Discovering Slovenia – part 2 towns and villages

Ptuj, is reputedly the oldest town in Slovenia

Its in the north east not far from the Hungarian border and was a rest point after a to long ride to Romania, the Black Sea and crossing Hungary.

The local wine delish

And as I approached 12000km of travel on my Moto Guzzi

The Ptuj thermal centre was a welcome indulgence.

As was the time to enjoy the Art festival and castle

Brežice was my first stop I Slovenia as I headed east to the Black Sea.

It was my stay here the beauty of the countryside, the town, its Art and the people that made me commit to focus my time in Slovenia on my return west.

Discovering Slovenia – part 1 Ljubljana

Slovenia, the little country that is was the suprise package of my tour.

Its people, it’s varied beauty and the people.

Adjacent the old Austro/Hungarian castle a little statue marks the long struggle for independence.

Uprising against the Habsburg Empire from the 1400s, brutal occupation by Italy/Germany in WW2

Finally independent in 1990.

But as the music flows through beautiful Ljubljana the tragedies of the past are lost in the capital’s beauty.

After the sprawling mass of Budapest Ljubljana was a gem to discover.

Some hot hours in Budapest

Hot Jazz on the banks on the Danube in Budapest

Budapest is a funky city the banks of the Danube flanked by the opulance from the years of the Austro Hungarian Empire

So many battles

Conquered, restored conquered and restored again

But there is a funky feel in the narrow streets

And there is hot

Jazz by the Danube at night

Romania two further places of natural beauty

New companions on the Transalpina

For the touring motor enthusiasts the Transalpina rates highly

Its a long pass that’s what makes it so special.

148km of curves over the Carpathian Mountains

With beautiful lakes

The top of the road is more like a long ridge across the top of the Carpathian Mountains than a pass

From the southern end of the Transalpina it’s not too far to the Danube and the Bulgarian border

And encounters with well pravelled riders

Follow the river west and there is a gem

The Iron Gates of the Danube road which is cut into the cliffs along the Danube

The start of the Iron Gates are marked by this ancient Statue

The road then runs for about 100km mostly cliff face with some beaches

Until the you reach the point where the strict girdle of the mounts stop and the mighty river opens out again.

Two very special rides!

The Danube three impressions

Hot Jazz on the banks of the Danube in Budapest

The Danube is one of the halmarks of this beautiful city.

This is the urban Danube winding through many of Europe’s great cities.

A working river transporting people and good across the continent.

The Iron Gates of the Danube forms the border between Romania and Bulgaria

A gorge around 100km long with small villages dotted along the way.

And finally the Delta

The great Danube starts in nature in Germany’s black forest and is a protected nature park when it reaches the Black Sea.

Im so glad the nature aspects still remain.

Those are the places that really fill me with awe

Maybe because it complements the wild flow of riding a motorbike.