9 to 18 Apr, 2022 - Bratislava, Ptuj, Ljubljana, Udine, San Daniele del Friuli, Bologna - (Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy)
Our return trip, Budapest to Bomba, was broken in to a number of stages. We traversed most legs of the journey by train, relying on bus in two instances only.
Bratislava just turned out to be a natural stop, as most travel options from Budapest suggested this routing, with a change effected in the capital of Slovakia. Given that we have only been here once before, and it was only a brief stop way back in the 1990's, we relished the opportunity to return and make it feel more completed.
Pharmacy in Bratislava
Bratislava's Old Town Hall
The Blue Church
Turn of last century, Art Nouveau church in Bratislava.
Antique Shop, Doubles as a Cafe and Bar
We would find it impossible to travel so near, and not make time for Slovenia.
Our Favourite Slovenian Dish
Small calamari, stuffed with cheese and prosciutto, fried in garlic.
Old Town of Ptuj
We love Ptuj. This is our third visit.
Ptuj
Visit number seven for the enchanting city of Ljubljana.
Our Return Guarantee
The tradition states that touching the dragons on Dragon Bridge guarantees a return visit to Ljubljana. It has worked every time so far, so we wouldn't dream of skipping this routine. We greet them like old friends, and I'm sure they remember us.
European Beaver
On the river bank, beneath the Triple Bridge in Downtown Ljubljana.
We Spent the Day Cycling
We wound along the river banks, as much as we could, and spent a few hours heading out of the central area.
A Beer to Finish Our Ride
Prešeren Trg, after a moderate day pedalling.
Breakfast, Ljubljana
We had a few hours to kill before our bus. So a lazy late breakfast on the river front seemed ideal.
Routings from Ljubljana generally suggested the coastal city, Trieste, as a waypoint. We decided that underrated Udine offered something different, especially after the glowing review from our Italian friend, Giovanni.
Piazza della Libertà, Udine
View from Udine Castle
Silhouette in Udine
Prosciutto
Near Udine, around an hour by bus, is the village of San Daniele del Friuli. Known for its prosciutto, it is obviously a great stop for a lunch or aperitivo. We visited two prosciutterie in the town. One was a smaller operation, with a family business feel. We had wine and a platter at the attached restaurant, and toured the curing legs. The second was a much larger scale, run by a multinational company, with a small museum and a large outlet shop.
Good Friday in Udine
We went to the cathedral, where a crowd of the faithful had gathered, to follow the crucifix through the streets of Udine. Candles and flaming torches were handed out as we left the piazza. Every now and then the procession would stop for a reading or to sing a hymn.
Being Easter weekend, we struggled to find downtown accommodation in Bologna, and ended up at a reasonable place, but it was out near the airport, close to the end of a bus line with infrequent services. That's the price of not planning too far ahead.
Downtown Bologna, with Tower
The Meridian Line, Bologna
Inside the Cathedral of Bologna,the world's longest indoor Meridian Line. A 17th century astronomical aid, still proven to be incredibly accurate.
Anatomical Theatre of the Archiginnasio
Bologna university is referred to, in various sites and literature, as the world's oldest continually running university. It is evocative with its wooden seating and marble dissection slab. It is beautifully decorated with wooden statues of famous historical physicians. I found myself sitting and imagining what students of centuries gone by may have witnessed.
A Bologna Portico
The porticoes of Bologna are World Heritage Listed, totalling scores of kilometres, lining virtually every street of the city.
Vista Over Bologna
View from the roof of the cathedral.
