To - Ljubljana
Distance - 64km
Time - 4 hours
Total - 3700km
What an evening at the casino tables. My tuxedo wasn't too creased when I got I out of he pannier. It was worth bringing it all this way just for tonight, it gave me the James Bond look and it attracted the bunny girls to my side! Well, I am making it up a little bit. I actually watched cycling on Eurosport channel. I mentioned the number of English speaking TV channels. There were several English speaking films with Slovenian subtitles. I guess this may partially account for the excellent English spoken by all the people I have met, especially the younger ones. Elsewhere in Europe the films are dubbed into there own language and when you ask people if the speak English they say 'leedle bit' but here in Slovenia they say 'of course'.
Massive breakfast again. I'm sure I am eating enough for a whole day at breakfast time! I only got as far as the next village, called Sempeter, before I stopped. There was Roman necropolis that the tourist information lady had told me about. No, it's not a Roman Police Station, its a burial ground. I was charged 5 euro to go in and it took me 10 minutes at the most before I left. The burial monuments were very much intact and in good condition but I'm not sure I got my money's worth. It started cloudy but thankfully a bit warmer than yesterday. There was no wind to speak of either which was perfect for my cycling.
The first 15km were flat and then I was mentally preparing myself for the climbing. It wasn't as bad as I had feared. I climbed for about 10km but it was steady climbing all the way and none of that steep stuff only to come back down again. I got to the top, to a village called Trojane where they sell the famed doughnuts. Of course I had one! They were big, filled with vanilla cream and had a chocolate top dusted in coconut. See the picture below, I could hardly get my mouth round it but it was my treat for the climb. The view was rewarding too!
The downhill was great and I saw a couple of cyclists pushing up, I empathised with them and I thought it was definitely steeper from that side. I managed to find a riverside cycle path that took me off the main roads as I approached Ljubljana. I went straight to the Celine Hostel that had previously been a prison. It is in an area that they call 'Kultural', this is code for covered in graffiti! It is actually a hip and cool place, so not only can I claim to be a 'youth' because I stay in Youth Hostels but I can claim to be hip as well! I couldnt go to my room till after 3pm so i went to the cafe and had a soup and salad lunch. The place was busy and played some great music.
I had a quick walk into the city centre and went to the tourist information. I had already spotted that there were some music possibilities over the next couple of evenings and both were Cuban music. Tonight I could see Los Van Van and tomorrow Sierra Maestre. I booked Sierra Maestre and when the lady printed the ticket I was extra pleased because the band is joined by members of the Buena Vista Social Club. This may not mean much to you but I suspect that between the three groups the cream of Cuban music is in Ljubljana in the next two days.
I went back and checked into my room. I haven't got one with bars but they allowed me into one that does and I took a photo. I think they are all a bit different. The one I photoed was a single room and had a circular bed that you had to climb steps get into. My room is a four bed room but I was the on,y one in it so far. I'm sure I'm in quarantine! They must think I have something?
I came downstairs to get a better wifi connection and as I was typing this two lads walked past wearing kilts! I didn't get chance to speak but I will if issue them again. It seems very multi-national here and there seem to be many people speaking English.
I have been reading the tourist guide and found out lots of interesting things. Legend has it that Jason and the Argonauts stopped here and Jason fought and killed a famed monster called the Ljubljana Dragon. The town was called Emona by the Romans and in 2002 an ancient wheel was found here dating back to 3200BC and it is the oldest wheel in the world. Ljubljana is also the most honest city in the world, according to the Readers Digest but of course you would know that already, being avid Readers Digest readers.
It was a lovely afternoon with warm sunshine but this evening we have had really loud thunder but not too much rain yet. I'm hoping it will be dry later if I go to see a band!
I will do most of my sightseeing tomorrow and so there will be more city photos. I have been thinking again about a song for the day. I have chosen a Lancashire Hotpots classic called 'Keys, Wallet, Phone', it makes me think it should include IPad and then it would be exactly like me. Look it up on You Tube, its brill! but make sure you are wearing your flat cap when you listen to it.
I just spoke to the Scottish lads. They are from Dumfries and are stopping here tonight before going to Zagreb to watch the Scottish Football Team play Croatia tomorrow! It's a strange world!
Photo 1, Roman Burial Monument at Sempeter.
Photo 2, View of approaching hills.
Photo 3, Trojane Doughnut.
Photo 4, View from the top - the photo doesn't do it justice.
Photo 5, Celica Hostel.
Photo 6, Looking down the river from Dragon Bridge.
Photo 7, Bedroom with bars and a raised circular bed.
Photo 8, The corridor outside my room.
Photo 9, Dragon Bridge at Ljubljana.
Photo 10, Kultural area! A band called My Bloody Valentine are playing here at the weekend. My son will know who they are!
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