Up early, damn this jet lag--this article from the NYT talks about Ljubljana's transformation from sleepy Central European hideaway to emerging destination for travelers. FWIW, my experiences there were similar; there was an accommodation/recognition of the tourist industry (e.g. the cheesy "train" that shuttles people from Preseren Square up to the castle), yet I saw tons of locals going about their daily business, living their lives. It's a fine balance between maintaining a tradition/civic identity while also becoming a "modern" city. Something that most cities struggle with, I imagine.
It will be interesting to visit again in maybe 10 years, to see how things have changed, or not. It seems to me that the Slovenes will cope better than their neighbors; they seem to be a pragmatic people, and have a strong economy that already puts them in an advantageous position, despite only having joined the EU in the last couple of years.
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