Wheels Around Europe . . . . . . . : Stainz Autria to Novo Mesto Slovenia

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Stainz Autria to Novo Mesto Slovenia

Wednesday 12^th June

We had a little rain overnight but nothing to dampen our spirits too much.

By morning it was brilliant warm sunshine again. Actually it was a relief to cool things down a bit.

Our parking spot in Stainz turned out to be very peaceful and we awoke to views of the monastery lit by the morning sun.

Thoughts had been given to venturing into Zagreb as it`s on our route and I think it`s a city well worth a visit, but to be honest it`s just too hot to venture into a city again, Louis hates it and I don`t think we can be bothered trailing around a city in the heat.

We set off for not a very long drive, only about 80 miles, but quite a long one using winding roads out if Austria and over a small mountain range to the border into Slovenia where we followed the river Savinja through a beautiful wooded valley.

Slovenia

is a very beautiful and under rated country with very friendly people. The land is green and lush and there seems to be lots of agriculture and light industry.

The border crossing was unmanned and decidedly scruffy and unkept, only occupied by a few lorries parked up for a rest.

Unfortunately all attempts to get a refund on this Go Box failed, I stopped at several garages to ask and all shrugged but were unable to tell me how to get the refund.

It leaves me wondering why we bought the thing ? Nobody knew we had it, nobody asked to see it, we could have driven around all week without it ! But I suppose it's the law and a spot check would have resulted in a hearty fine.

I think return it can be done by post so I'll have to look into that.

Today we went into Novo Mesto which is a pretty town on the river Krka.

We had a walk around town and an ice-cream at a cafe and then onto our parking spot for tonight.

It seems this town too has had a chequered past, it too was invaded by the Turks and the Hungarians in the past on their way to Vienna to invade that.

They destroyed the town, locals rebuilt it, then the French came and destroyed it again !

The campsite is run by a local private hotel who have a separate area with very good camping, a couple of holiday let's and a nice view over the countryside.

There`s a young couple on the campsite that have driven all the way from China in a Skoda Octavia towing a caravan with two young children about four and two !!!

What a long journey that is, and I thought we`d come a long way.

Unfortunately the car has suffered some damage, not sure how but it`s looking a bit beaten up at the moment, hope they can get it fixed.

Tonight we're just going to relax and enjoy the sunshine, it's been hot again today and looks likely to continue.

Next to the campsite is a run down large building that looks like it`s had a very interesting past. I walked around the grounds and took some photos, below.

When I see the owner next I`ll ask him what the storey is.

Tomorrow we'll head for Croatia.