Slovenia - a rental car and a missed bus.

11 November,

 

Moving day,  the weather has packed in,  cold and everyone is in pants - this crazy kiwi tourist is still rocking shorts!!  oh yea - and its a great talking point, doesn't matter which language you speak I will make friends especially whilst drinking coffee and absent mindedly watching the departures board as my train to Slovenia is 40 minutes behind schedule.  Departure is now 1:00pm . I get chatting with a younger Australian lady who was squinting up at the departures board and looking abit lost - turns out we are going the same way so more coffee!  We to share a cabin over the border crossing.

I was questioned this is a first for me - but I fly through with full colours and nothing like the harrowing experience of my friends over the Bosnia/Croatia Border.

 

I'm a little in shock as we make our way closer to the capital and further away from Croatia and Eastern Europe -  what?!  -  open fields are manicured and mowed there is no rubbish or donkey I spy some portable fences my brain is struggling to comprehend.  Where am I going is it so organised?!!

 

Arrival into the capital - I haven't booked a hostel but find one 10 minuets walk from central town that is warm, friendly and bonus has a local wine tasting night!! 

 

Am onto a winner today,  I am off to Lake Bled and after two other travellers hear we decide to discover the local transport together until - I realise we will only be spending a extra 10 euro if we hire a car!  Brilliant idea,  I'm happy to drive we spilt the costs and we have bit more freedom especially as I manage to persuade the rental agency to throw in free hire of GPS and a late return time of lunch tomorrow  -   Don't ask how I managed this but I did.   We zoom out onto the highway (speed limit 130km) and pick up two hitchhikers - who are very surprised that none of us are locals. Between the five of us we are, Aussie, Brazilian, Israeli a lone Slovenian and yours truly the kiwi .  Doing pretty good continent wise - English really is a universal language as we can freely communicate with each other.

 

The morning is spent wandering around Lake Bled,  we were interested in catching a local boat to the island in the centre but as no one was presently there to take our monies we missed out. After goofing around for a couple of hours our hitch hikers head back to the road and we go in search for lunch - which ends up being cheap pizza....  Cant complain tourist season is over and its a week day.  After our quick meal we discuss where to next -  a lap of the lake is done and we decide to head over to Lake Bohinj which is where all the skiers and fisherman hang out.  Its a very cool place, part of the Triglav National Parks and the  Julian Alps.  If it was warmer weather I would be very temped to climb Triglav - which is the highest mountain in Slovenia.  Apparently it is a national pass time and the locals say your not a Slovenian until you have climbed it at least once.  Deciding that we are so close we pop into the national park for a wander and by chance discover a national park shop/information where the two others plastic bag their feet before wandering up through the snow Savica waterfall. Which although neat to visit is nothing in comparison to what I have seen in Croatia or the Sutherland Falls, Fiordland.



(Kamnik)

We are home late and decide not to go out into town,  but rather to get up early and go exploring!   Which see's us off to a town called Kamnik which lives on the banks of the Bistrica River, where the patina of the roofs, church steeples, and castle ruins merges with the neighbouring high hills and plains of the Kamniške Alps,  not as spectacular as Lake Bohinj but a nice to wander around watch the locals go about their daily business.
Car returned safely and I realise we can make the free tour!  Which sees us wandering around the city for three hours,  the tour guide is great with all sorts of titbits such as prior to the Yugoslavian Republic speaking their native language was banned and when the Republic came into power they introduced the Slovenian language into the university for the first time.   I also did  not realise that in the 15 century the Jewish Community were persecuted and expelled. After the Second World War the population never really expanded and is  now about 500 peoples. A new Synagogue was built in 2003 which is the only one in the capital  since  WWII.  The tour even gets us a tasting at the local markets and I discover my taste buds are not adverse to shredded turnip - don't turn your nose up I quite liked it.

The 14 November and I should be making my way to Hungary but I might have missed my bus (luckily I have managed to get my ticket changed over).  The train departs at 6am the bus at 3 and as these only depart once a day I'm not going far.  But upon return to the hostel I meet a really cool family from Dargaville (The parents are in their late 60's early 70's and are doing their first ever Europe trip with their youngest daughter)  So cool - I offer to be tour guide for the evening and spend a lovely time wandering through Metelkova (street art and alternative neighbourhood) and the old town before popping out for mulled wine/hot chocolate and a evening meal.

The following day I cruise around until 2:30 pm going to be early for the bus to Budapest - Hungary.
As yesterday it departed early and right in front of me and did not stop.  But all is good I manage to climb on board and cant believe how empty the service is!  Its got to be a 40 or 50 seater and there are 6 of us - I now understand why there only one service a day.  The trip requires us to go back through Zagreb in Croatia but as we leave late and its getting darker earlier I don't get to see a lot.   But after a sleep  I get talking to another couple of ladies on the bus.  We are all staying at different backpackers and after catching the metro we part ways wishing each other good holidays and travels.

Hungary update on its way hope you are all well and enjoying some sunshine!

 

 

(Lake Bled - One Kiwi, Aussie and Brazilian)

 

 

(my posing duck - Lake Bohinj)

(Lake Bohinj)



(Savica waterfall)

(Triglav National Park)

 

(Lake Bohinj)

(The Town of Log)

 

(Hay Making)

(Kamnik)

(Kamnik)

(Busker with traditional bagpipes  - Ljubljana)

(Market Day)

(These guys were busking 24/7 it seemed and played a mean tune)

(Ljubljana - Dragons are apparently a city thing)



(Metelkova street art and alternative scene)

 

(The Centre of Ljubljana by night)