We left Pjut on a Slovenian train 5 days ago for Ljubljana, we were feeling a bit worse for wear having tried a more upmarket restaurant for lunch, you know the type vegetable foam etc and got offered an ” amuse bouche first.” I scoffed it down whilst hubby took a photo and realised it was actually raw liver.We didnt feel too well later even worse when we got charged for it! The Slovenian train was a nightmare 3 huge steps to climb up and no bike carriage just the normal passageway. This meant we had to get on at different doors and sit apart near our bikes, one at each end of the carriage. I threw my panniers on and my bike and rushed to assist hubby who had to turn his handlebars even to get the bike in aswell as lift itup. Apparently even the new Slovenian trains are no better.

Ljubljana was a very easy city to get around, quite small and a very compact historic centre. Plenty to keep us amused; from street art(with signs no photos we are not a zoo!), to 1930s art deco tall buildings, Plecniks architecture plus all the normal touristy things like a food festival. The castle had an amazing creepy puppet/marionette museum aswell as other interesting sidelines and an entertaining audio guide. Our appartment was 2 minutes from the Slovenian history museum, perfect for the day of torrential rain.

So after 4 days relaxation it was off on the train at 6am to Trieste on a very comfortable italian train, just wheeled the bike on and then hooks to hang them up, easy.We had hoped to catch a train to further along the Parenzana trail but no Slovenian trains took bikIes to the coast on a Saturday. We thought we’d snooze on the train but we met another 2 cyclists on the train , Slovenians with e-bikes so learnt lots about Slovenia ; the bear population explosion, frozen forests causing tne trees to die, this is the wettest May in 30 years…They left the train before Italy off for a 5 day tour.

From Trieste we caught the ferry across to Muggia as we had read getting out of Trieste can be a problem. It was a problem finding the ferry for starters just a tiny sign with the timetable for the ferry on tne pier near the aquarium .No,we didn’t find it ourselves a helpful Italian lady cycled with us to the spot, she was very interested to meet Australians as she can’t wait to visit Oz.The ferry only ran once an hour so time for a coffee in Trieste.

The Adriatic ocean lodoked stunning glassy blue surrounded by snow capped mountains, yes even in Slovenia the snow on the mountains had increased this week.

Muggia was really busy as we arrived off the ferry, full of tourists. We peddled around to the Tourist Information where I’d read you can pick up all your maps you need and its geared up for cyclists. It was closed, with a notice saying it would open at the start of the season.It was June 1st obviously the season must be very short! We had acquired one map in Ljubljana so headed out of Muggia but still struggled to see any signs indicating the Parenzana trail. This meant we ended up going up a steep hill before finally finding the trail.I had allowed for hiccups for today so had booked us into a hotel just outside Izola, just outside meant uphill!!Definitely ebike required around here if you have luggage and a hubby with a recovering ankle strain.

The hotel was a resort and camping ground and was hosting a VW event so vehicles galore and every age were struggling up the hill into the hotel grounds. It wasnot going to be a quiet night.As we checked in I asked where the shuttle bus went for the beach, oh the season hasn’t started yet not till end of June. We were on the top of a hill the beach was at the bottom agghhh.Still it had to be done we had to have a swim in the Adriatic. 25minute walk down to the beach,very rocky of course and we followed some Austrians in where they had managed to get in for a swim. I left my Teva sandals on didn’t want any cut feet, hubby hadn’t brought sandals so had to be extra careful getting in. I was enjoying my swim when I saw hubby getting out of the water clutching his hand, he’d slipped getting in ,grabbed a barnacle rock and had a deep finger cut.The young Austrians came to our aid and produced a first aid kit, mine was back up the hill in the hotel.Still no swim in the Adriatic for hubby.

A peaceful nights sleep for me but hubby was able to tell me about all the goings on in the night. Good job we’ve had to amend our plans and go the coastal route as my bike is probably not up to a whole day of hard chunky gravel paths .So off to Umag today and a bit more of the Parenzana before it heads inland onto mountain bike terrain.