Even all good things come to an end.

I really can’t understand why I keep smiling as I walk around this wonderful city. We’ve been in many capital cities, but this one makes me smile. The people, the streets, the unbelievably polite and helpful bus drivers, seriously, the layout, the everything about it ness.

Sadly, though, tomorrow we are being called by Lake Bled and the Julian Alps. Just a flying visit, because we are yearning to get into Italy.

Our last night was a hoot. We got together with Jim & Gillian, Alan & Liz, Lucy & partner, and another couple. Great nights crack until a German chap came and asked us to stop laughing and talk quietly. Well, it was 12:30!

Our drive to Bled was short, about 57 miles, in bright sunshine, but clouding over. Arrived to find a very good site right beside the lake, it’s all I hoped it would be. A bonus is the steam train through the forest into the town, with all the smoke, steam and associated noises. Woop, woop.

Had a gorgeous pasta lunch at the site restaurant, then a siesta, then a bike ride round the lake, now a few drinks and bed.

It’s a wonderful life.

And the blog is up to date on day 53!!!

Slovenia.

Or to be more precise, Ljubljana. Or to be even more precise, the city with the oddest name so far.

We’ve just left the amazing Croatia behind, sadly I have to say. The site at Kerin was lovely and the staff on the case. Our last night though, last night was in an allegedly super site which turned out to be totally crap.

But never mind that, I’ll be emailing them tomorrow or some time.

Another downer in Croatia, is the INA filling station group, a bit like Applegreen or Maxol, but with the absolutely worst customer service seen  just before Hitler dreamt up the ovens!

Apart from those two citations, alles klar!

Croatia is a land of contrasts, if we ever do it again we’ll go on down through Montenegro and Albania to get to Greece and then ferry back to Italy.

The world really is that small.

So back to the present, our site is holding the Slovenia Goldwings association meeting this weekend. There must be over 300 magnificent Hondas here, and such a buzz.

More of that later hopefully.

Today it’s Friday, and another 27° forecast. Yesterday we did nothing, Margaret reckons I’ve touched for a bit of sunstroke, heat stroke, some kind of stroke that makes red wine and beer, though not at the same time, me sick!

Whatever. Not much better today but not missing out on the chance to see this gorgeous city.

First stumbled upon a children’s day fair, sort of thing. With Slovenian folk songs and games, its definitely different, but beautiful all the same.

Anyway, we’re sitting having iced tea at a riverside bar, contemplating the climb up to the castle.

See you later

Croatia.

We’re still here, there’s a great vibe about the place, and we’ve met up with some interesting English folk.

The local town Omnis is quaint, with cobbled back streets and a marina. There’s also a fruit veg market and a fish market.

So far we’ve travelled 3677 miles, which is about half way. Dubrovnik was our furthest eastern point and we’re 160 miles up the road from there. We’ve been in eleven countries, three of them twice, the Bosnian border was the only place where they scrutinised the passports, and first entry into Croatia, the guards there were the only one more interested in Helga than us.

Eating out has been as varied as the cost on sites, although thankfully the sites have generally been better than the food, especially east of Austria.

Today we’re going up the river in a boat to a restaurant set in a forest, I believe the trip takes us through a canyon.

Last night was fish night here, barbecued Mackeral or mixed grill from the bbq. Milan the owner walks about with what looks like a 6 bottle milk carrier with 6 litre bottles of differing home made grog. The good thing about these countries is the locals are free to produce their own illicit brews. The ones Milan has vary from strong to blow the head off. He sells his own home produced wine, the red being a bit like a very young sweet Shiraz and the white can be substituted for cleaning paint brushes.

I’m thinking the wines taste so young because they don’t get a chance to age.

Last night and again tonight the Bora Bora burst its way through the area.  It started with an amazing lightning storm, which lit up the whole bay and distant islands, followed by very strong winds, the unbelievably heavy rain, and the most raucous thunderstorm. The van rocked last night for all the wrong reasons, but the trusty earplugs saved the day. Or night!