A very cool start to the day weather wise. It was brass monkey weather. Another nice breakfast and it was off to the Maribor railway station.
A boring and stark station by most measures. We noted the train was delayed 30 minutes.
I was fiddling with my bike when this dodgy character said something to me. I did not quite catch what he said, and he repeated it. He wanted me to,give him money, for who knows what?
I suggested he go to a bank and he said he wanted me to give him euros. Why notthat would be far easier! I pointed at my bike and said, this is it! I have no euros, I need some too!
He really unnerved me as he stood there and just kept staring….Tony was some 10 metres away seemingly oblivious. He then turned his attention towards Tony. I took his photo as I pretended to fiddle with my iPad.
Tony then noted him, as the guy started to check his bike out, so he promptly relocated to where I was. We both stared at him and he turned away.
We followed some other cyclists to the train. Despite it being 30 minutes late in departure it was there at the right time at least.
We fiddled about in the bike compartment, having removed our luggage to store where we were seated, two carriages down.
A very quiet and not particularly fast train, obviously not the express as it std at many stations.
A couple of shots out the train windows.
Rugged up in my winter cycling gear.i call this outfit my spider woman one.
A few more views.
Two hours later we are in a very, very cold Ljubljana. I had booked a hotel on my iPad, so we headed straight there.
These were called hologram stones, a modern art installation.
First views of the old town looking towards Ljubljana Castle.
The Triple Bridges.
Nearly at our hotel!
Here we are, a view out our bedroom window of the Ljubljanica River.
With our bikes in our room,we changed to go for a walk.
The Ljubljanica River has a fascinating history, with historical artefacts from the Stone Age to Renaissance period being discovered by divers.
A few years ago, a stonehead was found, later dated to 35,000-45,000 years ago.
It is estimated that 10,000 – 13,000 objects have been located and sold into private collections. The Slovenian Government now require diving permits with various conditions attached.
Local tradition holds that the river was a sacred place, with treasure being offered to the river during rites of passage, mourning or thanksgiving for battles won.
I took a fancy to this bear outside a shop.
Beautiful chocolate Easter Eggs, looking more like works of art.
A door to the Cathedral. We could not enter for a squizz as mass was in progress.
There is a hungry pigeon going through the food stored on the back of this bike outside the door to the Cathedral.
We walked up the hill to Ljubljana Castle, which has a recorded history of settlement from around 1200 BC.
Some of the views looking back over the city.
Statue in memory of the Peasants Revolt.
A section of the castle up close. Popular for weddings and corporate events.
Walking back down the hill.
Across the bridge with locks, including the crocodiles mouth.
Curious aspect of this bridge is the transparent flooring. Weird feeling.
Pub on the other side trying to entice patrons.
Looking across the river to the castle.
The Franciscan Church
Back to our room where our bikes were waiting patiently, overcoats flung on the chair. We do not have lot of heat with us, but it is extraordinary how far we can spread it in one room.
The plan tomorrow is riding from here to Trieste, Italy on the Adriatic coast. We are in mixed minds re route, so need to sort that out pronto. Hoping the weather improves!!
Thanks for reading,
Ooroo 😊💪🚴
Then at the other end of town was this junk shop where you can buy your own stork or other ‘ornaments’ for your garden. Do they leave this crap, oops….I mean do they leave this ‘stock’ out overnight? I guess they do, seriously, who would steal it?
Finally we reconnected with the Danube river. Here is one of a series of war memorials along this particular stretch.
The border between Slovakia and Hungary is in the middle of the river, so the other side is Hungary.
We were back onto the bike path when it started to rain again! We had cleaned our bikes some 50 km earlier when we stopped at a service station. However, this rain provided a further clean. We deliberately rode through larger clean puddles for a ‘rinse’.
Finally we got to cross the Danube and take some photos. We had been able to see the Basilica for some time in the hazy distance. We were pretty impressed standing on the border of two countries and gazing in wonderment.
Our accomodation is only few hundred metres from the Basilica. Our bikes are stored in the courtyard downstairs somewhat dirty but heaps better than earlier in the day.
After showering and doing our laundry we started walking.
The old castle was closed, and is located adjacent to the Basilica. This photo was taken looking in from one of the gates.
A pretty impressive entrance gate to the basilica, although I note from the Roman numerals, it is not ‘that’ old, with the 1874 date.
Through the arch is this building.
Then up to the very top of the hill is the Esztergom Basilica, otherwise known as the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumption and Saint Adalbert.
The photo below shows the (netted) dome, the Sanctuary and High Alterpiece. The High Alterpiece is the largest in the world painted on a single piece of canvas (13.5 x 6.6 metres). The work is of Michelangelo Grigoletti, based on Titian’s well known work, The Assumption, which can be seen in Venice.
The organ was first played here in 1856 in the presence of the famous Hungarian composer Ferenc Liszt. Renovation works commenced in the 1970s and are continuing.
Tony captured some great shots overlooking the Danube, Esztergom and Slovakia.
Walking back down the hill is this statue near the castle.
yakkablog 