds and blossoming trees. There are oodles of oases-like dining courtyards hidden from view, such as Clementine im Glashaus at the Palais Coburg, Salonplafond at MAK, Gartencafé, and Café Diglas in Schottenstift Abbey. The Viennese love of greenery goes up as well, to the roofs and walls of buildings, including a “mur végétal,” created by famed botanist Patrick Blanc, that features 20,000 species of plants.
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ENSEMBLE VAC ATIONS I FALL 2021
