Tuesday, 28 June 2011

Day 104 - A VERY long train journey

Up early to pack and to get into the city for last minute site seeing before my 12.11pm train to Ljubljana (capital of Slovenia).  I really have had a great time in  Budapest, it is a gorgeous city (so do yourselves a favour!).  By the waay, it is pronounced Bud-a-pesh-t, not Bud-a-pest.

There was a building I read about that looked quite - Gaudi-esque, and was covered in bees.  I had to see it so got a coffee, then headed to Parliament Building via Metro and walked from there.  The architecture is incredible here and it is so good to see a lot of extensive renovations taking place.  There are still many that are in need of love and funds - can't be cheap.  I found the bee building, it was alright but not as extraordinary as I hoped.  Took photos of a lot of other places though, and stumbled across St Stephen's Basilica which is incredible.



Bee building

Tram car

Detail on ground in front of St Stephen's Basilica

Detail in main doors of St Stephen's Basilica
Checking ot of the hotel, I then caught the metro to the train station to go to Slovenia.  It is a 9 hour journey, and frustratingly we spent more of the first hour at a standstill than moving.  At least I'm not in a hurray to be anywhere, I have a seat, and the the train isn't over crowded - it would be good to meet Al though on time.  She flies in from the UK and arrives 3 hours before me.

Train trip overall was good - couldn't really communicate with anyone except one Chinese girl, as all the Hungarians and Slovenians had limited English.  I could communicate however with the ticket collector in German and determined that the 9 hour trip would be 10 hours due to the delays.  Amazing how much of the German language stuck in my head after learning it for 4 years in high school!

The Slovenian country-side is gorgeous, green, lush and very mountainous.  We passed a number of rivers that were flowing freely.  Houses looked typically European, and most had geraniums growing in window boxes that added lovely colour, and the majority also had a vegetable garden. 

I arrive after 10pm in Ljubljana and caught a taxi to our hotel, that is located in the same building as the local sporting club (including badminton courts, gym, sauna etc).  Quite a bizarre arrangement.  Great to see Al.  She arrived safely and was exhausted.

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