Trans Europa Day 38 Prebold to Ljubljana - 60km

It was a very mild night at Dolina Camp and we were told at our morning briefing that it would be a short ride into Ljubljana so we should take our time and especially stop at Trojane for donuts!

Those donuts were massive so I passed knowing there would be some at the lunch van which was reached at 9.30am! Half a donut was plenty for me - a bit like a lamington but without the jam..



















Got to City Hotel Ljubljana before 11am and, as check in was not til 2pm, I stayed on the bike and wandered around taking photos for tomorrow's rest day blog. I also stopped at the market for lunch of calamari (and watermelon for good measure).

The Hotel is really new and modern and just on the edge of town. After check-in, John and I went to do laundry at the station and hatched a plan with Brian to have dinner at Shambala Thai restaurant tonight. It was a nice meal (although the red curry was very hot) followed by excellent icecream on the walk back to the hotel.

Trans Europa Day 37 Gorisnica to Prebold - 108km

I have been somewhat fascinated by the various religious paintings adorning the walls of fire stations and other public buildings and also by the little shrines which pop up everywhere. Today was a good one to captures some images of these and to accidentally get lost in Ptuj which is the oldest city in Slovenia Link

I soon got back on track at the pedestrian bridge in Ptuj and enjoyed the ride to lunch which included a couple of uphills which I am certainly managing much better now than a few weeks ago!

There were some great churches on view today and just after lunch I stopped at the memorial to the 100 Slovene civilians who were hanged by the Nazis jn February 1945 on the trees which have been preserved within the memorial park at Franklovo.

After a longish warmish day in the saddle it was nice to be greeted coming into Prebold by the haystack people..

Trans Europa Day 36 Moravske Toplice to Gorisnica - 59km

It was a chilly night in the tent but we awoke to sunshine and with the prospect of visiting Jerusalem this fine Sunday morning.

We cycled out into the picturesque Slovenian farmlands with hills and vineyards awaiting us. There were some interesting sights on the road to Jerusalem.

                                                        

 

Onwards uphill to the promised land of vines and churches..

                                      

                                                                                                                                                            

Rolled into lunch at 10am and then headed towards Gorisnica where we would camp behind the Hotel Botra. A very relaxing afternoon after a short ride in with even more strange sights:

 

Trans Europa Day 35 Szombathely to Moravske Toplice - 90km

Today we are cycling from Hungary to Slovenia. Just as well as some of the Hungarian signs are starting to block the intersections:

But first, a foodnote to yesterday's blog:

Risotto Lunch:                                                                        Risotto Dinner:

First stop about 12km from camp was the Jak Church built in the 13th century and now almost restored.

Onward through cornfields and relatively flat terrain to Pankasz to visit the Bell Tower built in 1755. Not sure why it's a tower, as it is not very high, and then lunch (watermelon) before a short climb to the Slovenia border with Brian.

Merlin and I decided to take a walk up the 12% grade hill shortly after the border and we cycled on to Selo to visit the Rotunda of St Nicholas built in the early 13th century in a field on the northern outskirts of the main town. It is one of the most interesting rotundas in Slovenia with its interior covered in frescos from the early 14th and 15th centuries. There was a nice young man acting as guide inside for 2 euros.

Some of the frescos were in quite good condition for their age.
















Onwards to Terme 3000 campsite at Moravske Toplice after turning left at the sign for Fokovci..

The campsite was part of a huge caravan park with water park including thermal pool and slides. Not being a swimmer, I did not enter but many of the Riders went over for a bit of fun.