Not in any hurry
today, so of course I woke up early! I was packed, showered, dressed and had
cooked myself a delicious omelette with the last of the eggs before Keeley even
woke up. Up and down stairs loading all my gear into the car- not too bad this
time as I decided to leave my suitcase in the boot, and just take in what I
needed.
Because I was
ready, the task of withdrawing Hungarian florint from the ATM fell to me, and I
passed with flying colours! Those who know me will know I hate machines!
Seriously, I was born into the wrong century. How much simpler life was back
then- of course, I would have had to have been an aristocrat not a peasant!
As soon as Keeley
was ready, we set off using the GPS to guide us to Slovenia. It was a little
worrying when it took us a completely different route to google maps! We were
keeping a sharp lookout for some sort of border, and finally saw a sign saying
”vijnata” and pulled in to the petrol station and filled up at the same time. We
were not getting caught without a vignette again! We had 30,000 HUF to spend so
though this was as good a place as any. He didn’t know how to accept part cash
and the rest card so ended up parting with our last 50-euro note.
Meanwhile Keeley
had gone to use the loo, which I had found for her. She seemed to be gone a
while, so I thought I’d better go look for her. The truckies hanging round
looked a bit dodgy even to me. To make matters worse, every truck stop we’ve
been to has a bar where they stop for a drink- drink driving laws must be
non-existent here. Just as I got out of the car, she comes running towards me
bawling her eyes out crying, “Why didn’t you come and get me?” She had locked
herself in the toilet for at least 15 minutes, and had had a panic attack trying to get out. My anxiety
issues have obviously been transferred onto her, as I’m becoming less of a
Paranoid Pete every day. (I think.)
After calming
herself down, we continued the drive into Slovenia, but she was Nervous Nellie,
and was hesitant passing trucks. Admittedly, it was terrible weather- misty
rain, and road splash coming up from the truck tyres so you could barely see-
so driving wasn’t a pleasurable experience for her today.
She saw a sign to
Rogaska Slatina Therme so quickly decided we’d go there for an hour soak to recover
her composure as we were running early. Best laid plans. Do you think we could
find the damn thing? We found the Grand Rogaska Hotel (I recognized it from the
pictures) but still could not find this wonderful spa; (one of Europe’s top 20
according to Lonely Planet). finally we found what we thought must be it! We paid 5 euro to enter and 1.50 euro for towels,
but can’t say we enjoyed the experience. Once more, I think we have been really
spoiled by the other "thermes" we've already been to!
Keeley didn’t
believe this could possible be the one she was looking forward to so much, but unbelievably, it was.
We had a quick swim in a slightly warm pool, and then had to get going. We had
taken much more time getting undressed and dressed again than actually in the
pool. We walked back to the car in the drizzling rain, wet togs in hand, with
drenched hair and soggy spirits. This was where the real “fun” started. Don’t
bother reading any further. Just watch the video. Make sure there are no
children about though as there’s a fair amount of swearing in it! We put Zbilje
back in our GPS and followed its directions. Well, basically off the main roads
in Slovenia, it doesn’t have a clue! I wish it had just said it didn’t know as
I’m sure we could have done a better job of getting out ourselves-the same way
we came in- but we thought it knew a short cut to Zbilje. A short cut to certain death if we had
continued the way it was telling us. Stupid GPS! Now I know why people drive
into rivers and over cliffs at night. We were lucky it was daylight and some
caring construction worker had put an orange plastic fence at the top of what
had once been a road but was now a pretty big drop into a building site.
After some expert
(?) reversing by Keeley and some wonderful (?) directions being given by me, we
managed to extricate ourselves out of a sticky situation and once again get back
onto the main road but going the opposite way to what we had come in on.
Obviously another short cut? We
eventually rejoined the freeway and the trucks heading to Ljubljana (gees, I
have trouble spelling it as well as pronouncing it!)
Thank goodness, our
host's directions were spot on and we reached our airbnb to find Marko’s son
Luka waiting for us. We were hours later than expected! Luka welcomed us in to
what can only be described as a mansion! We had booked the apartment under the main house, but
since Marko had rented it to an Irish lady who was doing her Ph.D. at Ljubljana
University, he had vacated his house and gone to Paris for 5 days, leaving his
kids at their grandparents’ in Ljubljana. We have a double-storey house with 2
bathrooms and 2 toilets and a data projector TV in a huge lounge/dining, and a
kitchen to die for, all to ourselves! All matching Gorenje appliances and enough bench top space
to serve twenty meals! We were in shock! It’s obviously architect-designed with
some quirky features and would be a great party house. Pity we don’t have
anyone to invite! There are blue lights in the ceiling, four blue lights in four
corners of the lounge room floor (obviously the dance floor!) and a blue light rope
built into a pole in the entry area that works on timer. (see photo!) The bathroom light
also works on timer and the toilet lights and cupboard light are activated when
opened. Cool! There are seven switches turning on all of the light
combinations. I only know one of them so far!
Luka ordered pizza
for us, and paid for it (remember we used the last of our cash at that dodgy
truck stop?) before heading back to Ljubljana. I opened a bottle of red wine
I’d bought in Marckolsheim, and enjoyed a hearty hot meal. Ann, from
downstairs, came up and joined us for a glass of red. We loved hearing her
lilting Irish accent, and I think she liked having someone different to talk
to.
We were planning
to go for a walk along the lake today, but wound up just stocking up the fridge
at the local Hofer (Aldi) as the weather wasn’t great for a walk. The trip to
buy groceries was supposed to be stress-free, but we got lost on the way home!
Don’t even go there! Stupid GPS! Our house is so comfy we don’t want to go
anywhere but are planning to do a day trip to Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj
tomorrow. Here’s hoping for some fine weather!
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