I spontaneous decide to cycle through Slovenia and Croatia, meaning there is no preparation except to buy a direct Flixbus ticket to Maribor. This does mean that I get to pleasure of sitting 15 hours on a bus without WiFi and limited comfort. Even the bus driver seems surprised that I am going all the way there and buys me a coffee.
Arriving late in Maribor, I bike out of the city following the Eurovelo 9 route, to find forest accommodation. As camping is illegal here, I just lay out my mattress and sleeping bag for the night's duration.
Awaking at dawn for a quick getaway, means that I can try and get all the way to Ljubljana (~170km) today and even have a siesta during the midday heat.
The Eurovelo cycle route is marked as "undeveloped", which basically means it puts you on main roads heavy with traffic. There is about 20km midway through that is dedicated cycle path and here is where it is where Slovenia really shines.
Another feature that makes Slovenia suitable for cyclists is that there are drinking water fountains in nearly every town.
The day on the saddle is long with the sun beating down and very hilly terrain.
Reaching Ljubljana in the early evening, I find a cheap hostel at the edge of town. A hard rain's gonna fall this evening and it will be a chance to recharge my physical and metaphorical batteries.
The storm front is meant to last all the next day, and I stay a day longer in Ljubljana. This gives me a chance to get to know my fellow residents a bit more. The hostel is full of interesting and chatty people, who are not constantly checking their devices.
I also check out the city and find a former squat called Metelhova, which has some very steam-punk aesthetic.
