Slovenia, Austria: Part 8 - Day 9: Bled to Salzburg

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 9.

31/7 Day 9: Train from Bled Lesce to Villach Hbf. Continued with a different train from Villach Hbf to Salzburg Hbf. 

Costs

(1) Train ticket from Bled Lesce to Salzburg - EUR14,30, reserved seats EUR3

Accommodation 

(1) 1 night in Hotel Vogelweiderhorf, Salzburg - EUR130 (shared room for 3 persons)

(2) City tax paid to the hotel - EUR1,75 per person

Food
(1) Breakfast from Pekarna Planika bakery - 3 types of buns (EUR1,75 each) EUR5,25

(2) River camping bled - Radler 500ml EUR3,70, kremsnite cake EUR5,40

(3) Lunch at Krcma Mexico, a Mexican restaurant - Chimichangas (a tortilla wrapped around a filling and deep-fried) pollo EUR14,90, tips EUR0,38

(4) Bistro in Bled Lesce train station - Iced coffee latte machiatto EUR3,60, Ice-cream 1 scoop EUR3,80

(5) Villacher Brauhof - Radler EUR4,40

(6) Wienerroither bakery in Villach train station - Buttercroissant EUR1,70

(7) Sweet energy drink Dirndl (Cornelian cherry) 330ml on the train from Villach to Salzburg - EUR4,30

The Story

31072024 : Today, we check out from our Airbnb. But before that, we took one last dip in Lake Bled and changed in the Airbnb. We got similar buns from the same bakery that we had our buns yesterday and the day before. We took coffee from the coffee sachets provided by the host. 

The plan for today is to walk to Bled Lesce train station where we will continue our journey into Austria. We decided to take the free bus that we saw yesterday, in front of Bled Jezero train station, and stop as near as we could to our start point to walk. It was a good idea because it was very hot! While waiting for the bus, I had my picture taken in front of the cafe that we had our lovely coffee 2 days ago. The cafe is next to Bled Jezero train station.

Last view of Lake Bled in front of the train station.

We disembarked at Secelo station and walked towards Lesce. When we planned this trip in January, we did not realise how tiring it will be to walk to Lesce and how hot the weather could be. The travel companion who suggested Lesce said that it would be a nice walk and we have sufficient time. If we did not know about the free bus, the walk would have taken us 2 hours but the walk was shortened to 50 minutes!

Thank you, free bus!! Bye, Lake Bled! I was satisfied and ready to leave Bled. 

The very hot walk. 

We stopped at River Camping Bled for a break. I got my usual radler and we shared a kremsnite cake. A termometer in the camping area showed 28 degrees. 

Slovenia, Austria: Part 7 - Day 8: Bled Castle, toboggan ride

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 8.

30/7 Day 8: Hiked to Bled Castle and Straza trail. Took toboggan down.

Costs

(1) Tobaggan - EUR10 per person

Food
(1) Breakfast from Pekarna Planika bakery - 3 types of buns (EUR1,75 each) EUR5,25

(2) Mercator Grocery store in Bled - Burek with minced meat 220g EUR2,89, Burek with cheese 220g EUR2,79

(3) Back Bar & Sobe - Radler 500ml EUR2,90 

(4) Espresso at View restaurant - EUR2,80

(5) Mercator Grocery store in Bled - Non-alcoholic Beer and Jaffa cake EUR1,98 

(6) Dinner at Pizzeria Rustika EUR16,59 - Pizza Bella Ciao (Tomato sauce, mozzarella, salami, onion, peperoncino, buratta) EUR15,80, tips EUR2,71 

The Story

30072024 : I woke up to a beautiful sunrise! This was from the window of my bedroom.

For breakfast, one of us woke up early (not me because my sense of direction will bring me somewhere else and I will never get back to the apartment) to go to the bakery that we visited yesterday to buy buns and we had breakfast in our apartment. There were coffee sachets so we boiled water in the electric jug and had breakfast on the balcony. It was a great way to have an affordable breakfast.

After breakfast, we headed towards Bled Castle. We found out that there are free buses during summer in Bled that one can hop-on and hop-off at designated bus stops. We saw a free bus that stopped right in front of Bled Jezero train station which was very near our Airbnb. So, we decided that we will take this free bus tomorrow after check-out so we don't need to walk far with our backpacks.

Slovenia, Austria: Part 6 - Day 7: Boat hire and hike 3 peaks

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 7.

29/7 Day 7: Rowed boat to the little island in the middle of Lake Bled. Hiked up a small hill to see the panoramic view.

Costs
(1) Boat rent for 1 hour EUR25 (shared)

Food
(1) Breakfast at Pekarna Planika bakery - Chocolate bun EUR1,55, 

(2) Bled Jezero train station - Cappucino EUR2,30
(3) Mercator Grocery store in Bled - Burek with minced meat 220g EUR2,89, Burek with cheese 220g EUR2,79

(4) Lunch at Restavracija Zaka Camping Bled - Pizza Blejska EUR15 (shared), Radler 500ml EUR4,50

(5) Back Bar & Sobe - Radler (again) 500ml EUR2,80 (next cheapest radler and beer so far. The cheapest radler and beer we had was at Postojna town for EUR2,50)

(6) Dinner at Restaurant and Wine Bar (Gostilna) Murka EUR24,43 - Goulash with potato gnocchi EUR14,50, 100ml Cabernet Sauvignon red wine EUR4,60, apple strudel EUR6 (shared), tips EUR7 (shared)

The Story

29072024 : Woke up to a lovely day. We walked to a bakery not knowing that there was no place to sit and coffee can be bought from a vending machine. So, no coffee for us. Two of us ate the buns we bought while walking towards Bled Jezero train station to walk to Lake Bled. 

We decided to buy cappucino at the cafe which is located next to Bled Jezero train station. The cafe serves quite good coffee. What a surprise!

Slovenia, Austria: Part 5 - Day 6: Bus to Bled

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 6.

28/7 Day 6: Bus to Lake Bled. Walk along Lake Bled.

Costs
(1) Bus (Arriva) ticket from Ljubljana to Bled EUR1,90

Accommodation
(1) 3 nights in AirBnb in Bled for 3 persons - EUR529,41 (EUR146,67 per night, EUR10 cleaning fee, EUR79,41 service fee)

(2) Tourist tax - EUR9,39 per person for 3 nights (EUR3,13 per person/night)

Food
(1) Breakfast at Norma 23 cafe EUR12,20 - Egg benedict on pancake EUR8,70 and coffee with whipped cream and topped with supposed fresh herbs EUR3,50
(2) Radler at Devil Caffe & Bar in Bled EUR4,50

(3) Lunch at Spica bar & restaurant EUR18,42 (beef burger EUR16,92, cover charge EUR1,50)

(4) Radler (again) at Restavracija Zaka Camping Bled EUR4,50

(5) Dinner at Hotel Starkl EUR22,20 - Cheese struklji (cheese dumpling) with gorenjska skuta (local curd cheese) and porcini mushroom sauce EUR16,90, and a glass of white wine Sauvignon Verus EUR5,30

The Story

28072024 : Today, we checked out to continue our trip to Bled. We had breakfast at a random cafe which is on our way to the bus station. Ljubljana and Bled is very near and the journey is scheduled to take one hour. But we did not anticipate the traffic into Bled. Gosh, we reached Bled 45 minutes later than scheduled.

Here is our breakfast place at Norma 23 cafe. There were large columns in the area, inspired by Roman barock architecture that we learnt during our walking tour. I had coffee with supposedly fresh herbs plucked from the mountains nearby. The waiter is obviously making it up because the herbs that came with the coffee were dried rose buds. How can it be fresh when they are dried? My eyes just rolled when I saw that. Of course, that made it an expensive coffee.

Slovenia, Austria: Part 4 - Day 5: Postojna Cave

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 5.

27/7 Day 5: Postojna Cave

Costs
(1) Ticket for Postojna Cave - EUR29,90 per person

(2) Return train ticket to Postojna station - EUR12,40 per person

(3) Train ticket to Ljubljana station - EUR1,50 per person (took the wrong type of train which does not accept our return train ticket)

Food
(1) Breakfast at Gourmet Kodila cafe - cheese sandwich and coffee EUR8,50
(2) Croissant at Postojna town EUR1,20

(3) Radler beer at Bar Pod Smreko in Postojna town - EUR2,50

(4) Lunch at Baščaršija (Maribor Poštna), a Bosnian restaurant - Grilled sausages with bread EUR8,90

(5) Gostilna Sokol restaurant - Gibanica dessert, a multi-layered Slovenian cake - EUR7,90 and Cappucino EUR2,70

(6) Trgovina Deli - Kremna rezina cake EUR6

(7) Beer at Sax pub outside of Ljubljana center - EUR3,30

The Story

27072024 : Today, we woke up early as we are visiting Postojna Cave! When we researched this place in January, there were direct buses to the cave and when I wanted to purchase the tickets a month before our trip, I found out that the direct buses were cancelled. Instead, we have to take the train which requires an additional 25-minute walk from the train station to the cave. I had not accounted for this when I booked the tickets to the cave for the 10am tour. Fortunately, there was an early train that we could take at 7.59am! Which required us to wake up at 6.30am so that we can have our breakfast. Lucky for us that there are cafes opened for breakfast at 7am!

We bought the train tickets at the train station. It was not smart of us to buy return train tickets because when we returned, we took another type of train and we had to pay extra! The train departed at 8.09am and the journey took us 1 hour 4 minutes. I was worried that we will arrive late when the train had not departed at 7.59am as scheduled. Thankfully, the train arrived at Postojna station at 9.11am and we hurried to the cave.

With Google Maps, we did not have any problem finding our way to the cave. There were signboards so we knew that we were in the right direction. It was not very hot yet so it was a nice walk.

Slovenia, Austria: Part 3 - Day 4: Walking Tour, Union Beer Experience

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 4

26/7 Day 4: Joined a free guided walking tour (11am-1pm). Went to Union Beer Experience (5-7pm). 

Costs
(1) Tips for free guided walking tour - EUR10 (shared between 2)

(2) Ticket for Union Beer Experience - EUR15,50 per person

Accommodation
(1) 2 nights in AirBnb in Ljubljana for 3 persons - EUR257,65 (EUR85 per night, EUR49 cleaning fee, EUR38,65 service fee)

Food
(1) Breakfast at Divine cafe - Breakfast set of apple, bread, butter, jam, slices of ham and coffee EUR8
(2) Lunch at Odprta kuhna food festival - Brisket EUR18, beer EUR5,50

(3) Radler beer at Union Pub - EUR3,50
(4) Dinner at The Slovenian House Figovec - Fried pork chop with bechamel sauce EUR14,80

The Story

26072024 : We arrived at Ljubljana train station at 8.15am. Our sleeping car was replaced by a sitting car and it was difficult to sleep sitting and it was very hot too. We contacted our Airbnb hostess if we could check in early to allow us to rest and she kindly allowed us to. Our Airbnb is located in town and very near the castle. Our apartment is at the bottom and the castle is at the top of the hill. Our room is in the attic so we had a good view of all the rooftops!

Slovenia, Austria: Part 2 - Day 3: Augsburg to Ljubljana

Here is a summary of what is spent on Day 3

25/7 Day 3: Visited Fuggerei, Took train to Eiskanal station to see Hochablass, a low dam and to take a dip. Night train to Ljubljana at 10.03pm (sitting). Reached Ljubljana the next day at 8.15am.

Costs
(1) Locker at Augsburg train station EUR5 (shared)
(2) Ticket to Fuggerei EUR8

Transport
(1) Return tram ticket to Eiskanal station, Augsburg City EUR7,60
(2) ÖBB Night train from Augsburg to Ljubljana EUR49,90

Food
(1) Breakfast at Stadtmarkt, Augsburg - Chocolate-filled croissant, cappucino and orange juice EUR11
(2) Fruit at Stadtmarkt - Cherries 500g (EUR15,80/kg) and seedless grapes 386g (EUR13,80/kg) for EUR13,23 (shared)
(3) Lunch at Fuggerei Biergarten - Sausages and radler EUR14,40

(4) Beer at Hochablass Biergarten - EUR4,40
(5) Coffee - EUR4,20
(6) Dinner at Biergarten - Thuringer sausage EUR9,90 and radler EUR4,60

The Story

25072024 : We checked out from the hotel and walked to the train station to leave our luggage in the storage locker. There were not many storage lockers in the train station but we were able to find a locker.

First stop - City Market (Stadtmarkt) to look for breakfast. There were not many options for cafe. 

We settled for an Italian cafe and had expensive breakfast of EUR11 which the owner set randomly as we asked if there was a breakfast set. This was not in the menu. 

There was a fruit store beside the cafe and we bought cherries and green grapes (500g for EUR6,90 / SEK78). They are quite expensive compared to the grapes we buy at our grocery store in Stockholm. The green grapes are sold for SEK64,90 per kg. For cherries, there are no fresh cherries in Stockholm but there are frozen ones for SEK95,80 per kg. Those are definitely expensive cherries in Augsburg - EUR13,80/kg / SEK157,09)

We walked to town and walked into an Information Center when I saw a UNESCO sign on the building. I was very surprised to see a UNESCO sign as I was unaware that Augsburg is a UNESCO town. 

One of the recommended places to see was Augsburg Rathaus (Town Hall). We did not go in. I read that there is a Golden Hall inside the building. None of us are very keen in town halls and museum unless they are really unique. The Perlachturm tower next to the town hall is closed for renovation.